5. Shoot 30 Percent From Three-Point Range
It’s no secret that developing a three-point shot will be a huge and maybe even necessary step in the evolution of Warren’s game. Even with his ultra-efficiency around the basket, defenses will eventually catch on and play off of him. There’s only so much cutting Warren can do before the need for spreading the floor becomes apparent.
Why, then, is the bar set so low at 30 percent? Well, because at this stage in his career, that’s simply not a shot T.J. Warren has in his arsenal. This isn’t a skill you can add overnight. For players who aren’t natural perimeter shooters, having NBA three-point range requires years of diligent practice and fine-tuning when it comes to technique and release.
As a rookie, Warren only made 23.8 percent of his three-pointers. Even more importantly, he only attempted 21 threes in 614 minutes of action on the season. Three-pointers simply aren’t a part of his game right now, and as the percentages indicate, that’s probably for the best.
However, as the increased minutes come for Warren, so too will the number of three-pointers he takes. That’s just the direction the league is heading in, and it’s still a skill Warren needs to eventually acquire as he develops his game. To that end, even if Warren isn’t taking a ton of threes, he needs to at least convert that limited sample size at a better rate than last year.
Next: No. 4