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The Lowdown: Phil Ford

January 15, 2012 in by with 0 Comments

“How can you expect to win the game when three of our starters wanted Ford’s autograph?”

- University of Rochester coach Mike Neer

Years Active: 1979 – 1985

Career Stats: 11.6 ppg, 6.4 apg, 1.8 rpg, 1.2 spg, 46.7 FG%, 82.0 FT%

Accolades: 1979 Rookie of the Year, All-NBA 2nd Team (1979), All-Rookie 1st Team (1979)

Sports is filled with a bevvy of surprising twists and turns. Little known players plucked deep in the draft or who languish in minor and overseas leagues sometimes make it big like Nick Van Exel. Other times, players fulfill the hype surrounding their #1 pick status and routinely exhibit the stuff of legend like Magic Johnson.

Then there are the handful of cases… the handful of sobering, disquieting and painful cases… of players gifted beyond belief. Who possess talent able to change the course of games, if not the course of The Game, but who never get the chance to totally work their magic, to ply their skill to the utmost.

That’s the maddening case of point guard Phil Ford. Greatness, sheer basketball beauty, cut down as it was blossoming into something spectacular. Something positively wonderful.

Continue Reading…

Paroxysmal Pursuit: Peak Passing and Ridiculous Rebounding

January 15, 2012 in by with 0 Comments

Photo by hubertk via flickr

In this Paroxysmal Pursuit, we continue the quest of seeing when players peak. However, unlike the 1st two installments, this one eschews scoring for the other noble hardwood pursuits of rebounding and assisting.  Below are the 49 players to have averaged 6+ apg for their career and the 48 players to have 10+ rpg for their career. All players chosen had to have played a minimum of 500 career games. Furthermore, the career high had to have come from a season in which they played 50+ games. So no credit for putting up 10.4 apg in a 16-game season, Mark Price.

After the tables will be the usual Paroxysmal Notes of Interest to give meaning to the globs of numbers.

Note: Bob Cousy, Harry Gallatin and Dolph Schayes had the great fortune of playing part of their careers during a time when the NBA did not log minutes played. Their minutes played were not used in the overall averages.

REBOUNDING

Player Year Season Age Minutes Peak RPG Career RPG
Dolph Schayes 1951 2 22  n/a 16.4 12.1
Harry Gallatin 1954 6 26 6954 15.3 11.9
Neil Johnston 1955 4 25 10372 15.1 11.3
Wilt Chamberlain 1961 2 24 7111 27.2 22.9
Bob Pettit 1961 7 28 19268 20.3 16.2
Walter Dukes 1961 6 30 11862 14.1 11.3
Walt Bellamy 1962 1 22 3344 19 13.7
Red Kerr 1962 8 29 18704 14.7 11.2
Bill Russell 1964 8 29 24333 24.7 22.5
Willis Reed 1965 1 22 3042 14.7 12.9
Jerry Lucas 1966 3 25 9654 21.1 15.6
Bill Bridges 1967 5 27 10492 15.1 11.9
Nate Thurmond 1968 5 26 13013 22 15
Dave DeBusschere 1968 6 27 14143 13.5 11
Wes Unseld 1969 1 22 2970 18.2 14
Elgin Baylor 1970 3 26 8861 19.8 13.5
Spencer Haywood 1970 1 20 3808 19.5 10.3
Billy Cunningham 1970 5 26 12197 13.6 10.4
Red Robbins 1970 3 25 8161 16.2 10.5
Gerald Govan 1970 3 28 7190 14.5 10.5
Zelmo Beaty 1971 8 31 20050 15.7 10.9
Mel Daniels 1971 4 26 12081 18 14.9
Gus Johnson 1971 8 32 19055 17.1 12.1
Elmore Smith 1972 1 22 3186 15.2 10.6
Clyde Lee 1972 6 27 12890 14.5 10.3
Bob Lanier 1973 3 24 8259 14.9 10.1
Dave Cowens 1973 3 24 9687 16.2 13.6
Artis Gilmore 1974 3 24 10670 18.3 12.3
Elvin Hayes 1974 6 28 21403 18.1 12.5
George McGinnis 1974 3 23 8792 15 11
Happy Hairston 1974 10 31 22047 13.5 10.3
Swen Nater 1975 2 25 5088 16.4 11.6
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 1976 7 28 23333 16.9 11.2
Moses Malone 1979 5 23 12376 17.6 12.3
Buck Williams 1983 2 22 5786 12.5 10
Larry Bird 1983 4 26 12099 11 10
Charles Barkley 1987 3 23 8039 14.6 11.7
Karl Malone 1988 3 24 8530 12 10.1
Hakeem Olajuwon 1990 6 27 17114 14 11.1
David Robinson 1991 2 25 6097 13 10.6
Dennis Rodman 1992 6 30 13935 18.7 13.1
Shaquille O’Neal 1993 1 20 3071 13.9 10.9
Dikembe Mutombo 2000 9 33 25114 14.1 10.3
Tim Duncan 2003 6 26 17726 12.9 11.4
Kevin Garnett 2004 9 27 26462 13.9 10.7
Carlos Boozer 2007 5 25 9995 11.7 10
Dwight Howard 2008 4 22 11802 14.2 12.9
Marcus Camby 2008 12 33 21303 13.1 10
Average 4.6 25.8 12010 16.1 12.2

