Imagine a basketball world where shooting from downtown isn't the only path to victory—where classic, gritty play still reigns supreme. That's exactly what's happening right now, and it's flipping the script on what we think we know about winning in the NBA.
Winning the Traditional Way: How the Lakers, Rockets, and Nuggets Succeed Without Obsessing Over Three-Pointers
December 2, 2025
Photo: Jevone Moore/Icon Sportswire
If your main exposure to the NBA comes from sports commentators on television or scrolling through social media feeds, it's easy to think the league has turned into a one-trick pony when it comes to offensive strategies. But here's where it gets controversial—while the three-point shooting craze is undeniably sweeping the game, evolution isn't always straightforward. Growth doesn't follow a straight line, and success can come from bucking the trends, not following them.
Take the Miami Heat, for instance, who've built a ferocious offense by going against the grain—a point that our colleague Jack Klein explored in depth recently (https://www.sportsinfosolutions.com/2025/11/11/heat-check-a-different-offensive-approach-than-any-other-team/). They're not alone. About a quarter into the 2025-26 season, several squads are proving that pumping up the volume on long-range shots isn't essential for crafting a top-tier attack or a championship-caliber system.
Looking at the top-10 teams by wins, six of them rank in the bottom-10 for three-point attempts: the Rockets, Pistons, Raptors, Lakers, Nuggets, and Heat. Similarly, among the top-10 in offensive rating (ORtg) over this period, four are also bottom-10 in threes: the Rockets, Lakers, Magic, and Nuggets.
And this is the part most people miss—overlapping those lists reveals three teams that are top-10 in both wins and offensive efficiency while being bottom-10 in three-point shots: the Rockets, Lakers, and Nuggets. The Raptors, sitting 11th in ORtg, are a near miss as a fourth.
So, how are these squads defying modern basketball wisdom and thriving with what seems like an outdated shooting style? Let's break it down step by step, making sure even newcomers to the game can follow along.
Embracing the Post Era
These four teams boast some of the most dominant post-up offenses in the league today. For beginners, a post-up is when a player receives the ball near the basket and uses their strength or skill to score, often against defenders—think of it as the classic power move in basketball.
The Nuggets lead the pack, generating the highest number of field goal attempts from post-ups at 5.9 per game (tracked meticulously by our Data Scouts, who review every single play). They're incredibly effective too, ranking 5th in true shooting percentage (TS%) at 65%. True shooting percentage is a handy metric that accounts for field goals and free throws, giving a fuller picture of scoring efficiency than just field goal percentage alone.
Close behind, the Rockets are 2nd in post-up attempts at 5.6 per game and 7th in TS% at 62%. Their success hinges on star big men like Alperen Sengun and Nikola Jokic, who are the top two post threats this season. As an example, Sengun racks up 3.8 field goal attempts from the post per game (1st in the NBA) with a 64% TS%, while Jokic follows at 3.5 attempts (2nd) and a stellar 70% TS%.
The Lakers tie for 7th in post-up attempts at 3.3 per game and match the Nuggets for efficiency (5th overall). The Raptors are 10th in attempts but lag at 25th in efficiency, showing it's not just about volume—skill matters.
Midrange Masters
Since these teams aren't winning the so-called "math battle" (a quick refresher: three-point shots are worth three points, while midrange ones are just two, so statistically, volume threes can add up faster), they excel elsewhere. Midrange shots—those taken from outside the paint but inside the three-point line—are their secret weapon.
Some teams flood the lane with midrange attempts, while others focus on precision. The Rockets and Raptors rank 3rd and 5th in total midrange field goal attempts league-wide. The Raptors nail them at the 5th-highest efficiency (TS%), but the Rockets are middling at 22nd.
The Lakers and Nuggets aren't in the top 10 for volume (Lakers at 14th-most attempts, Nuggets at 11th), yet they shine in execution, boasting the 1st and 3rd-best TS% marks (the Thunder are 2nd). This illustrates how efficiency can trump quantity—imagine a chef who uses fewer ingredients but creates a masterpiece versus one who wastes a pantry.
Clutch Performers in the Fourth Quarter
Unsurprisingly, these squads excel in the game's most tense moments, where mistakes can cost you everything. With their scoring styles leaving little margin for error, they've honed elite fourth-quarter play to clinch victories.
The Rockets own the league's top fourth-quarter TS% at 64%, followed closely by the Nuggets at 62%. The Raptors and Lakers tie for 6th at 60%, just a hair behind the Bucks in 5th. For context, TS% here measures how effectively they score in those final minutes.
The Rockets' late-game prowess extends to leading in clutch-time offensive rating, advantage creation, and having the 2nd-lowest turnover rate. Their execution, led by Kevin Durant (8th in clutch advantage creation per game*), has helped them overcome injuries and spacing challenges. (Advantage creation, as defined by SIS, means a player's action that sets up a high-value scoring opportunity.)
Among players with at least 50 fourth-quarter field goal attempts, Jokic is the king at 71.9% TS%, with the Lakers' Reaves 3rd (71.5%) and Sengun 4th (70.5%). For the Raptors, Scottie Barnes ranks 10th at 66.9%, showcasing how individual stars anchor these teams.
Tailored Paths to Triumph
Beyond these shared traits, each team adds its own flavor to the recipe for wins.
The Rockets, who bulked up with size in the offseason, dominate on the boards:
Houston Rockets Ranks – 2025-26 Season
Stat Rank
Offensive Rebound Pct 1st
Second-Chance Points 1st
This means they crash the glass for extra chances, turning misses into more opportunities—think of it as getting a second bite at the apple.
The Lakers are the sharpest at finishing at the rim and earning free throws in clutch situations. They're also the most efficient at self-created shots, relying on guards like Reaves and Doncic to manufacture their own offense while minimizing field goal attempts from closeouts (second-fewest in the league).
The Nuggets, though only 7th in advantage creation, rank 2nd in protecting those edges—only the Celtics and Knicks reduce advantages less, per SIS data. This defensive tenacity ensures they capitalize on every scoring chance.
The Raptors leverage their height and hustle for fast breaks, ranking 1st in transition field goal attempts and fast break points (per NBA tracking data: https://www.nba.com/stats/teams/misc?dir=A&sort=PTS_FB). They're also 3rd in assists and 5th in assist-to-turnover ratio, emphasizing smart passes and ball security to exploit defensive weaknesses—much like a well-oiled machine avoiding breakdowns.
The Possession Principle
Pulling all this together, a clear pattern emerges: for teams not chasing three-point volume, every possession is golden. They gain extra plays through offensive rebounds, avoid costly turnovers, or maximize created advantages. No opportunity is squandered, emphasizing that in basketball, control of the game clock and ball can be as vital as flashy shooting.
But here's where it gets controversial— is this traditional approach just a temporary outlier in a three-point obsessed era, or could it signal a broader shift back to fundamentals? Do you think reliance on post-ups and midrange will fade, or might more teams adopt this 'old-school' style? And what about the argument that three-point shooting democratizes scoring, making it accessible to any player, versus these skill-heavy methods that favor elite big men? I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments—agree or disagree, let's discuss!
