Team Stats

[Pelicanidae]

I figured that since we're 16 games A.K.A. basically 1/5 of the way through the season (19.5%), it might be worth taking a look at who is leading the team in some of the less obvious categories. We know, for example, that our leading scorer is Brandon Ingram, and that Jrue leads the team in steals. Those things are easy to look up just on basketball reference or something.

But what about the slightly less common stats? Screen assists, secondary assists, charges taken, deflections, loose balls recovered, etc. What unit is being used (per game/total/per 36/etc) will be included in each stat. I will include a brief definition of some of the less common stats at the bottom, to clear up any confusion. I do use a 100 minute played minimum, so no Josh Gray or Zylan.

Points scored off TOs (total): Brandon Ingram, with 38. Jrue is in second place, with 28.
Fastbreak Points (total): Brandon Ingram, with 35. Jrue and Hart are tied for second, with 34.
Assist to TO ratio: E'twaun Moore, at 3.5. Kenrich is second, at 2.8.
Drives (per game): Jrue Holiday, with 18.5. Ingram comes second, with 12.4, the NAW third with 6.2
Passes made (per game): Jrue, with 63.4, followed by Lonzo with 48.1, then Ingram with 38.6 and Favors with 35.8
Assists Adjusted (per game): Jrue, with 8.7. Followed by Lonzo with 7.1.
Distance Travelled (per game): Jrue, with 2.71. Followed by Ingram, with 2.51, then Redick with 2.21
Paint Touches (per game): Favors, with 7.1, then Okafor with 5.6, then Jaxson with 4.9
Opponent Field Goal %age: Jaxson, holding opponents 7.6% below their average, then Jrue at -5.1%
Screen Assists (per game): Favors, with 3.4, followed by Hayes at 2.8
Deflections (per game): Jrue (5), Ball (4), Hart (2.4), Kenrich (2), Hayes + Ingram (1.7)
Loose Balls recovered (total): Jrue with 25, then Kenrich with 20.
Contested 2pt shots (total): Kenrich (63), Favors (62), Jah (59), Jrue + Jax (50)
Box Outs (per game): Favors (3.9), Okafor (3.3), Jax (3.1)

Glossary of Stats
Drives according to the NBA are plays where the offensive player catches the ball while not in motion from outside of the paint, and gets to the rim.
Assists Adjusted accounts for secondary assists (hockey assists, we call 'em) as well as for passes that didn't result in a made basket but did result in FTs.
Paint Touches refers to when a player catches the ball whilst already within the 3 second lane.
Screen Assists are plays where one player screening directly frees up their teammate for a made shot.
Box Outs refer to any play where a player physically contacts an opponent pursuing a rebound and successfully prevents the opponent from gaining possession of the rebound.

What does this mean? Not that much, it's hard to take such small sample sizes too seriously, especially when there have been a lot of injuries and guys playing disadvantaged. But when you see a guy like Kenrich popping up pretty regularly in all the hustle stats, that's a good sign

Also good to see the rookies making some appearances here. NAW showing up as a frequent driver is good, and of course Jax appears in the top handful of guys when it comes to contested 2s, deflections, screen assists, box-outs, and opponent FG%.

[Nichols]

[Pelicanidae]

Just figured it was vaguely interesting

[tyler]

Just figured it was vaguely interesting

Not in the slightest.... Just care about the wins lol

[Pelicanidae]

Not in the slightest.... Just care about the wins lol

To each their own

[Nichols]

Just figured it was vaguely interesting

It most definitely is.. Appreciate you taking the time to put it together and post it..

[Nichols]

I don't see posts like this from anyone else on this board. It's needed.

[Pelicanidae]

Top 5 NBA sophomores thus far by TPA:

1. Luka Doncic, drafted 3rd by DAL (114.47)
2. Trae Young, drafted 5th by ATL (37.95)
3. Robert Williams, drafted 27th by BOS (28.59)
4. Mitchell Robinson, drafted 36th by NYK (27.09)
5. Kenrich Williams, UNDRAFTED, signed by NOP (17.39) https://t.co/rcJVVKPkrd

— Mike Delayo (@NolaYanks2740) November 20, 2019

Kenny Hustle, Kenny Hustle

[As I See It]

For us older fans "Kenny Hustle" is reminiscent of another New Orleans Blue Collar star of a bygone era, E.C. Coleman. He was to the New Orleans Jazz defensively as Pete Maravich was, offensively. He would do a such a number on Rick Barry game after game that Barry forced the Warriors to trade for Coleman just so he didn't have to play against him anymore (true story).