 

ASSISTS

Player Year Season Age Minutes Peak APG Career APG
Bob Cousy 1960 10 31 23574 9.5 7.5
Oscar Robertson 1965 5 26 17036 11.5 9.5
Guy Rodgers 1967 9 31 24209 11.2 7.8
Walt Frazier 1970 3 24 7577 8.2 6.1
Norm Van Lier 1971 2 23 6219 10.1 7
Lenny Wilkens 1972 12 34 31447 9.1 6.7
Jerry West 1972 12 33 33144 9.7 6.7
Tiny Archibald 1973 3 24 9820 11.4 7.4
Dave Bing 1973 7 29 19706 7.8 6
Kevin Porter 1979 7 28 14826 13.4 8.1
Michael Ray Richardson 1980 2 24 4278 10.1 7
Magic Johnson 1984 5 24 12631 13.1 11.2
Norm Nixon 1984 7 28 20900 11.1 8.3
John Lucas 1984 8 30 17374 10.7 7
Isiah Thomas 1985 4 23 11622 13.9 9.3
Johnny Moore 1985 5 26 10824 10 7.4
Maurice Cheeks 1986 8 29 20790 9.2 6.7
Reggie Theus 1986 8 28 21256 9.6 6.3
John Bagley 1986 4 25 7575 9.4 6
Fat Lever 1987 5 26 12259 8 6.2
Larry Bird 1987 8 30 24406 7.6 6.3
Kevin Johnson 1989 2 22 5096 12.2 9.1
Nate McMillan 1989 3 24 6766 9.3 6.1
John Stockton 1990 6 27 14211 14.5 10.5
Muggsy Bogues 1990 3 25 6126 10.7 7.6
Mark Price 1990 4 25 9277 9.1 6.7
Michael Adams 1991 6 28 12043 10.5 6.4
Pooh Richardson 1991 2 24 5735 9 6.5
Tim Hardaway 1993 4 26 11819 10.6 8.2
Scott Skiles 1993 7 28 12173 9.4 6.5
Mookie Blaylock 1994 5 26 12135 9.7 6.7
Kenny Anderson 1994 3 23 6231 9.6 6.1
Damon Stoudamire 1996 1 22 2865 9.3 6.1
Mark Jackson 1997 10 31 26137 11.4 8
Rod Strickland 1998 10 31 25432 10.5 7.3
Jason Kidd 1999 5 25 12844 10.8 9.1
Stephon Marbury 1999 3 21 7331 8.9 7.6
Nick Van Exel 2000 7 28 17899 9 6.6
Sam Cassell 2000 7 30 12104 9 6
Terrell Brandon 2000 9 29 17762 8.9 6.1
Andre Miller 2002 3 25 7964 10.9 7.2
Gary Payton 2002 12 33 34735 9 6.7
Allen Iverson 2005 9 29 25338 7.9 6.2
Steve Francis 2005 6 27 17803 7 6
Brevin Knight 2005 8 29 11940 9 6.1
Baron Davis 2006 7 26 16161 8.9 7.3
Steve Nash 2007 11 32 23748 11.6 8.5
Dwyane Wade 2009 6 27 14925 7.5 6.3
LeBron James 2010 7 25 22108 8.6 7
Average 6.12 27 15138 9.9 7.2

 

 

Paroxysmal Notes of Interests

Rebounding Pre-80s, Assisting Post-80s

There is a pretty stark difference in when rebounding aces abounded and when assisting dynamos sprouted. Only 14 of the 48  rebounders (29%) peaked after 1980, whereas only 10 players who peaked prior to 1980 (20%) made the assist list. A rather strange phenomenon that can’t be completely answered here. The generally acknowledged glut of possessions in the 1960s spiked rebounding (and point) totals of the era, but didn’t do so for assists apparently. Maybe team offenses weren’t so centralized to the point guard position at that time. More players initiated offense and spread the assists out more, perhaps. Or maybe old curmudgeons are right when they say assists are handed out too liberally by score keepers these days.

Who knows?

Youthful Rebounders, Geriatric Passing

Rebounding is the domain of the young player. At least rebounding peak. Players, of course, continue to be great at it for years, but the peak happens incredibly early: season 4.6, age 25.8 and by the 12,000th minute played. On the flip side, playmakers take their time maturing. The averages were season 6.12, age 27 and just over the 15,000th minute played. Also, it’s worth mentioning that Gary Payton at age 33 and with over 34,000 minutes is both the oldest and, literally, most played player to hit a career high in scoring, rebounding or assists.

EDIT: If I could read my own table, I would see that Lenny Wilkens was 34 years old when he hit his peak, thereby beating Payton. My poor eyes.

To refresh your memory on scorers, they hit their peak in season 5.35, age 25.7 and minute 14,293.

Ageless Wonders

For scorers, only 5 of the 60 members of the 20+ ppg club hit their peak in season 10 or higher. That’s 8.3%. For rebounders this was 2 out of 48 (4.2%) and for assist leaders it was 6 out of 49 (12.2%).

