HOOPSWORLD | Basketball News & NBA Rumors

HOOPSWORLD’s Senior NBA Analyst Tommy Beer takes you through his weekly musings on the National Basketball Association in his latest installment of The NBA Six Pack…

 
1) Defense Wins Championships.  Can D’Antoni Get Defensive? 
This was supposed to be the season that Knicks’ fans could get excited about.  With an overhauled roster, they were finally going to turn the corner towards respectability.  After a couple of impressive early season victories it appeared New York was on the right track and visions of a playoff appearance entered the collective psyche of this tortured fanbase.  However, the Knicks followed up a modest two-game winning streak with five depressing defeats.  They now find themselves stuck with a 3-7 a record, and considering they are about to embark on a four-game West Coast road trip, they face the prospect of yet another season rendered irrelevant by the time Thanksgiving rolls around…
 
Obviously, the Knicks have a number of issues they need to address, as the problems plaguing the squad are widespread.  However, I have to admit I am surprised to see so many pundits pointing the finger primarily at the Knicks’ offensive woes.  While the offense has sputtered at times early on, I am of the opinion that scoring the basketball will not be a major issue over the duration of the season.  Despite the heavy reliance on jumpers and inability to attack the basket and get to the stripe (among many other maladies) the Knicks have still managed to average nearly 102 points per game.  And considering the resumes of guys like Amar’e Stoudemire and Mike D’Antoni, it is safe to assume the Knicks will soon figure out a way to become more effective and efficient offensively. 
 
However, in order for the Knicks to win ball games on a consistent basis, not only this week, or this month, or this season, but as long as MDA is in charge – they will need to become a respectable defensive unit.  Teams that are stout defensively don’t often endure prolonged losing streaks – defense tends to be more reliable than offense.  Obviously, due to their coach’s philosophy and their personnel, the Knicks won’t lead the NBA in many defensive category any time soon.  But that doesn’t mean they have to act as if they are allergic to defense either.  New York has been embarrassingly bad on the defensive end of the floor over the past couple of seasons; during the 2009-2010 season, no team allowed opponents to convert a higher percentage of the shots they attempted (48.6%).  It is almost impossible to post a winning record when you are that porous defensively.  That is not opinion, that’s fact.
 
In researching the correlation between defense and winning in the NBA, I uncovered these stats from last season:
 
* There were 12 teams in the NBA last season that allowed opponents to shoot over 46.5% from the field.  Every single one of those 12 teams failed to qualify for the postseason.
 
* On the other hand, there were 12 teams in the NBA last season that held their opponents to a FG% of 45.2% or less.  All 12 of those teams made the playoffs.
 
Obviously, the previous editions of the Knicks under D’Antoni can’t be used as a true evaluation tool, as Donnie Walsh was completely gutted the roster in preparation for the Summer of 2010 free agent bonanza.  Thus, the pieces D’Antoni had to work with were a hodgepodge of cap filler and rookie contracts.  Nonetheless, when a team eschews making defense a priority and relies too heavily on making long jumpers, losing streaks can be an unfortunate byproduct.
 
Last week, I asked D’Antoni if there was a specific metric or measurement which he would us a barometer to judge this Knicks defensive progress.  Here’s his response: "We always look at effective field-goal percentage.  We look at blocked shots, we look at charges, we look at deflections.  There are a lot of things.  But the biggest stat is wins.  If you play good defense, you’re going to win…"
 
D’Antoni concluded with this: "If I had to point to one thing, I’d go with effective field-goal percentage."
 
First, a quick explanation of ‘effective field-goal percentage’ (or eFG%, as it is often notated).  The formula to calculate eFG% = (FG + 0.5 * 3P) / FGA.   For those non-math majors out there, here is a laymen’s description from basketballreference.com: "This statistic adjusts for the fact that a 3-point field goal is worth one more point than a 2-point field goal. For example, suppose Player A goes 4 for 10 with 2 threes, while Player B goes 5 for 10 with 0 threes. Each player would have 10 points from field goals, and thus would have the same effective field goal percentage (50%)." 
 
Looking at eFG% of good teams vs. bad teams last season, a pattern emerges that is very similar to the unadjusted FG% rankings outlined above. 
 
During the 2009-2010 NBA season, of the 13 teams that finished at the very bottom of the barrel in regards to opponent’s eFG%, all 13 teams (including the Knicks) ended up in the lottery and failed to advance to the postseason.  
 
Conversely, of the top nine teams that ranked highest by allowing the lowest opponent’s eFG% (Orlando, Miami, Cleveland, San Antonio, OKC, LA Lakers, Chicago, Milwaukee, Boston) all nine qualified for the playoffs. 
 
