3 goals for Houston Rockets forward Ryan Anderson this season

2. Shoot 40 percent or better from three

The biggest value Anderson provides is his ability to shoot the 3-pointer, as he’s a career 38 percent shooter from distance. It’s no secret that the Rockets like to fire away from deep, as they’ve averaged no less than 40 3-point attempts per game in each of the last three years.
During Anderson’s tenure as a Rocket, he averaged 39.5 percent from deep and 168 3-point field goals per season. In Ryno’s first year in Houston, he made 204 threes, which was ninth-best in the league during the 2016-17 season.

The Rockets have averaged 35.2 percent from downtown in each of the last five years and have never finished better than 12th-best in the league during that span. In fact, at one point during that span, the Rockets dipped down to 19th in the league in 3-point shooting percentage as a team.

Anderson will surely get the bulk of his touches on the offensive end when he is standing behind the 3-point line, which will be pivotal to the offense as Russell Westbrook and James Harden could both drive and kick out to the open Anderson. This skill of Anderson’s will make it difficult to defend the Rockets when he is on the floor, as the Rockets have made no secret of their plans to play him at the center position. Doing so will pull a defending big away from the paint and out to the 3-point line, which should open the entire court for drives to the basket.

During Anderson’s first year in Houston, he finished third in total 3-pointers on the team while also leading the team in 3-point shooting percentage. During his second season in Houston, he led the Rockets in 3-point shooting percentage again among players who attempted more than ten treys. During that season, Anderson had the fifth-most 3-pointers made on the team, despite having fewer attempts than any of the four who finished ahead of him.

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