Shifting the focus to age, 16.7% of scorers were 30 years or older at their peak. 22.4% of the playmakers and 10.1% of the rebounders achieved the same feat.

Finally, with minutes played, 23.3% of scorers peaked after their 20,000th minute. 16.7% of rebounders and 28.6% of playmakers did the same.

Youthful Exuberance

The exact same number of playmakers hit their peak under 10,000 minutes as did above 20,000 minutes (28.6%). For rebounders this fresh from the can experience was done by 43.8%. As for scorers, 28.3% topped off under 10,000 minutes.

For the under-25 crowd each category had the following percentages: rebounding 35.4%, assists 24.5% and points 40%.

To bring this exercise to a close, there’s the percentage of players who hit their peaks before their 5th season: rebounding 54.2%, assists 32.7%, and scoring 43.3%.

Bird is the Word

I would have loved to conclude this with an Hakeem Olajuwon clip, again, but since Larry Bird is the only player to appear in each table thanks to his assists, rebounding and scoring averages meeting the lofty minimums, he deserves this spot.

Go get ‘em, Larry!

[flash www.youtube.com/watch?v=p_nfsq4pTpI w=600 h=400]

The Lowdown: Don Buse

January 8, 2012 in by with 1 Comment

Photo via Indiana Pacers

“Me being named to the team was something unusual. Most of the guys in here are averaging at least 15 points a game. And here’s me, averaging 8 or 9. It’s a switch for people to recognize my style.”

- Don Buse, via the Milwaukee Journal, 1977

Years Active: 1973 – 1985

Career Stats: 7.1 ppg, 4.6 apg, 2.7 rpg, 2.0 spg, 44% FG, 33% 3PT, 77.7% FT

Accolades: ABA All-Star (1976), NBA All-Star (1977), 2x All-ABA Defensive 1st Team (1975-’76), 4x All-NBA Defensive 1st Team (1977-’80), All-ABA 2nd Team (1976), 1973 ABA Champion (Pacers), ABA APG and SPG leader (1976), NBA APG and SPG leader (1977)

Don Buse making the 1977 all-star team was a bit of a fluke. If it weren’t for Bill Walton going down injured, he wouldn’t have had a spot. But there was Buse suiting up in one of the more classic all-star games. His stat line wasn’t impressive: 4 points and 5 assists in 19 minutes.

Nonetheless, Boo worked his magic and sparked the West squad to victory along with Paul Westphal. Entering the game with 5:31 left in the 3rd quarter and the West down 83 – 75, Don instantly opened up ball movement on offense and terrorized the East on defense, ultimately ending the game with 4 steals. At the end of the 3rd, the West had swung the game around to a 97-89 lead and would go on to win 125 – 124.

That would be Buse’s 2nd and final all-star game, but the Hoosier State legend had already accomplished much and would continue to do so.

Continue Reading…

Paroxysmal Pursuit 2: When Do Scorers Reach Their Peak Boogaloo?

January 8, 2012 in by with 0 Comments

Photo by Petur Gunnarsson via Flickr

 In last week’s first-ever Paroxysmal Pursuit, I looked at when scorers reach their peach average based on seasons and chronological age. However, the always cerebral Clint Peterson chimed in that I might want to take a gander at this same phenomena but from the perspective of minutes played in a players career.

Not in the mood to argue or think of a fresh research idea, I happily took up Clint’s suggestion, so here we are with a different look at the same question: when do scorers reach their peak?

Note: The minutes are the grand total of minutes the player played up to and including the season he reached his highest scoring average.

 

Player Minutes Year Season Age
Walt Bellamy 3344 1962 1 22
Spencer Haywood 3808 1970 1 20
Bob Lanier 5109 1972 2 23
Marques Johnson 5544 1979 2 22
Dave Bing 5971 1968 2 24
Rick Barry 6165 1967 2 22
Charlie Scott 6423 1972 2 23
Julius Erving 6506 1973 2 22
Dan Issel 6844 1972 2 23
Michael Jordan 6876 1987 3 23
Mark Aguirre 7152 1984 3 24
John Drew 7328 1977 3 22
Amare Stoudemire 7484 2005 3 22
Vince Carter 7865 2001 3 24
David Thompson 9127 1978 3 23
Bob McAdoo 9286 1975 3 23
LeBron James 9871 2006 3 21
Kareem 10405 1972 3 24
World B. Free 10963 1980 5 26
Elgin Baylor 10990 1962 4 27
Wilt Chamberlain 10993 1962 3 25
Elvin Hayes 10993 1971 3 25
Carmelo Anthony 11030 2007 4 22
Charles Barkley 11209 1988 4 24
Glenn Robinson 11615 1998 4 25
George McGinnis 11985 1975 4 24
Patrick Ewing 12584 1990 5 27
Gilbert Arenas 12745 2006 5 24
Billy Cunningham 12917 1970 5 26
Oscar Robertson 13615 1964 4 25

 

