It has been foretold that three ThunderClan catsJayfeather, Lionblaze, and Dovepawwill hold the power of the stars in their paws. The drop in free throws doesn’t explain the scoring decline on its own, but it may be having second- and third-order effects that make it easier to see what happens. This collectible, giftable box set contains paperback editions of all six epic adventures in Erin Hunters nationally bestselling Warriors: Omen of the Stars story arc. Players are also making the ones they get slightly less often. Despite the best efforts of Dwight Howard and Hassan Whiteside, league-wide free-throw attempts are down by nearly 10 percent, from 21.8 per 100 possessions last year to 20.0. And then we have the free throws - or rather, the lack of them. For the first time in eons, you’re better off giving up a 3 (1.02 expected points) than a 2 (1.03). Eighteen of the league’s 30 teams are shooting 34 percent or less from distance, with the league as a whole at 34 percent. Relative to the same point in 2020-21, field-goal shooting is down nearly a full point in particular, nobody can make a 3.

The median team is averaging 105.3 points per 100 possessions, compared to 108.0 at the same time last season. With a healthy shove in the back from the refs (more on that in a minute), league-wide scoring and efficiency are both way down from where they were a year ago. Is defense back? Through 12 days of regular-season action, it sure seems so.