Did you read OP's post?
Did you read OP's post?
Originally Posted by Julian Wright
I just think most people just haven't figured out who OP is yet
Originally Posted by Julian Wright
I just think most people just haven't figured out who OP is yet
Inthis NBA.com StatsCube study, StatsCube breaks down the numbers behindthe Hornets' remarkable success in close games since they drafted ChrisPaul. All statistics are through Tuesday, January 25.
The Oklahoma City Thunder were fresh off abuzzer-beating victory over the New York Knicks,their 12th win in 16 games decided by five points or less. The Thunderhave had their issues this season, but thanks to big plays in bigspots, they were tied for the third-best record in the West when theyarrived at New Orleans Arena on Monday.
That's where they ran into another team that knows something about winning close games.
OklahomaCity had the ball out of bounds with the score tied, the shot clock offand 14 seconds left in the fourth quarter. Jeff Green inbounded to NickCollison, but when Collison tried to pass to Russell Westbrook, ChrisPaul got tapped the ball away and got his third steal of the game. NewOrleans got the ball back off a loose ball foul, inbounded the balland, eventually,David West hit a fadeaway jumper with :00.5 left, lifting the New Orleans Hornets to another narrow victory.
Itwas an incredible ending to a great game, but it was nothing new forPaul and the Hornets. Since he was drafted in 2005, New Orleans is80-44 in games decided by five points or less. The Dallas Mavericks(90-40) have been slightly better than the Hornets, but the Mavs'record in close games is in line with their overall winning percentage.The Hornets' is not.
The Hornets' unusualsuccess in close games is a phenomenon that defies accepted statisticalbeliefs. A 45-win team should not become a 53-win team when a game isclose, at least not year after year. (The Thunder, who are now 13-5 inclose games after Wednesday's overtime win in Minnesota, were 13-15 inclose games last season.)
Biggest difference, winning percentage in close games vs. other games, since 2005-06
Team W L Pct. Overall Pct. Diff. New Orleans 80 44 .645 .546 +.099 Portland 78 57 .578 .489 +.089 New York 61 76 .445 .359 +.086 New Jersey 59 62 .488 .402 +.085 Sacramento 61 74 .452 .369 +.083 Milwaukee 70 74 .486 .420 +.066
But that's essentially what hashappened with the Hornets over the course of Paul's career. Forcomparison, the Hornets were 196-214 (.47overall and 60-76 (.441) ingames decided by five points or less in the five seasons prior toPaul's arrival.
In general, the Hornets have been about averageoffensively and a little better than average defensively over the last5 ½ seasons. But late in one-possession games, they've been exceptionalon both ends of the floor.
Since Paul's rookie season,only the Spurs (95.7) have been better defensively than the Hornets inclutch situations and only the Mavs, Jazz, Suns and Cavs have beenbetter offensively.
Hornets' efficiency, since 2005-06
Situation Off. Eff. Def. Eff. Diff. Overall 104.4 104.0 +0.4 Clutch 115.9 97.4 +18.4 Off. Eff.: Points scored per 100 possessions
Def. Eff.: Points allowed per 100 possessions
Clutch: Point differential of three points or less (one-possession game) in the last three minutes of the fourth quarter or overtime.
Paul deserves a lot of the credit for theHornets' late-game success, of course. If the Hornets are winning, he'san MVP candidate. But he's even more valuable than usual when the gameis on the line.
Overall, Paulhas had a usage rate (percentage of the team's possessions that heuses) of 25.4 percent over the course of his career. But down thestretch of close games, his usage rate has been 32.3 percent. Plus,he's scored or assisted on more than half (192/352) of his team's fieldgoals in one-possession situations in the final three minutes.
Paul'sshooting percentages are down in critical possessions, but he's had asteadier hand, turning the ball over just 2.4 times per 48 minutes insuch circumstances, as opposed to 3.3 per 48 overall. In fact, he's hadmore steals (25) than turnovers (22) in those crunch-time situations.
TheHornets clearly go as far as their leader takes them, especially whenthat leader has the ball in his hands more often than not. But NewOrleans isn't just a better team in at the end of the fourth quarter.It's better at the end of every quarter.
In Paul'scareer, and especially this season, the Hornets have been better in thefinal three minutes of quarters than they are during the opening nine.
This season, the Hornetsare a +11.4 per 48 minutes in the final three minutes of quarters,second only to Orlando (+12.2). When the clock is low, they're at theirbest.
Best teams, final 3 minutes of quarters (any score), since 2005-06
Team Off. Eff. Def. Eff. per 48 San Antonio 107.2 100.8 +5.9 New Orleans 107.8 102.9 +4.5 Boston Celtics 106.4 101.9 +4.3 Utah 107.2 103.8 +4.3 Orlando 107.5 102.2 +4.1
Paul's name rarely comes up in the clutch-shooterdiscussion. He doesn't have dozens of game-winning shots under his beltlike Kobe Bryant. (Heck, do a YouTube search for "Chris Paul gamewinner" and the fifth result is a Bryant video.) But when players walkoff the floor at the end of the night, what matters most is who won thegame, and not necessarily how it was done.
