Ten games into the 2005-06 season, it appears the Cavaliers got what they have been trying to accomplish in the past 2 years.
After Saturday’s win over Philadelphia, the Cavaliers are sixth in the NBA in 3-point percentage at 38.1 (67 of 176).
They have four players with 11 or more 3-pointers.
Guard Larry Hughes is shooting a sizzling 50 percent from 3-point range (11 of 22). Guard Damon Jones is also red-hot at 42.9 percent (21 of 49), followed by forward LeBron James’ 36.1 percent (13 of 36) and forward Donyell Marshall’s 32.6 (15 of 46).
“Any time that 3 goes in, it helps out the team, gives the team confidence and gets the crowd into it,” Cavaliers coach Mike Brown said. “I believe we can score and are a good shooting team. There are nights when it won’t happen. When that occurs, we need to get stops on the other end of the floor.”
The Cavaliers’ 3-point shooting played a big part in victories over Orlando and Philadelphia on Friday and Saturday. They were a combined 17 of 42 from behind the arc (40.5 percent). Against the Sixers, Hughes was 5 of 6 from long distance.
Coach Mike Brown is not a huge fan of the 3-point shot. It might be growing on him, however.
“Once you get above 15 attempts per game, you start looking at the percentages,” he said.
“Then you’ve taken too many 3s. Sooner or later if you’re missing, you want those guys driving and getting to the free-throw line.”
The Cavaliers were 27th out of 30 teams in 3-point accuracy last season.