From 1994-95 to 1996-97 the NBA shortened the three point line to near the college level in an attempt to help offensive players score more. A rule change like this would certainly bolster a perimeter oriented team that has the greatest shooting guard ever. In a great coincidence the new shorter line was just inside the outer rim of Michael Jordan's "respectable" shooting range. The Bulls' mega superstar (who had a career 3 point percentage in the mid 20's before the change) shot 43% from 3 point range in 1995-96. Jordan also set career highs in 3-point attempts and made 3 point feld goals. These career highs were nearly double Jordan's previous career highs. The shortened three point line was certainly an additional weapon to any team that had a perimeter based offensive attack and the 1995-96 Bulls used it big time. The Bulls' #2 star Scottie Pippen also had his 2 career best 3 point field goal percentage seasons with the shortened line. The increased 3 point accuracy of the Bulls' two brightest stars was also a help to the 1996-97 Bulls who won 69 games. The chart below shows an obvious correlation between Jordan's 3 point accuracy and the Bulls' win total.
| 3 point Field Goal Percentage: | |||
| Year | Jordan 3 Pt. FG% | Pippen 3 Pt. FG% | Bulls Record |
| 1995-96* | .426 | .374 | 72-10 |
| 1996-97* | .374 | .368 | 69-13 |
| 1997-98 | .238 | .318 | 62-20 |
* 3 point line at shortened distance
The 1995-96 Bulls are one of only three of the NBA's "All Time Great teams" who have a primarily perimeter oriented offense. The other teams were the 1989 the Detroit Pistons who won 63 regular season games & rolled through the '89 playoffs and the 1991-92 Bulls. Unlike the 96 Bulls the Pistons did not have a shortened 3 point line to help their outside shooting quartet of Joe Dumars, Vinnie Johnson, Mark Aguire and center Bill Laimbeer. The 1986 Celtics (Ainge, Bird & Wedman) would also have the potential to feast off a shortened 3 point line as would Byron Scott (1987 Lakers).
The truth in basketball is that if you give a team 2 or 3 extra points every night over the course of an 82 game season it will translate into at least 4 or 5 more wins. The Bulls used this boost to put them over the 70 win plateau in 1996. The shortened 3 point line also helped to inflate the Bulls win percentage in 1996-97. What proof do I have? well the fact is Jordan's 3 point percentage took a nose dive and the corresponding Bulls win total dropped by 7 games (62-20, see table above) in the first season immediately after the league moved the line back (1997-98). Now that is a pretty darn good one. Why don't we give Shaq 3 to make 2 every time he gets fouled and then drool at how many games the Lakers win this year. This is yet another reason why the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls are a great team, but not the best team in NBA History.