#3-point-shooting

#3-point-shooting

Not only did George flash the potential to be an immediately serviceable role player throughout a rookie season, but he proved almost immediately to start his sophomore campaign that there was more potential than what originally met the eye. Averaging 15.0 points, 5.7 rebounds and 5.1 assists, while shooting 46.7% from the field and 40.8% from beyond the arc, George has looked every bit like a core piece for the Wizards moving forward.

It's difficult to ring any type of alarm for a team that became only the third in history to open the regular season 23-1. The Thunder's league-best 104.1 defensive rating is more than six points per 100 possessions better than the Rockets' (110.7) in the second slot. That gap is equivalent to the canyon between second and 23rd. So there's nothing to complain about on the defensive end.

PHILADELPHIA Pat Spencer took a rather circuitous route to the Warriors' bench after burying a 3-pointer that put the team up 98-94 with 1:12 left in the game. He banged his chest several times before unleashing some un-family friendly trash talk upon the stunned Philadelphia crowd while he made his way back to the Warriors' huddle. Who could blame him for such a show of emotion?

Not that it mattered to Butler, who recognized and appreciated all of the less flashy things Horford has still brought to the game. "As great of screens as he sets for me, and protecting everybody at the rim and making all the right plays, whenever he's open, he gets the ball for sure," Butler said. Horford rewarded Butler's faith repeatedly. Each of the 39-year-old center's four 3-point makes came off Butler assists.

"I think so," he said when asked if he thought he was underrated. "I think the roles that I've had the players that I've played with, you're on championship teams and they have already built their franchise player. So now you're coming in to help them win. So the promotion is on those guys and things you're doing kind of flies under the radar, even though you're having a great season and you're having great games. I could have 20 (points) and eight (rebounds), but you're with [James Harden], [Russell Westbrook], and [Kawhi Leonard] and [Paul George]. And no matter how good your games are, they're promoting them, so you're kind of flying under the radar. But I think the last 2-3 years, I've been able to have my opportunity and it's shown."

LOS ANGELES The Warriors begin the 2025-26 season in Los Angeles with the same, identical goal that every other Golden State iteration has: to win a championship. Although the ultimate goal remains unchanged, the possibilities that exist between Tuesday's regular-season opener and a hypothetical fifth title of the Steph Curry and Steve Kerr era are almost limitless. With the season beginning, here are five predictions for the Warriors' season between now and then.

And, remember, this three-year stretch featured three playoff berths and three series wins, because Erik Spoelstra is a mastermind, and Playoff Jimmy was him. Even without Jimmy Butler now, Miami could conceivably capitalize on a wide-open East by fielding even an average offense. But how is that supposed to happen? Shot-creation was already a question mark before Tyler Herro had surgery on his left foot in September.

Brandon Ingram got to display his above-the-break 3-point shooting very early as the beneficiary of a Mogbo short roll pass, and then a baseline-corner-atb sequence for two separate makes. It was immediately different from game 1 of the preseason, as the Raptors were succeeding in the halfcourt, and not necessarily reliant on getting out and running. A different bring up ball handler nearly every time and playing in space.

The modern NBA is about spacing. Perhaps once upon a time it was about strength and size and moxie, but the name of the game in this century is spacing. How are you using the vertical space, the horizontal space? How do you open up space on the perimeter for shooters to get open, space in the paint for cutters and drivers to score, space around playmakers for them to dime up teammates in the right spot to score?

Free agent guard Malcolm Brogdon has agreed to a one-year deal with the New York Knicks, agent Sam Permut of Roc Nation told ESPN on Friday morning. Entering his 10th NBA season, Brogdon, a former Sixth Man of the Year, gives the Knicks key backcourt depth and reserve playmaking. Brogdon is expected to have a rotation role for new coach Mike Brown this season, and joins Landry Shamet as signings on one-year deals to help round out the Knicks' roster.