Player Minutes Year Season Age
Adrian Dantley 13615 1981 5 24
Tracy McGrady 13700 2003 6 23
Tim Duncan 14545 2002 5 25
Karl Malone 14778 1990 5 26
Michael Redd 14805 2007 7 27
Dwyane Wade 14925 2009 6 27
David Robinson 15113 1994 5 28
Clyde Drexler 15777 1989 6 26
Paul Arizin 16559* 1959 7 30
Jerry West 17237 1966 6 27
Dominique Wilkins 17647 1988 6 28
Chris Webber 18113 2001 8 27
Lou Hudson 18554 1973 7 28
Chris Bosh 18815 2010 7 25
Bernard King 19082 1985 8 28
Pete Maravich 19487 1977 7 29
Shaquille O’Neal 20148 2000 8 27
George Gervin 20445 1980 8 27
Dirk Nowitzki 22053 2006 8 27
Moses Malone 22159 1982 8 26
Alex English 22187 1986 10 32
Bob Pettit 22550 1962 8 29
Paul Pierce 22876 2006 8 28
John Havlicek 24875 1971 9 30
Kobe Bryant 25239 2006 10 27
Mitch Richmond 25506 1997 9 31
Larry Bird 27371 1988 9 31
Allen Iverson 28441 2006 10 30
Ray Allen 29599 2007 11 31
Hakeem Olajuwon 31184 1995 11 32
Averages 14293 5.35 25.7

 

*Paul Arizin’s minutes are incomplete since minutes played were not kept by the NBA as a statistic during his rookie season.

Paroxysmal Notes of Interest

Under 10000 Minutes

Has a quickly perceptible flow for these players. All players are age 24 and under and weren’t beyond their 3rd season. Curiously though, only 3 of the 17 players here had their scoring average peak after 1984. Looks like players are increasingly able to prolong when they finally reach their peak.

10000 – 15000 Minutes

A whopping 19 players hit their peaks during these minutes parameters. Those closer to 10k minutes were generally speaking in their 3rd/4th season while those on the higher end of the spectrum were in their 5th/6th season. As for chronological age, 24 – 27 is the lion’s share of player ages. Also, in this group 10 of the 19 players hit their peak in 1984 or beyond.

Outliers in various categories include World B. Free who reached his peak in his 5th season at 10,963 minutes. Tracy McGrady (23) and Carmelo Anthony (22) were the youngest players in this range of scorers.

15000 – 20000 Minutes

10 players fell into this group with 6 peaking after the 1984 season. All were in their 6th, 7th or 8th season except for David Robinson who was only in his 5th. However, the Admiral was already 28 years old which made him average for chronological age in this group.

The oldest player was Paul Arizin at 30 years old in his 7th season who lost two years of his career to the Marines, so conceivably he might have worn down quicker and therefore peaked earlier in his career or might have maintained the same production and instead have logged over 20,000 minutes before reaching his peak.

The youngest was Chris Bosh at age 25, but he also played the 3rd highest minutes of the group.

20,000 – 23,000 Minutes

All of the 7 players here was in their 8th season except Alex English (10th) and all except Bob Pettit (1962) peaked after 1980.

23,000+ Minutes

Another 7 players here to complete the group. All were 30 years of age or older except for the 27-year old Kobe Bryant who logged in at just over 25,000 minutes in his 10th season. And as for seasons, 3 players were in their 9th and 2 a piece for 10th and 11th seasons.

Minus John Havlicek’s glorious 1971 campaign, all of the players here peaked during or after the 1988 season. Players are definitely  prolonging the time it takes to peak. In fact, prior to 1985, 30 of the players here hit their peak. Only 9 did so above the average minute mark of 14,293. After 1985 another 30 players hit their peak and 19 of them did so above the average minute mark.

And of course, only one man reached the peak after logging 30,000 minutes… Hakeem Olajuwon.

Roll that beautiful Dream footage.

[flash www.youtube.com/watch?v=0GCyU0sKxqI w=600 h=400]

15-Footer 1/8/12: Spanish Hustle

January 8, 2012 in by with 0 Comments

Photo by Mild Mannered Photographer via Flickr

Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Washington Wizards Bullets (1pm EST)

The Spanish Sensation Ricky Rubio comes to DC looking to slog it out with Super Stud John Wall. Except Wall hasn’t been that super because his teammates are a motley crew of ne’er do wells and bumbling fools. A players only meeting sounds like a step in the right direction for the Bullets, but having Andray Blatche in there to air out more grievances can’t be all that productive now can it?

Anyways, “Spanish Hustle” highlights…

[flash www.youtube.com/watch?v=eb7qvB9pw8E w=400 h=300]

Orlando Magic vs. Sacramento Kings (6pm EST)

Look for Francisco Garcia to warm up the bench in a big way in this contest. The 31-year old wingma… HOLY FUDGE, he’s 31?!

*ahem*

The 31-year old wingman has done next to nothing this year and it’s just as well. He has an intriguing blend of skills but he always gets broken in some grisly fashion. We’ll always have the memories though Francisco.

[flash www.youtube.com/watch?v=DLY2p_xxNlc w=400 h=300]

San Antonio Spurs vs. Oklahoma City Thunder (7pm EST)

A real bummer this game won’t be all that it could have been now that Ginobili is out for several weeks. Nonetheless, honorary Spaniard Serge Ibaka will tussle down low with Brazilian Tiago Splitter in a battle for Iberian language supremacy. The edge should go to Ibaka but Splitter has played decently in his expanded role this year as Tim Duncan has been copiously rested.

