Stats of the Future

by Jordan Sams on Apr 2, 2009 10:37 PM PDT

First thing's first. Someone think of a better title for this installment. "Stats of the Future" isn't going to cut it. It's just all part of the experimental process.

Once again, here's the break-down of the stats courtesy of Bill Simmons:

I want "mega-assists" (passes that create a layup or a dunk) and "half-assists" (for each made foul shot). I want "unforced turnovers," like in tennis (Tony Allen would be Wilt Chamberlain in this category), and "nitty-gritties" (some combination of charges taken, deflections, balls saved from going out of bounds and rebounds tipped to teammates). I want "Unselds" (a long outlet pass that leads to an assist for a layup or a dunk) and "Russells" (a blocked shot directed to a teammate).

I've made a few changes to Bill's stat categories, eliminating "Unselds" and replacing them with "Iguodalas". An "Iguodala" is when a player -- specifically Andre Iguodala -- grabs a defensive rebound and takes the ball coast-to-coast for an easy bucket. There's no one in the league who does it like Iggy, hence the name "Iguodalas".

Mega-assists

Andre Miller - 5

Andre Iguodala - 2

Donyell Marshall - 1

Half-assists

Andre Miller - 7

Lou Williams - 2

Unforced turnovers

Andre Miller - 5

Theophilus Ratliff - 2

Samuel Dalembert - 1

Andre Iguodala - 1

Lou Williams - 1

Donyell Marshall - 1

Nitty-gritties

Andre Iguodala - 7

Reggie Evans - 4

Marreese Speights - 2

Samuel Dalembert - 2

Andre Miller - 1

Lou Williams - 1

Theophilus Ratliff - 1

Royal Ivey - 1

Donyell Marshall - 1

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Here are a couple observations:

It was nice to see M16 get on the board with 2 nitty-gritties
If we added Andre Miller's "mega-assists" and "half-assists" to his total, he would have 19.5 assists on the night.
I'm having a really hard time determining "unforced turnovers", so the numbers might be a little skewed. If anyone would like to offer their concrete definition of an "unforced turnover" be my guest.
I challenge someone to dig up the last time Samuel Dalembert too a charge. I'm willing to bet that he has less than 10 in his career.

Team leaders after two games

Stat	Player
Mega-assists	Andre Miller - 8
Half-assists	Andre Miller - 7
Nitty-gritties	Andre Iguodala - 9
Unforced turnovers	Andre Miller - 6

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Comments

Nice

Good work on this one, but I want to go on the record as saying that I detest Bill Simmons. Boston homer parading as a national sportswriter. If I have to hear about an 80s Celtics team one more time…

by ajay on Apr 3, 2009 8:32 AM PDT reply actions

I think he’s funny. He’s a blatant homer, but at least he’s pretty transparent about it. Most sports journalists are gonna get on their knees for either the New York or Boston teams anyway, but at least Simmons admits it.

I do get tired of hearing about Larry Legend though, I will give you that. I guess the one positive of not being old enough for the Dr. J era is that columns about the 80’s Cs are less irritating to me.

by zfg on Apr 3, 2009 8:49 AM PDT reply actions

I'm a fan of Bill Simmons.

He’s entertaining, and once in a while he knows some things.

He can be irritating at times, but overall there’s no other sports writer I’d rather read.

Liberty Ballers.com.

by Jordan Sams on Apr 3, 2009 9:24 AM PDT reply actions

Hmm

Wow, no one else before Simmons really? I adore Gregg Easterbrook myself.

by ajay on Apr 3, 2009 5:19 PM PDT up reply actions

I'll have to check him out.

I’m always down to discover new (for me) favorite writers.

Liberty Ballers.com.

by Jordan Sams on Apr 3, 2009 5:30 PM PDT up reply actions

By the way.

Any other stats we want to see? We need some more.

Liberty Ballers.com.

by Jordan Sams on Apr 3, 2009 9:25 AM PDT reply actions

Blocks that result in change of possession versus blocks that don’t
Contested/Uncontested shots taken (team or player)
Shooting Fouls vs Non Shooting fouls
Um…

"Someone created the box score," Morey says, "and he should be shot."

Blocked shots — they look great, but unless you secure the ball afterward, you haven’t helped your team all that much.

by jemagee on Apr 3, 2009 9:41 AM PDT up reply actions

I was going to do blocks.

There was only one last night, and the Sixers gained possession.

Donny-Ice with the only block of the evening.

Liberty Ballers.com.

by Jordan Sams on Apr 3, 2009 9:53 AM PDT up reply actions

can we please please please include a negative stat … lets call them “Reggies”

this is when a player either:

a) without needing to, switches onto a smaller,quicker player and allows him to blow right by him for an easy layup or assist to another player for the basket (because interior D is forced to help on driving player)
b) inefficiently reaches for a steal or overplays the opposing player so much that the player easily drives past him for a layup or easy assist to another player (because interior D is forced to help on driving player)

by rs2100 on Apr 3, 2009 10:57 AM PDT up reply actions