For us purists, Kenrich Williams IS basketball.

[Pelicanidae]

For us older fans "Kenny Hustle" is reminiscent of another New Orleans Blue Collar star of a bygone era, E.C. Coleman. He was to the New Orleans Jazz defensively as Pete Maravich was, offensively. He would do a such a number on Rick Barry game after game that Barry forced the Warriors to trade for Coleman just so he didn't have to play against him anymore (true story).

For us purists, Kenrich Williams IS basketball.

I don't wanna pull out any specific names, because I always find one-to-one comparisons difficult to work with. Almost none of them are good examples, you know?

But for me, Kenny Hustle fits into that ''all-star roleplayer'' role that so many great guys have filled in the past. Those guys who never make a ton of all-NBA teams, never get MVP votes or anything like that. Maybe they get a few all-defensive teams, a handful of all-star team appearances if they're lucky, but it doesn't matter because no matter where they go they just ooze value.

There are some all-time great roleplayers out there in NBA history that I'm sure any one of us could name who fit that kind of criteria.

[AusPel]

Top 5 NBA sophomores thus far by TPA:

1. Luka Doncic, drafted 3rd by DAL (114.47)
2. Trae Young, drafted 5th by ATL (37.95)
3. Robert Williams, drafted 27th by BOS (28.59)
4. Mitchell Robinson, drafted 36th by NYK (27.09)
5. Kenrich Williams, UNDRAFTED, signed by NOP (17.39) https://t.co/rcJVVKPkrd

— Mike Delayo (@NolaYanks2740) November 20, 2019

Kenny Hustle, Kenny Hustle

Also, Doncic is already hall of fame. Imagine not taking him first

[Pelicanidae]

Also, Doncic is already hall of fame. Imagine not taking him first

Since Basketball Hall of Fame counts international play, and Doncic is

- 2018 Euroleague Champion
- 2018 Euroleague MVP
- 2018 Euroleague Final 4 MVP
- 3x ACB League Champion
- 2018 ACB MVP
- FIBA Intercontinental Cup Champion

yes, he is already HoF

For real though. He was such an obvious first pick. All the experts had him going first. There was pretty much no debate, and that's no insult to Trae or Ayton, Luka was just clearly the best talent that year, by far.

Which is what makes the 2021 draft so exciting: therein lies the prospect who seems to be Luka + Athleticism.

[AUSSIE_PELICAN]

Since Basketball Hall of Fame counts international play, and Doncic is

- 2018 Euroleague Champion
- 2018 Euroleague MVP
- 2018 Euroleague Final 4 MVP
- 3x ACB League Champion
- 2018 ACB MVP
- FIBA Intercontinental Cup Champion

yes, he is already HoF

For real though. He was such an obvious first pick. All the experts had him going first. There was pretty much no debate, and that's no insult to Trae or Ayton, Luka was just clearly the best talent that year, by far.

Which is what makes the 2021 draft so exciting: therein lies the prospect who seems to be Luka + Athleticism.

Who?

[Tinman]

For us older fans "Kenny Hustle" is reminiscent of another New Orleans Blue Collar star of a bygone era, E.C. Coleman. He was to the New Orleans Jazz defensively as Pete Maravich was, offensively. He would do a such a number on Rick Barry game after game that Barry forced the Warriors to trade for Coleman just so he didn't have to play against him anymore (true story).

For us purists, Kenrich Williams IS basketball.

Nice- this was the same club that had Jimmy McElroy at PG, when the best ball handler in NBA history was on the team.
Great times - Half of games at Municipal Auditorium, half the games at Loyola Field House (court raised). Terrible teams but fun times.
Unsung player for the Jazz for 3 yrs was Nate Williams. He'd love way the game is played now. Flat out SCORER.

[Pelicanidae]

[/B]

Who?

Cade

Edit: Just to give some more info, since I know that just namedropping isn't that helpful. Cade Cunningham is a 6'6/6'7 point guard prospect who will be in the 2021 draft. You know how a lot of players do the whole ''I was a PG, then I had a growth spurt'' thing? Cade did that in reverse: he was a big when he was younger, but learned to take on point guard duties as he got older and settled into his height.

