Size does matter, but does that also apply in the NBA Three-Point Shootout?<\/p>\n
We have the image of small guys firing away from outside, making one shot after another, but in fact the bigger you are, the better you tend to do when you start firing from beyond the three-point line. <\/p>\n
In fact, over the last seven years no player smaller than 6-foot-5 has won the event. After Voshon Leonard, who at 6-foot-4 won the event in 2004, size has been served:<\/p>\n
So maybe it\u2019s not too surprising that three of this year\u2019s entrants are bigs. A look at the field, with odds provided by bovada.lv:<\/p>\n
Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors (5\/2)<\/strong> \u2013 The 6-3 Curry has proven himself as a legit three-point threat over the last four years, and has been amazingly consistent \u2013 his worst percentage beyond the arc is 43.7, and he\u2019s at 44.7 percent this year. If anyone can break the bigs\u2019 run, it\u2019s him.<\/p>\n Steve Novak, New York Knicks (5\/2)<\/strong> \u2013 Novak (6-10) has been banging around the NBA for a half-decade, but is just now starting to get some love as a legit sniper for the high-profile Knicks. He led the league in three-point shooting percentage last season.<\/p>\n Kyrie Irving, Cleveland Cavaliers (4\/1)<\/strong> \u2013 Irving (6-3) will also be playing in the All-Star Game, so it\u2019s possible that he won\u2019t be as focused in the three-point event. Don\u2019t know how much this translates, but Irving hasn\u2019t made more than two three-pointers in a game in a week and a half. [soliloquy id=”82219″]<\/p>\n Ryan Anderson, New Orleans Hornets (4\/1)<\/strong> \u2013 Despite his size (6-10), Anderson might have a rough go of it Saturday. He\u2019s a volume shooter who has never made as many as 40 percent of his three-pointers in a season, and his percentage of makes in the playoffs drops off.<\/p>\n Matt Bonner, San Antonio Spurs (5\/1)<\/strong> \u2013 The 6-10 Bonner will never be inducted into the Hall of Fame in Springfield, Mass., but he gets the job done for the Spurs and has thrown in more than his share of three-point daggers. Whether he can do it rapid fire is another thing.<\/p>\n Paul George, Indiana Pacers (15\/2)<\/strong> \u2013 George is another volume shooter who makes under 40 percent, but has been on a nice run lately. He isn\u2019t shy (5 of 9 in a recent win over Atlanta and 5 of 10 in victory over Toronto). If his shooting arm isn\u2019t too tired, he might surprise.<\/p>\n