The Splash Brothers of lacrosse: How Cannons have mastered the two-point game
By Sarah Griffin | Jul 22, 2024
Nicknamed “The Splash Brothers,” Steph Curry and Klay Thompson set the precedent in the modern-day NBA for the importance of the three-pointer.
Two of the greatest shooters in the game, the duo’s prowess from outside the three-point arc played a large role in the making of the Golden State Warriors’ dynasty from 2015 to 2022.
As Cannons head coach Brian Holman noted after Boston’s 17-12 victory over the New York Atlas on Saturday, basketball and lacrosse aren’t all that different.
While there might not be as many in-depth studies and analytics on the impact of the two-point arc in lacrosse as there are on the three-pointer in basketball, a case could be made based on the success of the 2024 Boston Cannons alone.
“To not take advantage of it [the two-point arc], from my perspective, would be a coaching mistake,” Holman said.
It’s no secret the Cannons like to let it fly from 15 yards. Boston has embraced the long ball as another dimension to its already high-powered offense all season long. With 14 two-point goals in seven games, they lead the PLL by a staggering margin in twos, with the Denver Outlaws ranking second from beyond the arc with six through five games.
Boston’s 14 twos already are a franchise record, beating the previous mark of 13 set last year. With three regular-season games remaining, the Cannons are only one two-pointer away from tying the 2023 Whipsnakes’ single-season PLL record (15).
Currently, they’re on pace for 20, which would be the most by any pro team since the MLL's Chesapeake Bayhawks scored 28 two-pointers in 2012.
Boston’s proficiency from range has not only enhanced its scoring potential, but also given them significant strategic advantages, even on the days when they’re not shooting the ball as well as they’d like.
By the numbers
In 2023, the Cannons led the league in shooting percentage (31.2%) and scores per game (14.3). This year, they rank fifth in shooting (26.1%) and third in scoring (12.7 per game). There’s no question about the skill of the Cannons’ roster as shooters; they’ve got offensive weapons all over the field. But while their shooting percentage has dipped, their strength from range makes up for it.
Eight different Cannons players have drained at least one two-pointer this season. The league leader in twos thus far is Matt Campbell (four), whose efficiency from the outside has led to a breakout year for the dynamic second-year pro.
“I think a strength of my game in college was shooting from the outside,” Campbell told me back in February.
In his rookie season, Campbell netted just one two-pointer. In less than a year, we’ve seen a remarkable ascension from the Villanova product, who looks more confident than ever in his role as a do-it-all midfielder for Boston.
With his ability to shoot with either hand, it’s a struggle for opposing defenses to contain Campbell. He’s only been held off the scoresheet once all season, in Boston’s 9-7 loss to the California Redwoods on July 5. Redwoods head coach Nat St. Laurent said shutting off Campbell and the rest of Boston’s midfield group was a huge emphasis for his defense in that game.
That strategy made sense. Two weeks earlier, the Cannons set the single-game PLL record for two-pointers with five in a 14-9 win over the Utah Archers, transforming what could have been a tie game into a commanding victory. Campbell, Ryan Drenner and Chris Aslanian all joined in on what was coined “the Boston two party.”
“You’ve got to give them the green light”
Though it’s not as conspicuous in every game as it was against the Archers, the impact of the two-point shot is evident in every Cannons contest.
In their narrow 12-11 overtime victory over the Waterdogs in Philadelphia, two-pointers from faceoff specialist Zac Tucci and Campbell made all the difference.
On the flip side, in games where Boston fell short, its lack of two-point prowess was a key factor. Their low-scoring loss to the Redwoods saw a rare drought from beyond the arc with no two-pointers, underscoring how integral the long shot has become to the Cannons’ offensive scheme.
Coach Holman has empowered his players to take these high-risk, high-reward shots. Campbell, Aslanian, Drenner and Marcus Holman are the main candidates to fire a shot from 15 yards, but a large reason Boston is so successful from the outside is its diverse range of players capable of scoring from distance.
Tucci, Jeff Trainor, Connor Kirst and Matt Kavanagh all have scored at least one two-point goal this season. With so many threats from distance, there’s little room for error for opposing defenses.
“To execute it, you’ve got to give them the green light,” Coach Holman explained on Saturday.
Trainor, a short-stick defensive midfielder, scored his first two-point goal of the season against the Atlas in Fairfield to cap off a four-point day. Opponents anticipate guys like Trainor making their lives difficult on the defensive end, but he’s just one of many defense-centric Cannons players who can capitalize at range if given the chance.
“We power them to take it,” Coach Holman remarked. “They’re smart enough to know what’s a good two-point attempt and what’s not. It’s something that is a part of our offense right now, and we make a concerted effort to take those shots during a game.”
The Cannons’ success from the two-point arc is not just about the numbers; it’s opened up their entire offensive playbook. With threats from deep forcing defenses to extend, opportunities for one-point goals and inside plays for their attack open up. This multifaceted approach has propelled their offense to new heights.
In a league where every advantage counts, the Cannons’ embrace of the two-point shot has set them apart. Just as Golden State revolutionized the NBA with the three-point shot, Boston is setting the standard in pro lacrosse when it comes to the long ball.
