“We have to flush this down the toilet” is the NBA’s reaction to the Warriors and their three-point empire.

The phrase “We have to flush this down the toilet” is not something that one would typically associate with an NBA team, especially a team that has achieved such remarkable success as the Golden State Warriors. However, this phrase can be viewed as an apt metaphor for the seismic shift that the Warriors’ three-point revolution has triggered in the NBA. The Golden State Warriors, led by sharpshooters like Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson, have essentially redefined the game of basketball in the modern era. Their unprecedented success, built on a high-volume, high-efficiency three-point shooting strategy, has forced the rest of the league to reckon with this new paradigm.

In this article, we will examine the Warriors’ three-point revolution, the impact it has had on the NBA, and how the rest of the league has responded. We will explore the concept of “flushing” the old ways of playing basketball down the toilet, symbolizing the abandonment of outdated strategies in favor of a new, more efficient offensive approach.

The Rise of the Warriors’ Three-Point Empire

The Golden State Warriors’ transformation into one of the most dominant teams in NBA history is inextricably linked to their revolutionary approach to three-point shooting. For years, the NBA was a league dominated by powerful centers, mid-range shooters, and post-up plays. However, starting in the mid-2010s, the Warriors broke away from conventional wisdom and revolutionized the way basketball is played. The catalyst for this transformation was the rise of Stephen Curry, who emerged as the most prolific and efficient three-point shooter in the history of the game.

Curry’s combination of shooting range, quick release, and ability to make shots under pressure made him a nightmare for defenses. Alongside Curry, Klay Thompson formed a dynamic backcourt duo that became known as the “Splash Brothers.” Thompson, though quieter in his approach, is one of the best catch-and-shoot players in NBA history. Together, they helped lead the Warriors to multiple championships, cementing the idea that shooting was no longer just a complementary aspect of the game, but the central focus of offensive play.

Under head coach Steve Kerr, who had played for the Chicago Bulls during the Michael Jordan era and saw firsthand the importance of spacing and shooting, the Warriors embraced the three-point revolution. Kerr, a staunch believer in analytics, saw that the three-point shot, when utilized properly, could provide a higher return on investment than mid-range shots or post-ups. He encouraged his players to take advantage of the spacing created by Curry and Thompson’s shooting abilities and to spread the floor for open looks.

The Warriors’ success was immediate. In the 2014-15 season, they won the NBA Championship, with Curry taking home the Finals MVP. They followed that with two more championships in 2017 and 2018, dominating the league with an offensive system predicated on ball movement, floor spacing, and of course, the three-point shot. Their approach wasn’t just about shooting a lot of threes; it was about using the three-pointer as a weapon to spread the defense thin and create open lanes to the basket. The Warriors’ ability to shoot efficiently from deep forced other teams to adjust their entire offensive and defensive schemes.

The Response from the NBA

As the Warriors continued to rack up championships, the rest of the NBA took notice. Teams across the league, recognizing the success of the Warriors’ three-point heavy system, began to experiment with adopting similar strategies. The emphasis on the three-point shot started to filter down to all levels of the game, from the professional ranks to college basketball, and even to youth leagues. But the question arose: was the three-point revolution just a flash in the pan, or was it the future of the NBA?

For some teams, the answer was clear. The Houston Rockets, led by general manager Daryl Morey and head coach Mike D’Antoni, became the most prominent adherents of the “more threes, more wins” mantra. The Rockets, with James Harden as their centerpiece, completely revamped their offense to emphasize the three-point shot, pulling up from deep with frequency and building an entire system around it. Houston’s analytical-driven approach was based on the idea that shooting more three-pointers, coupled with attacking the rim for high-percentage shots, could be more effective than relying on mid-range jumpers or traditional post-ups.

However, not every team embraced the Warriors’ model immediately. The league has always been full of diverse playing styles, and for some teams, especially those built around dominant big men or ball-dominant guards, the shift to a perimeter-oriented offense didn’t seem like a natural fit. In particular, teams like the Cleveland Cavaliers, when they had LeBron James, or the Toronto Raptors, with their mix of post players and isolation scorers, didn’t immediately gravitate toward the three-point-heavy approach.

Over time, though, the success of the Warriors and Rockets forced other teams to reconsider their strategies. Even traditional teams like the Boston Celtics, who had been known for their tough defense and inside presence, began emphasizing the three-point shot in their offense. Teams that once prioritized mid-range shots or post-ups found themselves left behind as the NBA shifted toward a league of pace and space. The Warriors had effectively “flushed” the old ways of thinking about basketball down the toilet, and the rest of the league was forced to adapt or risk falling behind.

Flushing the Old Ways of Basketball

The phrase “flushing it down the toilet” is a dramatic way of expressing how the old ways of playing basketball have been discarded in favor of a more modern approach. Before the Warriors’ rise to prominence, the NBA was a league where big men dominated the paint, mid-range jumpers were the preferred method of scoring, and isolation basketball was the norm. However, as the Warriors showcased the power of the three-point shot, they not only broke traditional basketball wisdom but also proved that shooting could be the key to building a championship-contending team.

In many ways, the rise of the Warriors has left traditional basketball tactics obsolete. Post-ups, once the bread and butter of offenses, have become less effective as the three-point shot spreads defenses out. The mid-range jumper, which had once been considered a staple of every player’s game, now looks inefficient compared to the higher-value three-pointer or the layup/dunk at the rim. Even the role of the center has evolved in the modern NBA, with players like Joel Embiid, Nikola Jokić, and Anthony Davis expanding their games to include three-point shooting and playmaking.

This shift in playing style is not limited to the NBA alone. Across the globe, teams in leagues like the EuroLeague, the NCAA, and even high school basketball are seeing more emphasis placed on shooting. Coaches and analysts have long realized that three-point shooting, when done right, is an incredibly effective way to build an offense that can compete at the highest levels.

For many, this evolution of the game is a welcome change, as it opens up new avenues for strategic play and forces teams to be more versatile. However, there are some critics who lament the loss of the “old-school” basketball fundamentals, such as post play and mid-range jumpers. While it’s clear that these aspects of the game are still important in certain situations, the shift toward three-point shooting has undeniably changed the way basketball is played at the highest levels.

The Future of the NBA

As the NBA continues to evolve, it is clear that the Warriors’ three-point empire has set a new standard for the league. The question now is: What comes next? Will we continue to see teams embracing the three-point shot as the central feature of their offense, or will we witness a new shift as the league adjusts to the dominance of the three-pointer?

One potential direction for the future is the further development of positionless basketball. As players become more versatile and capable of playing multiple roles on the floor, the idea of a traditional “center” or “power forward” may become obsolete. Instead, we may see a league full of players who can shoot from the perimeter, handle the ball, and guard multiple positions. This could lead to even more fluid and dynamic offensive systems, where teams can exploit mismatches and keep defenses guessing.

Another possible development is the evolution of the three-point shot itself. We may see even deeper three-pointers becoming more common, as players like Curry continue to push the limits of what’s possible from beyond the arc. Additionally, the increased emphasis on analytics could lead to even more efficient shooting practices, with teams adopting new training regimens and shot selection strategies to maximize their offensive output.