[flash www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_e9iM__rLQ w=400 h=300]

Milwaukee Bucks vs. Phoenix Suns (8pm EST)

Despite the Arizona legislature’s best efforts, the Spanish Hustle trucks on into the state for this contest. Carlos Delfino had two very good games to start his season, but has since fallen off a bit. One game he had the playing time but flat out failed to produce (1-8 shooting) but in the other he played a scant 12 minutes against the Kings. As the Suns proved in their last game against Portland, nothing’s going to be easy for the Bucks, but Delfino could definitely saunter into some three-point action.

[flash www.youtube.com/watch?v=ruC0oNmdqLE w=400 h=300]

Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Portland Trail Blazers (9pm EST)

The least exciting matchup today. Not a single player of Spanish/Hispanic origin. I don’t even know what to focus on. I guess we can look forward to Gerald Wallace abuse Antawn Jamison. Or maybe Anderson Varejao tangling with LaMarcus Aldridge. Actually, that should be pretty fun. Luxurious offensive expertise against grizzled defensive savvy.

Memphis Grizzlies vs. Los Angeles Lakers (9pm EST)

The cherry on top of this Spanish Hustle Sunday: Marc vs Pau. Sure Kobe Bryant will probably take 40 shots and kill the top value this matchup could possess, but he can’t totally strangle it. Also, this is where I engage in fanciful Rocket fandom and fool myself into thinking we were thiiiis close to having both Gasols until Emperor Stern quashed the Chris Paul trade.

The fantasy is so good though, I’m ditching the Fatback Band in this last video for Steve Winwood’s dreamy “Spanish Dancer”.

[flash www.youtube.com/watch?v=izIZlS2NNRw w=400 h=300]

15-Footer 1/6/12: A Night To Remember

January 6, 2012 in by with 0 Comments

[flash http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=END_WYdf8pw w=600 h=400]

So, so many games. I may overlook the finer points, but then again, people seem to forget that Jeffrey Daniels (above in the video) taught Michael Jackson the Moonwalk…

Detroit Pistons vs Philadelphia 76ers (7pm EST)

Jason Maxiell was once considered an up-and-coming big man. Naturally Joe Dumars re-signed him and he’s been terrible ever since. Evan Turner’s baby face better watch out though, Jason loves the flesh of infants…

Detroit Bad Bays

New York Knickerbockers vs. Washington Wizards Bullets (7pm EST)

Turiaf’s Reven… oh that’s right, he’s hurt. Earlier than normal in the season, too. Oh well.

New Jersey Nets vs. Toronto Raptors (7pm EST)

Do you recall that night, that very special night when Andrea Bargnani grabbed 17 rebounds? Nah, I don’t either. Took me totally by surprise, actually. If only Brook Lopez weren’t hurt. We could gather the family ’round the TV to enjoy the spectacle.

But seriously, Bargnani will probably eat the Nets front court alive for 25 points and 8 rebounds. He’s a different player so far this year. Thanks Dwane Casey!

Atlanta Hawks vs. Charlotte Bobcats (7pm EST)

Remember that one time Boris Diaw nearly got a triple double… and then followed that up by grabbing 16 rebounds the next night? It was last week.  At least he didn’t string anyone along in his subsequent, disappointing collapse. The Knicks sure know how to rejuvenate a season!

[flash http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2mlRiZjyx5w w=400 h=300]

Indiana Pacers vs. Boston Celtics (7:30pm EST)

STIEMSMA!

[flash http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wyrp1WfPhUc w=400 h=300]

Really, I love this kid even if he does sound like an eye disease. He should be getting as many minutes as he can sop up in stead of Jermaine’s corpse.

Denver Nuggets vs. New Orleans Hornets (8pm EST)

It wasn’t that long ago that the Nuggets obliterated the Hornets in the playoffs. The casts may have changed, but the ending will probably be the same. Faried will break them.

Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Minnesota Timberwolves (8 pm EST)

The ghosts of Wolves past will return to the Twin Cities. Will Ryan Hollins inexplicably play more minutes than Kevin Love to remind us of the good times? Or will Ramon Sessions break Rubio’s ankles in order to show he should have been Minnesota’s franchise point guard?

Plus there’s potential fireworks from Derrick Williams and Tristan Thompson. I bet this ends up being the game of the night!

Chicago Bulls vs. Orlando Magic (8pm EST)

I can’t help but wonder how much better off the Bulls would be right now if they had just offered J.J. Redick enough money to ward off the Magic a couple of offseasons ago. Rip Hamilton’s still ok, however his basketball skills are diminishing especially when he’s not leading mutinies.  Redick is shooting it lights out this year and will only get better.

Furthermore, JJ is easy on the eyes while Hamilton is a milkdud head with a face mask.