He's generally considered one of the best prospects of the decade among people who follow high school/international ball a lot. There's no cheat-code to being a great NBA player, but if there was, ''tall ball-handler who can consistently pass off the dribble with both hands'' would be one of the strongest candidates for that 'cheat code' definition. There are currently a small handful people in the NBA who can do that, and they're all top 30 players (Lebron, Luka, Jokic, for example).

Here's a great article on him from a few months back: https://www.thestepien.com/2019/07/2...outing-report/

Key quotes:

OFFENSE

Exhibits desirable jump shot mechanics, already, at the age of 17: zero involvement of left (stabilizer), arrow-straight posture, uses a compact gathering motion; release speed is on the quicker end with an above-the-forehead hoist point

Despite having a relatively ball-dominant approach, has exhibited comfort and familiarity with catch-and-shoot sequences: proper preparation, clean footwork, and fluid rhythm leading into the release

Passing acumen is remarkable given the stage of his young career. Displays professional-level degree of patience and understanding of usable angles and the time-slots he can utilize while making the right reads. Has exhibited the ability to hit the skip pass, thread the needle, hit the outlet downcourt, pass one-handed off the dribble, make hook-passes, make the drive-and-kick; can generate high velocity from a variety of situations and predicaments

While he has not displayed a particularly versatile arsenal in the way of off-the-dribble moves as compared to players at his position, it is apparent that he is quite fluid in dribbling with both hands; have seen brief evidence of a lefty inside-out dribble and a left-to-right behind-the-back crossover

Has shown flashes of competently putting the defender “in jail” while penetrating into the paint

DEFENSE

Despite being merely 17, Cunningham has demonstrated the ability to employ advanced-level defensive techniques dependent on awareness and positioning—verticality, drawn charges, situational wrap-arounds—all while making rotations well ahead of his peers

Impressive IQ—calls for scrambles, foresees developing action, bumps runners early, recognizes pressure release options and cuts them off proactively

Unafraid to step up in the passing lanes and disrupt
Has plus-level strength and size for his position/archetype and with such, possesses decent versatility

He's 6'6-ish, like I said, and has something like a +5 inch wingspan based on all early estimates. Big hands, seems to be a great leader both in domestic and international play.

NEGATIVES

He does have some downsides, no prospect is perfect. Cade's seem to be that he's not fully comfortable with his left hand right now, and while his handle is good, he's not super creative with it (relatively limited arsenal of 'shake' moves). On defense, he's a little block happy right now, sometimes leaping for them when a boxout would be better, and his defensive stance isn't always perfect (sometimes it is, but he's inconsistent there), but for a 17 year old who doesn't even go to college until next year, he's absolutely shown so much.

[AUSSIE_PELICAN]

Cade

Edit: Just to give some more info, since I know that just namedropping isn't that helpful. Cade Cunningham is a 6'6/6'7 point guard prospect who will be in the 2021 draft. You know how a lot of players do the whole ''I was a PG, then I had a growth spurt'' thing? Cade did that in reverse: he was a big when he was younger, but learned to take on point guard duties as he got older and settled into his height.

He's generally considered one of the best prospects of the decade among people who follow high school/international ball a lot. There's no cheat-code to being a great NBA player, but if there was, ''tall ball-handler who can consistently pass off the dribble with both hands'' would be one of the strongest candidates for that 'cheat code' definition. There are currently a small handful people in the NBA who can do that, and they're all top 30 players (Lebron, Luka, Jokic, for example).

Here's a great article on him from a few months back: https://www.thestepien.com/2019/07/2...outing-report/

Key quotes:

OFFENSE











DEFENSE







He's 6'6-ish, like I said, and has something like a +5 inch wingspan based on all early estimates. Big hands, seems to be a great leader both in domestic and international play.

NEGATIVES

He does have some downsides, no prospect is perfect. Cade's seem to be that he's not fully comfortable with his left hand right now, and while his handle is good, he's not super creative with it (relatively limited arsenal of 'shake' moves). On defense, he's a little block happy right now, sometimes leaping for them when a boxout would be better, and his defensive stance isn't always perfect (sometimes it is, but he's inconsistent there), but for a 17 year old who doesn't even go to college until next year, he's absolutely shown so much.

Thanks for the info.
Unfortunately in 2021 the Pels will be out of range to get him.

[Pelicanidae]

Thanks for the info.
Unfortunately in 2021 the Pels will be out of range to get him.

Sure.

But the Lakers might not and we get their pick if they're top 8 that year.

And even if we don't, I think it's totally possible to package something together to move up: the 2021 draft class is loaded up top.