CLEVELAND: It’s early yet, but the Cavaliers are on pace to beat that staggering record the Golden State Warriors set last season.
No, not that one.
The Cavs have made at least 10 3-pointers in each of their first nine games, breaking the record last matched by the Houston Rockets two years ago when they did it in their first eight games. The Cavs are also on pace to make 1,082 3-pointers, which would break the Warriors’ record of 1,077 set just last season. The Warriors were the first team to ever make 1,000 3-pointers in a season. The Cavs are on pace to become the second.
And the most terrifying part? Coach Tyronn Lue still doesn’t believe they’re playing to their full capacity.
“I think we can shoot better,” Lue said. “It’s been sporadic.”
In terms of 3-point shooting, Kevin Love, J.R. Smith, Mike Dunleavy and Richard Jefferson are all shooting considerably below their career percentages. Kyrie Irving, Channing Frye and Iman Shumpert are above their career marks and LeBron James is right on pace for his typical career percentage.
“It’s early in the season, so guys are still trying to find their way, trying to get their rhythm,” Lue said. “I just think with the shooting we have, we have great shooters. I just think that we can make more shots. When we’re able to make 3s and make open shots, that opens the game up for us.”
That’s particularly true of Frye, who made six 3-pointers in Sunday’s win over the Charlotte Hornets. Against Tuesday’s opponent, the Toronto Raptors, Frye made 20 3-pointers and shot 58 percent during the six games.
His length as a 7-footer who can shoot 3s is a weapon in the right matchups that gives opponents fits.
“Big guys like the paint. I make them allergic to it,” Frye said. “That train [LeBron] or when Kevin’s going, Kyrie’s going, [the opponent’s] big guy’s usually the biggest guy on the court, so he wants to help. But he can’t help. He’s got to come to Frye-land.”
Opposing centers have been burned in Frye-land for years.
This is Frye’s fifth organization in his 12 years in the league, but it’s hard to imagine a system better suited to his shooting. With two drive-and-kick ball-handlers such as Irving and James, he has enjoyed open perimeter shots since coming to the Cavs.
What also can’t be disputed is how the game has changed in the past decade. The 3-point shot has become such a focal point that shooting records are falling every season. Still, both James and Love rejected the idea it might be time to make changes to the game, such as lengthening the 3-point line similar to the way golf courses were redesigned to combat stronger players and improvements in technology.
James, however, believes the game is fine the way it is.
“You don’t want to start messing with the rules too much,” James said. “The game as great as it is right now, it’s great for a reason. Guys are just getting better and have the ability to shoot further. But it don’t matter how far you shoot it. It will still count for three if it goes in and two if you make a layup or a dunk and one if you make a free throw.”
Not everyone is impressed with the Cavs’ latest record. Frye learned the Cavs have made at least 10 3-pointers in every game this season and simply shrugged.
“Ten is not that [many],” he said. “Look at how many shooters we have. Ten is cool. I think we should be making more than that.”
Jason Lloyd can be reached at jlloyd@thebeaconjournal.com. Read the Cavs blog at www.ohio.com/cavs. Follow him on Twitter www.twitter.com/JasonLloydABJ.