Hornets’ new 3-point shooters benefiting Al Jefferson

The Philadelphia 76ers chose not to double-team Charlotte Hornets center Al Jefferson Friday, which came as a big surprise to Jefferson.

Just maybe this is the beginning of a trend.

With the Hornets a dramatically improved 3-point team, it’s tougher for opposing teams to go to the extremes they once did to neutralize Jefferson’s low-post scoring.

“There’s so much shooting on the floor that they’re a lot less likely to say, ‘Not tonight. He’s just not scoring. These other guys are going to have to shoot.“ coach Steve Clifford described. “Now they can’t do that. It opens up a cutting game, a drive-and-kick game …”

And, perhaps most importantly, Jefferson’s post-up game. Over his last four games, Jefferson has averaged 20.8 points on 56 percent shooting from the field. As much as anything that’s a reflection of the room Jefferson now has to operate, with opponents finding it harder to leave perimeter shooters.

The Hornets average nearly 10 3s per game on nearly 37 percent shooting outside the arc. Compare that to last season when they averaged just more than six 3s per game on an NBA-worst 31.8 percent shooting.

“The most basic (component) of offense is spacing and your spacing is your shooting,” Clifford said.

Clifford always wanted to run the one-in/four-out sets the Hornets use this season, but he lacked the right personnel. The front office made over the roster last summer, bringing in seven new players. Newcomers Nic Batum, Jeremy Lamb, Jeremy Lin, Spencer Hawes and rookie Frank Kaminsky are all 3-point threats.

The Hornets are ninth among 30 NBA teams in scoring this season at 102.8 points per game and seventh in 3-point percentage at 36.7 percent.

Jefferson loves what is going on all around him in the post.

“I tip my hat to the front office. They did a great job of getting the guys I need around me,” Jefferson said. “Team that decide to double are going to find that difficult.

“And importantly, I’m passing the ball, looking for guys.”

Jefferson remembers being nicknamed “the Black Hole” when he played for the Minnesota Timberwolves because he passed so little. He’s become far more adept at that of late. Clifford noted the Hornets have already had a game this season where 13 points were scored off players cutting to the basket off Jefferson’s post feeds.

“It’s really important where I catch the ball. The deeper I make the catch, the more that opens up the cuts,” Jefferson said. “And even if I pass to Kemba and he passes up the shot, he’s passing to the next guy.

“That’s the beauty of our offense and it starts with me; I don’t have to shoot the ball every time. We have guys like Nic, who is an additional passer making the right plays. It’s wonderful.”

This story was originally published November 22, 2015 at 7:27 PM with the headline "Hornets’ new 3-point shooters benefiting Al Jefferson."