Shaq Is Still Bad For Your Team Defense, Just In Really Interesting Ways

However, Shaq’s inability to step out on the pick-and-roll, among other factors, has caused the Cavs to regress in how well they’ve defended the mid-range shot. Last season, the Cavaliers were better than the league average at defending shots from <10 feet, 10-15 feet, and 16-23 feet. This season, opponents’ FG% from all of those areas is better than the league average. Last season, the Cavs allowed 13.3 baskets per game from midrange. This season, they allow 16 baskets per game from midrange, and with the better percentages they’re allowing from midrange, that regression more than cancels out the Cavs’ defensive improvement in the paint this season.

The Cavs were excellent at defending the three-pointer last season, and that’s continued this year. The Cavs only allow opponents to make 5.5 three-pointers a game this season, on a very low eFG% of 47.5%. Essentially, the Cavs are a weak at defending midrange shots, but great at defending the perimeter and the rim.

Last season, I would’ve rejoiced at this news. As any advanced-stats junkie knows, threes and shots at the rim are far more efficient than midrange shots, and cutting off those weapons is a great way to neutralize an offense.

However, when I was doing some research this off-season, I found something that shocked me. I did a regression analysis of offensive efficiency against what percentage of a team’s shots came from midrange, and there was absolutely no correlation. None. The midrange shot might be inefficient compared to threes and shots at the rim, but that gap can be overcome by converting the shots a team takes at a high level, and it’s easier to get good looks from midrange than it is to get good looks at the rim or from deep.

via The Changing Cavalier Defense And What It Means « Cavs: The Blog.

Interesting stuff from Krolik regarding the Cavs’ team defense.  The correlation isn’t terribly surprising, but I’d like to see how the other team’s 16-23 foot percentages will shift as the year goes on. You’d have to imagine that versus three pointers and inside shots, that range is going to have the most variance month to month. Shooting slumps, etc.

Shaq provides a cushion for the interior and perimeter defenders but is going to leave you with problems against teams that can create space. You know, like most of the elite teams in the league.

Oster-Tags: cleveland cavaliers, lebron james, shaq, Shaquille O'Neal, shaqus gluteus maximus