Rolling Cavs Lead NBA in 3-Point Field Goal Percentage

Coach J.B. Bickerstaff has indicated he doesn’t want to become a team known for shooting the 3-pointers in excess.

Well, what about if they make’ em, coach?

Through six games, the Cavs lead the NBA in the category, having buried 42.7 percent of their threes. That included a fine performance in Sunday’s win over the Knicks — when they shot a whopping 50 of them, connecting on 23 (46 percent).

Leading the way were both guard Donovan Mitchell (38 points) and power forward Kevin Love (29), who each finished 8-of-13 from beyond the arc. Forward Dean Wade (22 points) wasn’t too bad himself, going 6-of-8 on threes.

While the Cavs are mostly known for Mitchell and being a well-rounded, deeper team — despite injured point guard Darius Garland having played just one half — they seem to be picking up a new label.

And that’s as a team that can also beat you with the three.

So, has all of this caused Bickerstaff to change his tune?

Well, he did admit that he never thought he’d coach a team that shot 50 threes in a game. But he also said he doesn’t has a good reason to tell the players to stop, as long as the shots are going in.

Right now, the Cavs’ threes are going in at a better rate than those of anyone else.

The Pelicans (40 percent), Celtics (39.9), Grizzlies (39.7) and 76ers (39.6) round out the top five through Sunday’s games.

Cleveland (5-1) has won five straight entering Wednesday’s home game against Boston.

As an interesting aside, former NBA coach and current NBA TV analyst Sam Mitchell said on the air that he doesn’t think the Cavs have played their best basketball yet. If he’s right, it will be real interesting to see what’s next.