Basketball
How 3v3 basketball compares with the 5v5 game
Indian women’s basketball team player Shireen Limaye points out five differences between the two formats of basketball.
Most popular sports around the world have been evolving over the last few decades.
One of the most common evolutions of sports has been the creation of shorter formats to make the game quicker, more competitive, and easier for fans to watch.
Cricket has T20 as the shortest format of the game. Football has the 11v11 full match and the 5v5 shorter version, with the field size and match time reducing as well as the number of players. Rugby also has the 15s and 7s formats, with varying field sizes and match timings. And basketball has the 5v5 and the 3v3 formats.
Unlike other sports, there are huge differences between the two formats of the basketball game and these are especially evident to people that play the sport.
The easy changes to spot are that 5v5 is a 40-minute game played by two teams of five players each on a full court, while 3v3 is a 10-minute game played by two teams of three players each on half court.
But if you look further into the two formats, you can see that the game completely changes and players need a whole new approach to succeed. That’s what makes it exciting; players who excel at 5v5 don’t necessarily do well in 3v3, unlike other sports where there is an overlap of athletes over different formats.
Here are a few points of comparison between the two formats.
3v3 basketball is much faster
The 5v5 format of standard basketball is slower than the intense 3v3 action. With a shorter game time, players have to move quickly to outscore their opponent. At 12 seconds, the shot clock in 3v3 is also half of that used in 5v5, which means scoring attempts have to be made in half the time. With the game being played on the same rim, teams don’t have to move across the court to score, so that also makes for a faster game.
Less endurance, more agility
With speed being one of the most important aspects of the 3v3 game, athletes with better agility tend to perform better. In the 5v5 game, stamina comes into play, but 3v3 is about agility and great conditioning. Players need to go back-and-forth in a small space to perform better in 3v3. Also, with fewer breaks in play and fewer timeouts, there isn’t much chance to catch your breath.
Formations and defensive structure
Defensive strategy is almost non-existent in 3v3 basketball. With just three players running all across half a court, playing man-to-man defence is almost impossible. A zonal defence also doesn’t work because there is no time to set up for positions. In defence, most teams strategise to quickly mark the closest opposition player once they lose possession of the ball.
Individual play over teamwork
There is a higher priority for players to be able to execute solo plays rather than fit into a team mould. With zonal formations ruled out and fewer players on the court, there is more space for individual play. The shorter format sees more opportunity for drive-ins, lay-ups and jump shots, so players better at taking on their defenders and beating them are likely to do well.
No coaches
When playing 5v5, coaches can use timeouts or breaks in play to instruct players and draw up strategies for the team’s next possession. In 3v3, teams aren’t allowed to have coaches courtside, so they don’t get any expert advice on how to improve their game while playing.
Red Bull Reign is a 3v3 basketball tournament for streetballers which is conducted around the world. Northern Spartans won the India FInals of the tournament and will represent the country at the World Finals in Toronto. Get regular updates on Red Bull Reign here.