When it comes to winning close games, the numbers prove that Chris Paul is clutch.
Inthis NBA.com StatsCube study, StatsCube breaks down the numbers behindthe Hornets' remarkable success in close games since they drafted ChrisPaul. All statistics are through Tuesday, January 25.
The Oklahoma City Thunder were fresh off abuzzer-beating victory over the New York Knicks,their 12th win in 16 games decided by five points or less. The Thunderhave had their issues this season, but thanks to big plays in bigspots, they were tied for the third-best record in the West when theyarrived at New Orleans Arena on Monday.
That's where they ran into another team that knows something about winning close games.
OklahomaCity had the ball out of bounds with the score tied, the shot clock offand 14 seconds left in the fourth quarter. Jeff Green inbounded to NickCollison, but when Collison tried to pass to Russell Westbrook, ChrisPaul got tapped the ball away and got his third steal of the game. NewOrleans got the ball back off a loose ball foul, inbounded the balland, eventually,David West hit a fadeaway jumper with :00.5 left, lifting the New Orleans Hornets to another narrow victory.
Itwas an incredible ending to a great game, but it was nothing new forPaul and the Hornets. Since he was drafted in 2005, New Orleans is80-44 in games decided by five points or less. The Dallas Mavericks(90-40) have been slightly better than the Hornets, but the Mavs'record in close games is in line with their overall winning percentage.The Hornets' is not.
The Hornets' unusualsuccess in close games is a phenomenon that defies accepted statisticalbeliefs. A 45-win team should not become a 53-win team when a game isclose, at least not year after year. (The Thunder, who are now 13-5 inclose games after Wednesday's overtime win in Minnesota, were 13-15 inclose games last season.)
Biggest difference, winning percentage in close games vs. other games, since 2005-06
Team W L Pct. Overall Pct. Diff. New Orleans 80 44 .645 .546 +.099 Portland 78 57 .578 .489 +.089 New York 61 76 .445 .359 +.086 New Jersey 59 62 .488 .402 +.085 Sacramento 61 74 .452 .369 +.083 Milwaukee 70 74 .486 .420 +.066
But that's essentially what hashappened with the Hornets over the course of Paul's career. Forcomparison, the Hornets were 196-214 (.47
In general, the Hornets have been about averageoffensively and a little better than average defensively over the last5 ½ seasons. But late in one-possession games, they've been exceptionalon both ends of the floor.
Since Paul's rookie season,only the Spurs (95.7) have been better defensively than the Hornets inclutch situations and only the Mavs, Jazz, Suns and Cavs have beenbetter offensively.
Hornets' efficiency, since 2005-06
Situation Off. Eff. Def. Eff. Diff. Overall 104.4 104.0 +0.4 Clutch 115.9 97.4 +18.4 Off. Eff.: Points scored per 100 possessions
Def. Eff.: Points allowed per 100 possessions
Clutch: Point differential of three points or less (one-possession game) in the last three minutes of the fourth quarter or overtime.
Paul deserves a lot of the credit for theHornets' late-game success, of course. If the Hornets are winning, he'san MVP candidate. But he's even more valuable than usual when the gameis on the line.
Overall, Paulhas had a usage rate (percentage of the team's possessions that heuses) of 25.4 percent over the course of his career. But down thestretch of close games, his usage rate has been 32.3 percent. Plus,he's scored or assisted on more than half (192/352) of his team's fieldgoals in one-possession situations in the final three minutes.
Paul'sshooting percentages are down in critical possessions, but he's had asteadier hand, turning the ball over just 2.4 times per 48 minutes insuch circumstances, as opposed to 3.3 per 48 overall. In fact, he's hadmore steals (25) than turnovers (22) in those crunch-time situations.
TheHornets clearly go as far as their leader takes them, especially whenthat leader has the ball in his hands more often than not. But NewOrleans isn't just a better team in at the end of the fourth quarter.It's better at the end of every quarter.
In Paul'scareer, and especially this season, the Hornets have been better in thefinal three minutes of quarters than they are during the opening nine.
This season, the Hornetsare a +11.4 per 48 minutes in the final three minutes of quarters,second only to Orlando (+12.2). When the clock is low, they're at theirbest.
Best teams, final 3 minutes of quarters (any score), since 2005-06
Team Off. Eff. Def. Eff. per 48 San Antonio 107.2 100.8 +5.9 New Orleans 107.8 102.9 +4.5 Boston Celtics 106.4 101.9 +4.3 Utah 107.2 103.8 +4.3 Orlando 107.5 102.2 +4.1
Paul's name rarely comes up in the clutch-shooterdiscussion. He doesn't have dozens of game-winning shots under his beltlike Kobe Bryant. (Heck, do a YouTube search for "Chris Paul gamewinner" and the fifth result is a Bryant video.) But when players walkoff the floor at the end of the night, what matters most is who won thegame, and not necessarily how it was done.
When it comes to winning close games, the numbers prove that Chris Paul is clutch.
Originally Posted by Xtapolapacetl
Originally Posted by Xtapolapacetl
