National Basketball Association

Year of the Three: Four crazy stats from NBA playoffs thus far

Published May. 26, 2015 2:31 p.m. ET

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As the conference finals wrap up around the NBA world, there are a few stats that stand out as simply remarkable. From it raining 3-pointers in the Western Conference Finals to LeBron James taking his game to a new level back east, here are four crazy stats from the 2014-15 NBA playoffs thus far.

LEBRON'S RECORD PERFORMANCE

Last week, TNT studio analyst Kenny Smith mockingly indicated that James is on the verge of taking the New York Knicks to the NBA Finals. While that was hyperbole more than anything else, what he’s been able to do without Kevin Love and with a hobbled Kyrie Irving is nothing short of amazing.

Through 13 games this postseason, James is averaging 27.9 points, 10.5 rebounds and 8.4 assists per game. That’s a near triple-double every time he takes the court. Overall, James has either assisted or scored in 60 percent of the team’s field goals in the conference finals.

STEPH CURRY'S RIDICULOUS RANGE

Even after taking a hard fall in Game 4 against the Rockets on Monday night, Curry was able to come back and nail a few threes. What he’s done from beyond the arc thus far this postseason is absolutely ridiculous. After struggling initially, Curry is shooting 45 percent from 3-point range in the playoffs. What makes this even more amazing is the fact that he’s 42 of 79 (.532) in the seven games since going a combined 4 of 21 in Golden State’s two losses to the Memphis Grizzlies in the conference semifinals.

That’s the most ridiculous shot chart I have ever seen. Notice how he’s shooting 89 percent from the left baseline? Not only has Curry already broke Ray Allen’s NBA record for most 3-pointers in a single postseason, he’s shooting a higher percentage from beyond the arc than Dwight Howard and Josh Smith are shooting from the charity stripe.

YEAR OF THE THREE

Both Houston and Golden State finished in the top five of the Association in 3-point attempts during the regular year, so it shouldn’t come as much of a surprise that their Western Conference Final matchup has been defined by the 3-point attempt. Not only did the two teams combine to shoot the most 3-pointers in NBA playoff history in Game 4, Golden State became the first team in the postseason ever to lose a game while connecting on 20-plus shots from beyond the arc.

The two teams have combined to shoot 86 of 229 (37.6 percent from 3-point range. Those 229 attempts are 40 more than the two have combined to shoot from the free-throw line. Overall, 33 percent of the shots in this series have come from beyond the 3-point line.

EX-KNICKS HUGE FOR CAVS

J.R. Smith, Iman Shumpert and Timofey Mozgov, all former member of the Knicks, have played a huge role in Cleveland’s success this postseason. The three are averaging a combined 39.3 points and 20.3 rebounds in the Eastern Conference Finals. They are also playing an average of 96.3 combined minutes per game.

We really have to wonder what Knicks president Phil Jackson is thinking right about now. He gave both Smith and Shumpert away in cost-cutting moves. Meanwhile, the franchise had no regard for what Mozgov could potentially bring to the table. New York’s losses are Cleveland’s gains.

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