Cavs’ Three-Point Frenzy Raises Big Questions About Offensive Identity
The Cleveland Cavaliers are firing away from deep at a league-leading clip - tied with the Warriors at 43.9 three-point attempts per game - but the results aren’t exactly lighting up the scoreboard. In fact, they’re near the bottom of the NBA in efficiency, hitting just 33.8% of those shots, good for 27th in the league. That disconnect between volume and accuracy is more than just a statistical oddity - it’s a red flag about how this team is using its talent.
Let’s start with the obvious: if you’re going to shoot that many threes, you’d better make them. Right now, the Cavs aren’t. And that’s where this strategy starts to look less like a modern offense and more like a missed opportunity - especially when you consider the personnel they have.
Cleveland’s frontcourt features two of the most skilled big men in the Eastern Conference in Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley. Both are capable finishers around the rim, both can rebound, and both can defend. But too often, they’re being pulled away from their strengths - literally and figuratively - to accommodate a perimeter-heavy system that doesn’t fit the roster’s identity.
Take Allen, for example. He’s a 70% shooter when he’s within a few feet of the basket.
That’s elite efficiency. But instead of going up strong, he’s frequently kicking the ball out to the corner - passing up a high-percentage shot for a low-percentage one.
And now Mobley’s starting to follow that trend. That’s not just frustrating - it’s counterproductive.
There’s a blueprint out there for how to build a high-powered offense without living and dying by the three. Just look at Denver and Houston.
Denver leads the league in offensive rating but ranks 22nd in three-point attempts. Houston?
They’re third in offense and dead last in threes. What do they have in common?
They know who they are. They play to their strengths.
And they don’t force shots just because the analytics say threes are worth more.
Right now, the Cavs are trying to play like a team they’re not. And it’s costing them.
Beyond the shooting numbers, there are real consequences to this approach. Missed threes often lead to long rebounds, which fuel transition opportunities for opponents.
That’s a tough way to play defense. And when you’re launching from deep, you’re not drawing fouls or creating second-chance points - both of which are critical for a team that wants to control the paint and slow the game down.
There’s a better path here, and it starts with balance. The Cavs don’t need to abandon the three-point line entirely - this isn’t about going back to the 1990s.
But they do need to lean into what makes them unique. That means getting Allen and Mobley more touches in the paint.
That means letting Mobley develop his jump hook - a move that Cavs legend Brad Daugherty has long endorsed - and using it to generate cleaner looks and more offensive rebounds.
This team has the tools to be more than a perimeter-chucking squad. They have size, skill, and a frontcourt that can dominate if given the chance. The question now is whether they’ll adjust their approach before the inefficiency catches up to them in the standings.
Because in the NBA, it’s not just about how many shots you take - it’s about taking the right ones.