This season, the Knicks are once again ranked in the bottom third in opponents eFG% (50.72).  Their record speaks for itself.
 
New York’s ultimate success, this season and beyond, may eventually be determined by their ability to get enough stops in big spots.  If the Knicks can’t find a way to improve step up their defensive intensity – they will be a fighting an uphill (and potentially losing) battle all season long. 
 
2) Giving Love to the Big Dipper
Kevin Love’s incredible 31–point, 31-rebound effort against the Knicks last week was incredibly impressive.  In fact, no NBA player had pulled the 30-for-30 feat since Moses Malone back in 1982.  Thus, Love set the Twitter world abuzz Friday night and he was showered with praise, rightfully so.
 
However, whenever an NBA player explodes and authors a mind-boggling stat line, I always get excited because I know that eventually it will lead to someone digging deep and unearthing some unfathomable Wilt Chamberlain stat. It’s always one of my favorite parts of any NBA season.  Some prolific scorer (such as Kobe or Durant) will go on a scoring binge, and rack up a number of impressive outings consecutively, or over the course of a month.  Then, researches will exclaim how nobody has averaged over 35 points for a full month in ‘X’ number of years.  But the ultimate record holder will almost always be none other than the Chamberlain himself.  If it’s an NBA record related to points or rebounds, almost all roads lead to the Big Dipper at the top of the hierarchy. 
 
Chamberlain happens to be one of the most underrated athletes in not only all of NBA history, but all professional sports for that matter.  Thus, I am always pleased to see Wilt get some props, even if it’s posthumously.  The most amazing aspects of Wilt’s records are not the sheer numbers of all-time marks he holds; rather, it is often just how far second place lies in his rear-view mirror.
 
For instance, circling back to Love’s amazing night: 19 different NBA players have posted 30/30 games in their careers.  Wilt Chamberlain had 103. The next highest on the list? That’s Nate Thurmond. He had four. 
 
A few other of my favorite all-time Big Dipper records listed below: 

• NBA Record – Most Points Per Game in a season (50.4 in the 1961-62)
•         Chamberlain also holds the next two highest with 44.8 in 1962-63 and 38.4 in 1960-61. 
• NBA Record – Most 50 Point Games in a season (45 times in 1961-62)
•         Chamberlain holds the next most with 30 in 1962-63. No other player has had more than 10.
• NBA Record – Most Career Regular Season 60 Point Games (32 times)
•         Kobe Bryant is in second place with 5.
• NBA Record – Most Career Regular Season 50 Point Games (118 times)
•         Michael Jordan is in second place with 31.
• NBA Record – Most Consecutive 50 Point Games (7 times from December 16, 1961-December 29, 1961)
• NBA Record – Most Consecutive 40 Point Games (14 times from December 8, 1961-December 30, 1961 and also 14 times from January 11, 1962-February 1, 1962)
•         Chamberlain also has the next most with 10 from November 9, 1962 through November 25, 1962
• NBA Record – Most Consecutive 30 Point Games (65 from November 4, 1961-February 22, 1962)
•         Chamberlain holds the next two longest streaks with 31 in 1962 and 25 in 1960.
• NBA Record – Most Consecutive 20 Point Games (126 from October 19, 1961-January 19, 1963)
•         Chamberlain holds the next most with 92 from February 26, 1963 through March 18, 1964.
• NBA Record – Rebounds Per Game in a season (27.2)
• Chamberlain also holds the next two highest averages with 27.0 in 1959-60 and 25.7 in 1961-62)
• NBA Playoff Record – Highest rebounding average in a playoff series (32.0 in a five game series against the Boston Celtics in 1967).
• NBA Record – Most consecutive triple-doubles (9) (March 8-20, 1968)
• Only player in NBA history to record a double-triple-double (20+ points, 20+ rebounds, 20+ assists in a game)
• On February 2, 1968 against the Detroit Pistons, he logged 22 points, 25 rebounds and 21 assists.[22]
• Only player in NBA history to record a quadruple double-double (meaning two of either 40 points, 40 rebounds, or 40 assists in a single game). He did it 5 times.
• After critics called him a one-dimensional (or even selfish) player, Chamberlain defiantly promised to lead the league in total assists the next season, which he did in 1968 at a rate of 8.6 per game.
• NBA Record – Most minutes played per game for a season (48.5 in 1961-62)
• Chamberlain’s 3,882 minutes played out of the team’s possible 3,890 (in 1961-1962) left an average of six seconds rest per game. (And LeBron complains about playing 44 minutes?)
• Chamberlain never fouled out of a regular season or playoff game in his 14 years in the NBA

Maybe it’s just me, but I never get tired of pouring over these numbers.  When you get some time – scroll thru this list.
 