Houston Rockets vs. Oklahoma City Thunder (8pm EST)

The Thunder’s trio of Harden, Durant and Westbrook draw fouls at prodigious rates. Meanwhile in Clutch City…

Trend to watch: Houston is drawing foul shots at a rate so low, per field-goal attempt, as to be basically unprecedented in NBA history.
January 5, 2012 10:22 am via webReplyRetweetFavorite
@ZachLowe_SI
Zach Lowe

Memphis Grizzlies vs Utah Jazz (9pm EST)

The curiously curious front court rotation of Utah will continue to guffaw, while Memphis continues to acclimate to life without Z-Bo with Speights parachuting in from Philly to stopgap. Watching Zach Randolph and Al Jefferson bear down on each other would have been great, though. Jeff Ruland – James Edwards level great:

Photo from Philly Burbs

Portland Trail Blazers vs. Phoenix Suns (10:30pm EST)

The Suns make no sense. Only one player is averaging over 30 minutes a night (Dudley). Their leading rebounder is Channing Frye at 8.7 per game. Hakim Warrick paces all scorers with 13 a game. Most shocking is Nash shooting 42% from the field.

However, Stevie is shooting 56% over the last two games. I suspect good things are gonna happen tonight for the Nashettes. Portland has to be tired from the thorough trouncing they gave the Lakers.

Golden State Warriors vs. Los Angeles Lakers (10:30pm EST)

[flash http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6vdT0GbN3DM w=400 h=300]

Get well, Steph.

The Lowdown: Richie Guerin

January 1, 2012 in by with 1 Comment

Photo via nasljerseys

 ”It is inconceivable to me that any coach in any sport, even under the most severe emotional strain, would threaten ‘there will be a lot of blood spilled on that floor tomorrow night’ and that ‘certain players may not be around the game is over.’”

- NBA Commissioner Walter Kennedy explaining why he fined Richie Guerin $1000 in 1970

Years Active: 1957 – 1970

Career Stats: 17.3 ppg, 5.0 apg, 5.0 apg, 41.6% FG, 78% FT

Accolades: 6x All-Star (1958 – ’63), 3x All-NBA 2nd Team (1959-’60, 1962), Coach of the Year (1968)

Few have played basketball with as much intensity as Richie Guerin as he careened up and down the court leaving a wake of destruction. A point guard of fury, he routinely jawed, elbowed and belittled opponents and teammates alike. This pitbull of the hardwood wanted nothing more than to win, but like many greats, the ultimate success of a title would elude Guerin. However, in his quest he left a dubious mark as one of the pioneering score-first PGs in the NBA.

A standout guard for Iona College while averaging 20.5 points per game, Richie Guerin was drafted 17th by his hometown New York Knicks in the 1954 Draft. The Knicks would have to wait two years, however, to get their point guard. Guerin had been a Marine Reservist since he was 15 years old and now Uncle Sam called him up for active duty. Guerin served his two years at Quantico, Virginia, the recent home base for NBA all-star Paul Arizin. As the 1956-57 season loomed, Guerin finished his service and headed to New York.

Continue Reading…

Paroxysmal Pursuit: When Do Scorers Reach Their Peak?

January 1, 2012 in by with 1 Comment

Welcome to the inaugural edition of Paroxysmal Pursuit! In this and subsequent editions, I will let my mind wander the landscape of the NBA, past and present, in order to answer nonsensical, mostly unimportant and definitely trivial questions.

Photo by gareth1953 via Flickr

For this first installment of Paroxysmal Pursuit, I tackle the issue of when NBA players reach their peak in terms of scoring prowess. Now, there’s no way on earth I could peruse each and every single player in league history. Nor would I really want to. I’m not too interested in seeing when Tree Rollins averaged a career high scoring for this exercise.

So, the players sampled here are those who averaged at least 20 points per game for their career and also played in at least 500 games in the NBA and/or the ABA. The points per game minimum is my way of singling out the best scorers, even if it does come with flaws. The 500 game limit is to dispose of players whose careers didn’t last long enough to descend from peak play.

This leaves us with 60 players and the following data:

Season: the season the player hit their ppg peak.

Year: the year of their playing career ppg peak was reached.

Age: the age the player at.

% of career ppg: How much larger the high avg. was than the career avg.

Player Season Year Age High average Career Average % of career ppg
Paul Arizin 1959 7 30 26.4 22.8 115.8%
Bob Pettit 1962 8 29 31.1 26.4 117.8%
Elgin Baylor 1962 4 27 38.3 27.4 139.8%
Walt Bellamy 1962 1 22 31.6 20.1 157.2%
Wilt Chamberlain 1962 3 25 50.4 30.1 167.4%
Oscar Robertson 1964 4 25 31.4 25.7 122.2%
Jerry West 1966 6 27 31.3 27 115.9%
Rick Barry 1967 2 22 35.6 24.8 143.5%
Dave Bing 1968 2 24 27.1 20.3 133.5%
Billy Cunningham 1970 5 26 26.1 21.2 123.1%
Spencer Haywood 1970 1 20 30 20.3 147.8%
Elvin Hayes 1971 3 25 28.7 21 136.7%
John Havlicek 1971 9 30 28.9 20.8 138.9%
Bob Lanier 1972 2 23 25.7 20.1 127.9%
Dan Issel 1972 2 23 30.6 22.6 135.4%
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 1972 3 24 34.8 24.6 141.5%
Charlie Scott 1972 2 23 33.4 20.7 161.4%
Julius Erving 1973 2 22 31.9 24.2 131.8%
Lou Hudson 1973 7 28 27.1 20.2 134.2%
George McGinnis 1975 4 24 29.8 20.2 147.5%
Bob McAdoo 1975 3 23 34.5 22.1 156.1%
John Drew 1977 3 22 24.2 20.7 116.9%
Pete Maravich 1977 7 29 31.1 24.2 128.5%
David Thompson 1978 3 23 27.2 22.7 119.8%
Marques Johnson 1979 2 22 25.6 20.1 127.4%
George Gervin 1980 8 27 33.1 25.1 131.9%
World B. Free 1980 5 26 30.2 20.3 148.8%
Adrian Dantley 1981 5 24 30.7 24.3 126.3%
Moses Malone 1982 8 26 31.1 20.3 153.2%
Mark Aguirre 1984 3 24 29.5 20 147.5%

