Cavaliers top the list of teams shooting the 3-pointer

• ESPN Stats & Information

Notice something different about the Cleveland Cavaliers in their 7-1 start?
The Cavaliers have made the 3-point shot more a part of their offense, at least through eight games. Friday, they went 14-of-33 from 3-point range in a win over the Wizards.
The Cavaliers have taken at least 32 3-pointers in all eight games this season. Last season, they took that many in 26 of their 82 regular-season games (32 percent) and didn’t take that many in a game until their 10th game of the season. But in the playoffs, they upped their average considerably, averaging more than 30 per game. They set an NBA record with 25 3-pointers in a win over the Hawks.
One of the Cavaliers with the biggest jumps in 3-point attempts is Kyrie Irving, who was 4-of-9 in Friday’s win. He’s shooting 40 percent on 3-pointers this season.
You might remember that Irving shot 32 percent from 3-point range last season, but then shot 44 percent in the postseason, capped by his NBA-title winning basket in Game 7 of the NBA Finals against the Warriors.
Irving has taken 57 3-pointers in eight games, and though it’s very early to consider season paces, he’s on pace for 584. He has never previously reached even 400 3-point attempts.
LeBron James is averaging 4.5 attempts per game (he averaged 3.7 last season). James, who entered shooting 28 percent from 3-point range, was 3-of-4 in Friday's game.
In fairness, this trend of increased 3-point attempts is one being experienced leaguewide. Teams averaged 24 3-point attempts per game last season. In the early going of 2016-17, that number is closer to 26.
They've been making 3-pointers this season at about the same rate as last season (37 percent).
The Cavaliers ranked third in the NBA in 3-point shot attempts last season behind the Warriors and Rockets.
This season, they’re first, at 35.5 per game, up nearly six attempts per game from 2015-16. And they’re nearly five attempts ahead of the Warriors (30.7), who rank fifth.