(Points + Rebounds + Steals + ½Assists + ½Blocked Shots – Field Goal Attempts – Turnovers - ½Free Throw Attempts - ½Personal Fouls) / Minutes = Win Score per Minute

Saturday, May 12, 2007

23 Points can be Deceiving

Just looked at the Nets-Cavs score and saw something interesting that warranted a quick post. Richard Jefferson, Vince Carter and Jason Kidd, the Big 3, each scored 23 points in this game. A quick glance tells you they each played a great game. But digging in further, you find something different. Take a look at the box score for each of the three players.

Each made 8 shots, but Kidd only took 12, Jefferson 17 and Carter 19. Plus, Kidd made 5 three-pointers. Then you look at the rebounding, again Kidd leads, 13 to 8 to 6. Of course he leads in assists, but he also only had 3 turnovers to go with all those assists.

Let's completely ignore the position played by each of these players and just look at raw win score.

Kidd - 26.5
Jefferson - 10.5
Carter - 4.5

When you look at that, it's pretty clear who carried the team this game, now isn't it? I keep hearing rumors that Jason Kidd is going to be traded to the Lakers or the Mavericks or whoever. The rest of the league better hope he doesn't go to the Mavericks, because I can't imagine how many games they would win next year if he did.

What do you think? Are these Win Scores misleading, or do they paint the right picture? And if you were an NBA GM, would you try to trade for Jason Kidd?

P.S. I wasn't able to watch the game, but noticed Jason Collins fouled out with 1 point, 5 rebounds and 4 turnovers. Did anyone watch it who can tell me if he played well defensively? People say the numbers don't show what he does, but I just don't see it.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Kidd is the best point guard in the game. His defense is what separates him from Nash. Furthermore, Kidd's game is low-gravity based (even his rebounding) so, although you never know with basketball players in their mid-30's, I think he has several more years at this level of incredible production. If I were Kevin McHale, I would be put together a package of three picks and all of Minnesota's young players in an effort to team Kidd with Garnett. I doubt NJ would bite on that trade though, or anything else short of a trade that includes a young, high-potenital big man ala Andrew Bynum.

Anonymous said...

jchan - what up with the site. hasn't been updated yet today. I'm ready to cash in on tyrus thomas and paul milsap's brilliance.

JChan said...

Ben:

I don't know if you've been catching the latest postings by Bill Simmons and Dave Berri, but their discussion on Garnett is interesting. I agree with you wholeheartedly. Stick Kidd on with Garnett and surround them with whatever decent players you can drag together. I think you're guaranteed to make the playoffs with that.

anony:

Sorry about the late update today. I was up late celebrating my boys advancing to the Western Conference Finals. I may have got out of bed at 7:00 today, but I just barely woke up.