 

Player Season Year Age High average Career Average % of career ppg
Bernard King 1985 8 28 32.9 22.5 146.2%
Alex English 1986 10 32 29.8 21.5 138.6%
Michael Jordan 1987 3 23 37.1 30.1 123.3%
Larry Bird 1988 9 31 29.9 24.3 123%
Dominique Wilkins 1988 6 28 30.7 24.8 123.8%
Charles Barkley 1988 4 24 28.3 22.1 128%
Clyde Drexler 1989 6 26 27.2 20.4 133.3%
Karl Malone 1990 5 26 31 25 124%
Patrick Ewing 1990 5 27 28.6 21 136.2%
David Robinson 1994 5 28 29.8 21.1 141.2%
Hakeem Olajuwon 1995 11 32 27.8 21.8 127.5%
Mitch Richmond 1997 9 31 25.9 21 123.3%
Glenn Robinson 1998 4 25 23.4 20.7 113%
Shaquille O’Neal 2000 8 27 29.7 23.7 125.3%
Vince Carter 2001 3 24 27.6 22.1 124.9%
Chris Webber 2001 8 27 27.1 20.7 130.9%
Tim Duncan 2002 5 25 25.5 20.5 124.4%
Tracy McGrady 2003 6 23 32.1 20.4 157.4%
Amare Stoudemire 2005 3 22 26 21.9 118.7%
LeBron James 2006 3 21 31.4 27.7 113.4%
Dirk Nowitzki 2006 8 27 26.6 22.9 116.2%
Paul Pierce 2006 8 28 26.8 22.2 120.7%
Allen Iverson 2006 10 30 33 26.7 123.6%
Gilbert Arenas 2006 5 24 29.3 21.2 138.2%
Kobe Bryant 2006 10 27 35.4 25.3 139.9%
Carmelo Anthony 2007 4 22 28.9 24.8 116.5%
Ray Allen 2007 11 31 26.4 20.2 130.7%
Michael Redd 2007 7 27 26.7 20 133.5%
Dwyane Wade 2009 6 27 30.2 25.4 118.9%
Chris Bosh 2010 7 25 24 20 120%
 Average 5.35  25.7  29.9  22.7

 

Paroxysmal Notes of Interest

Averages by Decade

Decade Season Age High average Career Average
1950s/60s 4.11 25.7 33.7 25
1970s 3.63 24.2 29.4 21.6
1980s 6.25 26.6 30.9 23
1990s 6.5 28.2 27.8 21.8
2000s 6.6 25.7 28.6 22.7

 

It’s important to note that Tim Duncan, Ray Allen, and Tracy McGrady are likely to drop out of the 20 ppg career average club. Michael Redd is sitting right at 20.0 ppg and is gearing up for a season in Phoenix of spot minutes, so his average is assuredly about to fall below the line.

Scoring Spike: 1962 is often noted as the most statistically ridiculous season in NBA history. The distinction is well-deserved since it’s the year Wilt averaged 50 points and Oscar threw up a triple double average for the season. However, did you notice that in 2006 and 2007 NINE of the 60 players here set their career high in ppg? Something was definitely in the water.

The Least Deviant: Glenn “Big Dawg” Robinson was the most steady of scorers in this survey. his career average was 20.7 and his career high ppg of 23.4 represented only a 13% increase. Other steady-as-they-come scorers are LeBron James (13.4% increase), Paul Arizin (15.8%), Jerry West (15.9%), Dirk Nowitzki (16.2%), Carmelo Anthony (16.5%), and John Drew (16.9%).

The Most Deviant: These are the players who certainly scored in bunches during their career but at some point they cut back on the binging. Unsurprisingly, Wilt Chamberlain paces this group with his 50.4 ppg high being 67.4% larger than his career average of 30.1.

Other deviant scorers include Charlie Scott (61.4%), Tracy McGrady (57.4%), Walt Bellamy (57.2%), Bob McAdoo (56.1%), and Moses Malone (56.1%).

Baby Faces: Spencer Haywood at 20-years old is the youngest player here to set a career high in ppg. His 30 ppg in 1970 were good enough to take home both MVP and ROY for the ABA that season. LeBron James during his 3rd season at age 21 is the only other player to set a career-high under the age of 22.

