Stats review: Reyer’s red-hot shooting and the value of floor spacers

From Corey Davis to Kyle Wiltjer, elite shooters are redefining spacing and offensive efficiency

Umana Reyer Venice turned in the top offensive performance of Round 12 of the BKT EuroCup when it went for 118 points on the road in Svyturio Arena against Neptunas Klaipeda. Shooting 15-for-28 from beyond the arc, Reyer put together one of the best shooting efforts of the season thanks in large part to the 7 contested catch-and-shoot three-point attempts it converted.

Reyer found the bottom of the net even when Neptunas was in the right spots defensively, but its spacing was as impactful as it had been all year. At the EuroCup level, it is easy to take the way teams maintain, create, and capitalize on their spacing for granted - every team does it so well on nearly every possession that it is usually only obvious when a team is not spreading the court effectively.

With offenses often placing four and sometimes five players along the three-point line, having multiple shooters who are a threat to make shots off the ball spreads out defenses. Some players take that even a step further with their ability to make catch-and-shoot three-point attempts on the move or over effective closeouts, adding a different dimension to their teams' offense and redefining the value of their spacing.

Several of the players in the group above serve as prime examples of shooters who amplify their teams' spacing beyond just potential shots and open looks. The table lists the top players in catch-and-shoot three-point percentage this season with their total number of makes listed for reference and the percentage of their total attempts that were contested by a defender listed to illustrate how often they shoot right over the top of closeouts.

Corey Davis of NINERS Chemnitz and Both Gach of Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse have been this season’s two most reliable set shooters, making over half of their attempts. With a height difference of 15 centimeters between them, size can be a factor for some shooters, but does not stop players like Davis at this level.

That ability to shoot over closeouts was particularly key for Reyer last week and a factor in its offensive efficiency on the year overall. Denzel Valentine and Kyle Wiltjer combined to make 6 contested catch-and-shoot three-point attempts in Round 12 and, as the table suggests, none of this season's knockdown perimeter threats have shot over defenders as often as that duo.

On the other end of the spectrum are players like Gach, Yigit Arslan, and Karolis Lukosiunas, whose consistency is driven by their accuracy on open looks. Arslan is particularly notable in that regard as his Besiktas GAIN Istanbul team has produced a league-high 132 open catch-and-shoot jumpers on the year and knocked down a second-ranked 46% of them.

Quality floor spacers remain at a premium in the EuroCup this season as three teams are making over 40% of their catch-and-shoot three-point attempts. That’s the same number as last season, but down slightly from the year before. While capable shooters keep defenders honest and consistent shooters play a key role in their team’s offensive efficiency, players who take and make contested shots at volume put unique stress on opposing teams.