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| Scotty Hopson's clutchness from four-point range was believed to be not enough to make the PBA more enticing for a bigger live audience. PBA Images (file photo) |
MANDALUYONG--As clutch as he was from beyond the arc during his prime, Robert Horry expressed concern that the future generation of basketball players has been jacking up three-pointers a bit too much that the PBA-exclusive four-point shot might even cause more worries in terms of their growth as athletes.
On Wednesday, the former seven-time NBA champion implied that he is not a fan of the new long-range option from 27 feet out, saying that it would further shy the kids away from the real essence of the sport.
"That's the way the game is now. So many kids want to shoot the long ball when they're not understanding it's about getting buckets," Horry told reporters during a media session before his meet-and-greet event at the NBA Store SM Megamall Branch.
"To me, when you add a four-point play, it makes kids not really want to play the game. They just want to shoot the ball."
He then reminded the young ballers to stick to the fundamentals of basketball: "Play the game the right way, get buckets, have fun, play defense, and just enjoy the game."
In hopes of making the games more entertaining to attract a bigger live audience either at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City or the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Manila, the PBA Board of Governors approved the implementation of the four-point shot for the ongoing season.
In some ways, the four-point shot indeed made the games more fun to watch, all the more that some games were decided by the four-pointers whether the players converted the long shots or not.
However, concerns remained despite the four-pointers being hoisted.
For one, Horry was somehow correct that younger players now tend to shoot more from four-point range even if the amateur leagues do not have that option yet.
The UAAP, especially during games held at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, has seen a good dose of players trying their luck from four-point range even if the shots still only count for three possibly because the stripped four-point arc sticker still left traces as if the arc remains visible.
Over at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City, Ato Barba won it for Lyceum against Jose Rizal University in an NCAA game with a go-ahead triple from way beyond an imaginary four-point arc and with still some time left on the shotclock enough to execute a better offensive option.
Also, the fans believe the four-point shot did little to attract a bigger live audience.
For one, fans quickly observed during Scotty Hopson's game-winning four against Terrafirma on Saturday that many seats behind Converge's backboard remained vacant, all the more that it was the second game of the doubleheader that night.
Horry believes basketball games can attract more fans inside arenas if the players understand the real essence of the sport.
"That's what basketball is. It's one of those sports that bring so many people together that it's just fun to watch people play and understand it," he further said.
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