The 4 Point Shot

Every basketball fan worth his or her salt is familiar with Jerry West's heave in the 1970 Finals to send the game into overtime.  It's one of the NBA's most famous highlights, but sad in a way that had there been a three point shot, that would have won the game for the Lakers.  And what a way to win a game! 

The three point shot would come to pass 10 years later, and in present day 2014, if you're guard and can't hit a three you are seriously frowned upon.  If all you can do is stand at the three point line and jack three's till the cows come home (and make a respectable amount) you are going to have a contract somewhere.  The three pointer has become more and more vital each passing year, thus players have become more adapt at making them year after year. 

When I was a child, if a center made a 3, it was for one of two reasons.  Number one, it was a late game desperation shot like West's was.  Or two, the game was seriously out of hand and they were just screwing around like in an all-star game.  Now you have centers who are three point specialists!  That's pretty crazy. 

Now with the skill of the shooters climbing seemingly every day, do we need to make it more of a challenge?  Do we need to implement a 4 point shot from behind the half court line?  It certainly would make late game strategies more interesting. 

Who would lead the league in 4 point shots made?

Do we go for the 4 and the win?  Or go for the 3 and tie, then maybe an easy 2?  Or do we go for two easy 2's? 

Now before you think I've lost all semblance of reality, I don't necessarily think that this should be implemented.  (It is something worth pondering though.)  I can hear it now, Kevin Harlan with the call, "With six minutes left in the second quarter, J.R. Smiths chucks an 80 foot shot to try to be the first man in history to make a 4 pointer!  What a numbskull!  Derek Fisher charges the floor and lays him out like his name is Luis Scola!!" 

Okay maybe he wouldn't say that last part, but you know Smith, or Nate Robinson or whoever would start heaving the 4's because "I made 10 in a row in practice Coach."  That would be a draw back.  I would however be very intrigued if Kevin Durant had the ball in a tight game and decided he wanted to give it a go.  Granted, not everyone is exactly MVP-material either. 

Yeah the con's do outweigh the pro's in the end, but it would give incentive for lesser talented teams.  Let's face it, when you're shooting from beyond half court, you're odds of making it are about the same if you're a 6'8" starting power forward, or a 6'2" backup point guard.  It's the proverbial "Hail Mary," and if say someone from the lowly 76ers made the first ever 4 point shot, it would give their fan base something to talk about for at least a day or two (that doesn't involve them being terrible). 

Just a thought, what do you think?