3) What’s Wrong With Respecting the Game??
Here’s the scene: The petulant point guard gets in a defensive crouch to impede the progress of the charging ball handler.  The PG then proceeds to reach in and knock the ball away from the offensive player, scoops it up in order to begin racing downcourt, before he is abruptly stopped in his tracks by a whistle.  The ref has called a foul on the defender.  The point guard feels the strip was clean and the referee badly blew the call.  In years past, this would have resulted in all forms of histrionics, a vigorous protest, violent gesticulations, and maybe a few choice words (or, quite possibly, some combination of all the above).  However, lately we’ve seen something pretty surprising.  After a player gets called for a foul he disagrees with (and what player ever agrees with the ref even if they get caught with their hand in the cookie jar?), he often begins to complain, before being shot a sideways glance from the official, at which point the player shuts up and turns around…
 
Please explain to me, exactly, how this is a bad thing. 
 
The NBA’s "Respect for the Game" initiative received a mountain of scrutiny during preseason action, as a chorus of critics emerged with vociferous damnations of David Stern’s efforts to eliminate the questioning of a referee’s calls during games.  Some claimed the dastardly Stern-bot was furtively and manically silencing any rabble-rousers.  Some wacky pundits even panned it as a violation of free speech.  C’mon!  Honestly, making a first amendment case out of basketball players complaining.  The criticism began bordering on stupidity.  Especially when you consider previous complaints from fans that infer the NBA is full of arrogant thugs with no respect for anybody or anything.  
 
{AUTHOR_BOX}Listen, have refs pushed the envelope a bit too far at times?  Yes, of course.  For instance, players getting techs for clapping their hands in frustration at themselves is regrettable.  But over the last couple of weeks, the refs have begun to take a more lenient approach.  It is always this way after a summertime edict from the powers-that-be in the league office.  Whether it is a mandate to decrease blatant travelling violations, or some other such infraction – the refs strictly enforce it early on but become more lax as the weeks/months drag on.
 
Personally, I thought this "Respect the Game" initiative was a rare, great decision by the League.  The players’ constant questioning of every single call, all game long, had become a league-wide epidemic.  Nowadays, players think twice before jumping up and down or throwing a temper tantrum after getting whistled for blocking foul they clearly committed.  Yes, it took a while for players and coaches to adjust, but after just a month worth of enforcement, we have already seen it bear fruit.  Players are quickly cupping their hands over their mouths or simply turning the other way, instead of berating the zebras.  And that, more often than not, is a good thing!
 
Moreover, there is no way you can convince me this won’t have a spillover effect on the lower levels of basketball throughout the country.  It’s very safe to assume NCAA officials will feel empowered to be less accepting of excessive backtalk.  Even high school refs will likely demand a bit more courtesy. 
 
And kids watching the pros will hopefully follow suit and treat the game, and those enforcing the rules, with a little more respect.  
 
4) Tweets of the Week:
Courtesy of @paulpierce34: "It’s been a pleasure to bring my talents to south beach now on to Memphis" (after the Celtics beat the HEAT in Miami)
 
Courtesy of @Jpdabrams: "Fan edges up to court as Amare warms up and says "Melo is gonna come help you out." Fan becomes one of Berman’s sources" (for those of you in NYC area that enjoy a good-natured jab at NY Post’s Marc Berman)
 
5) Dunks of the Week:
* Serge Ibaka catches a ridiculous one-handed alley-oop on top Richard Jefferson’s head:

* Bill Walker bangs on Bogut
 
* And, it’s not a dunk, but D Rose crossing up John Wall is worth the link
 
6) Elias Sports Bureau Stats of the Week:
* Tim Duncan played 23 minutes on Sunday but scored only six points and pulled down four rebounds in the Spurs’ win. It was only the second time in 14 NBA seasons that Duncan played more than 20 minutes but failed to reach double-digit points or five rebounds. The other was in a win over the Clippers on January 8, 2009 (8 points, 4 rebounds in 31 minutes).
 
* Matt Bonner came off the bench to make all seven of his three-point field-goal attempts in the Spurs’ 117-104 win at Oklahoma City. Only two other non-starters have ever gone 7-for-7 or better from downtown in an NBA game. Seattle’s Sam Perkins was 8-for-8 against the Raptors on January 15, 1997 and New Orleans’ Bobby Jackson was 7-for-7 against the Heat on January 11, 2008.
 
* Amar’e Stoudemire’s 25 points weren’t enough for the Knicks in their 104-96 home loss to the Rockets. New York is 0-3 this season when Stoudemire scores at least 25 points. In 2009-2010, Stoudemire’s Suns were 24-9 and ended the season on a nine-game winning streak in such games.