Does anyone have a sense of whether it's easier for a defender to cover a shooter 20-feet out on the baseline vs. all the way to the 3-pt. line in the corner?
I wonder if the Jazz swing the ball around the 3-pt line and hit a shooter on the baseline, if it's easier or more difficult to guard if the shooter is spotting up for 3 or if he's spotting up from 20-feet.
If the Jazz put a PF like Lyles out on the 3-pt line, on the one hand it creates more space for defenders to cover, but at the same time, it would take Lyles out of the play and makes him less effective as a passer and driver. In Lyles' case, since he's a triple-threat player, I'm almost wondering if it's actually better that he's 18 - 20 feet out instead of all the way out to the 3-pt line. A defender still needs to drop down to cover him, but Lyles can do more damage from 20-feet---shoot, pass to a cutter, drive the baseline, handle a bit to draw a defender, etc.
It's also worth taking a look at how the Clippers were using Blake Griffin during the playoffs. Blake was getting open looks from 18 - 20 feet anytime he wanted them.
