Taken in tandem, these numbers bolster an argument that Bosh has evolved into one of the most efficient shooters in the NBA inside the arc. However, the same qualities that pushed him to that status drive the ongoing evolution in his approach. This season, after the constant egging on of one of his teammates, Bosh introduced a new wrinkle to his game: a 3-point shot. And it has immediately become one of the biggest factors in this year’s playoff run.
After watching Bosh light it up from 20 feet for years, Shane Battier recalls trying to persuade him to extend his range.
“He was already shooting so well from the top of the key, a step inside the 3-point line, and I was always saying to him, ‘CB, just step back and get that extra point. You don’t have to be as good, and you’ll score more points.’”
Given Bosh’s analytical understanding of the game, Battier said, it wasn’t a hard sell. “He’s one of the guys who can understand the math behind it and know why stepping back a foot increases your dividends.”