New York Knicks

          Phil hints Knicks won't rely on the 3

          NEW YORK -- Phil Jackson isn’t very Zen when it comes to teams that rely heavily on the 3-point shot in the postseason.

          Jackson sent out several tweets over the past two days hinting at his distaste for teams that live and die by the 3-point shot it in the playoffs.

          Based on this evidence, it’s probably safe to assume that the Knicks won’t be a team that does so under Jackson's watch.

          Statistically, the 3-point shot has become a bigger component of NBA offenses in recent seasons.

          As pointed out by FiveThirtyEight, 3-point attempts have steadily risen since their introduction in the 1979-80 season. NBA offenses that take a high rate of 3-pointers have also had success.

          And for good reason. A 3-point shot is more valuable than a long 2-pointer; for example, if a player shoots 40 percent from just inside the arc and 30 percent from beyond the arc, he’d score more points by shooting 10 3s (9 points) than he would by shooting 10 long 2s (8 points). The 3-ball can also force a defense to stretch out to the arc, which often creates seams in the defense that can be exploited.

          Shooting the 3 isn't a fool-proof way to win. But it’s hard to ignore the results: seven of the past eight NBA champions have led all playoff teams in 3-point attempts and makes. This makes sense because they would have played more games than other teams but also speaks to the title-winner's reliance on the 3-point shot.

          In this postseason, five of the eight teams remaining were in the top 10 in 3-point percentage in the regular season. Of those five teams (Houston, Golden State, Cleveland, Atlanta, L.A. Clippers), four are projected to win their series by ESPN’s BPI. There is also an 86 percent chance that the eventual NBA Finals winner comes from this group, per ESPN’s BPI.

          For what it’s worth, the teams Jackson coached have ranged from fifth in the league in 3-point rate (2006-07) to 22nd (2003-04, 1991-92). In the seasons in which they won the title, Jackson’s teams ranged from seventh in regular season 3-point rate (2001-02) to 22nd (1991-92).

          The Knicks led the league in 3-point attempts in 2012-13, when they won 54 regular-season games. That team lost in the second-round of the playoffs to the Pacers. The 2014-15 Knicks ranked 21st in 3-point rate and finished with 17 wins.