Walt Bellamy is the only other player to set a career-high during his rookie season in the go-go season of 1962. Dave Bing, Charlie Scott, Dan Issel, Bob Lanier, Rick Barry, Julius Erving, and Marques Johnson all set their high ppg during their 2nd season.

Fine Wine: Only 8 of the 60 players set their career high in ppg after reaching age 30 and only two of these did so prior to 1986, showing that player longevity and ability to produce during their career arc has increased. The two super studs who defied the aging processes of their eras were Paul Arizin and John Havlicek. Arizin did so at age 30 in his 7th season (1959). Havlicek hit his peak at age 3o, too, in his 9th season (1970).

The most vintage of these wines, though, is Hakeem Olajuwon. In his 11th season at age 32, he crested at 27.8 ppg. Centers at age 32 are usually creaky and starting to resemble the Tin Man in the Wizard of Oz. Hakeem’s 27.8 ppg represent the single highest scoring average for a center over thirty years of age. His average of 20.8 ppg overall after passing 30 years of age is 2nd only to the wondrous Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

And really, perusing Hakeem’s career stats is what inspired this Paroxysmal Pursuit, so let’s go ahead and see him and his Rockets do their thing back in the mid-90s as he was entering his most vintage years.

[flash http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ixyMQX9_wo w=600 h=400]

Assembly Line: The Double-Double Machine Spencer Hawes

January 1, 2012 in by with 0 Comments

Welcome to the 1st edition of the Assembly Line! This series aims to highlight performers over the previous week who’ve just absolutely gone ape in the most efficient manner possible. No wasted banana peels here.

BiblioArchives / LibraryArchives via Flickr

 Monday night in Portland, the first game of the regular season, Hawes played 39 minutes, finishing with 10 points, 14 rebounds and nine assists.

- Via Hawes survives injury scare for strong opener

Of the opening week’s awesome performances this was the most surprising. Rondo and Melo going tête-à-tête on Christmas day was fun but not stunning. LeBron and Kevin Durant blazing their way to regular 30 point games on 50%+ shooting is by now passé. Derrick Rose blitzing the Clippers for 29 points and 16 assists was mesmerizing.

But come on.

Spencer Hawes coming within one assist of a triple double? No one saw that coming. And then he went and put together three more solid games. So yes, the aforementioned play was more commendable in a vacuum, but Spencer will probably never have a week like this again, so let’s give him some props.

In the season opener against Portland, Hawes delivered the near triple double as well as 2 steals and one block with just a single turnover. To boot, he shot 5/9 from the field. Turning to the advanced statistics, Hawes had an offensive rating of 130. That means for every 100 possessions, Hawes produced 130 points. For some perspective, David Robinson back in 1994 scored 71 points in a game. His offensive rating that night was 126.

Am I saying that Hawes was as good as the Admiral that night? Not necessarily. What I am saying is that had Hawes received the 53% usage rate David got, he probably would have ended up with 80 points. As it stands Spencer only had an 11.1% usage rate last Monday.

Not content to rest on his laurels, Hawes came out strong again Wednesday with a 9 point, 11 rebound and 2 block effort against Phoenix. His night was marred by 4 turnovers, but the Sixers got the win. Friday night, the Hawes Express got rolling at full speed again. 15 points, 13 rebounds and 3 blocks on 7/9 shooting. Sadly, his teammates let him down and the Sixers fell to the lowly Jazz by 3 points. Finally, Saturday night, Hawes imposed his will on Kwame Brown, Andris Biedrins and other Warriors big men to the tune of 14 points (7-9 FG) and 12 rebounds.

For his adventures in highly efficient play, posting a 23.5 PER for the young season and connecting with a ridiculous 67% true shooting percentage, Spencer Hawes receives a nice Model T but without the anti-Semitic pamphlets that accompanied them back in the 1920s.

Not cool, Henry Ford.

NOT COOL AT ALL.

Have a Holly Jolly Christmas from All Your Friends at HP

December 25, 2011 in by with 0 Comments

[flash http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tAH6VHFG5Ys w=600 h=400]

 

1. Christmas 1984

New Jersey Nets vs. New York Knicks

Gift by: Bernard King – 60 points

The 6-7 forward set the standard for festive season feats when he tried valiantly to guide his Knickerbockers to a holy holiday victory. Despite dropping an hours worth of points, Buck Williams and the Nets still prevailed, walking away 120-114 victors. Since that memorable King of New York showing, Kobe Bryant’s 61 point in Madison Square Garden (Feb. 2, 2009—fourth highest of his career) may have eclipsed the long-standing benchmark. But never fear Knicks fans, King’s 60 remains the highest single-game Christmas Day scoring total.

- Via The 10 Best Christmas Day NBA Performances

This is shaping up to be the best Christmas I’ve ever had. Notwithstanding the one when I had chicken pox. Or the one when I got a basketball hoop. Anyways, the point is the NBA is back and before the games get fully tilted, enjoy a Christmas classic. The game Bernard King scored 60 against the Nets.

 

[flash http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cspFQwwYgzY w=600 h=400]

 

 

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