I was looking at the box score and thought this was interesting. EVERY single player scored. EVERY single player got at least 3 rebounds! EVERY single player had at least 1 assist. Every player but 2 (#10 and #12) had at least 1 steal. Every player but 2 (#24 and #2) had at least 1 block. I thought we looked AWESOME and if we keep it up, it is almost unfair how good we are. Our guys are getting around and playing like they are in mid season form. Wait till we gel up and get used to each other later this year!
Other stats that jumped out at me: Despite 26 TO’s and 43% shooting, we still scored 96 points. This is because we had about 100 possessions (according to the Hollinger-esque formula FGA+TO+FTA*.44-ORB). We hit 100 possessions in a regulation game once last year. I have to believe that Miller’s presence significantly picked up the pace. The 12 blocked shots we had last night were more than in any game last season. If even half of those shots were not blocked and went in, we lose last night.
Two main reasons I saw the Blazers got a lot of possessions: (1) the Rockets are looking to push the tempo this year, (2) the Rockets missed a lot of shots and did not offensive rebound well. It's easier to run off a defensive rebound than from out of bounds. That Hollinger formula for possessions is a bit inflated, by the way. You'll get a closer approximation if you multiply it by 0.96.
Regardless of the "inflation" of the formula, if the formula is applied uniformly to last night's game and all of last season's, the result is that the overall pace at which we played last night was equal to or faster than in any game last year.
Doesn't look that way to me. Using FGA+.44*FTA-OREB+TO, Blazers had 101 and 104 possessions in their last two regular games last year.
Game 81 v OKC (4/13/2009)--88 FGA, 21 FTA, 11 TO, 10 OREB. 88+11+(.44 * 21)-12=96.24 Game 82 v DEN (4/15/2009)--74 FGA, 18 FTA, 16 TO, 7 OREB. 74+16+(.44 * 18)-7=90.92 What games are you looking at?
My mistake. I meant game 71 and game 55. http://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/tgl.cgi?team=POR&year=2009
You sure you meant 55? 92 FGA, 16 FTA, 14 OREB, 15 TO = 100.04. Perhaps you meant game 25--102 FGA, 26 FTA, 19 OREb, 10 TO = 104.44. However, you'll notice that was a double OT game (290 total minutes instead of the standard 240).The other game you referenced (#71) was also an overtime game (265 total min). So, the only two games last season which resulted in more possessions than last night's game were OT games. Last night's game had a higher possessions-per-minute rate--nearly 2.1. Game 55 last year was the only one over 2.06, and only 8 times were we over 2.0 My point still stands--we played at a faster pace last night than at any point throughout the entire year last year.
That's because we still have defensive problems, especially at set pieces. Goal scoring? Now that we can do.
Nice find. It hadn't really occurred to me how much faster the team played over last year. Miller and Rudy looked really comfortable on the break. Even when Rudy slipped and fell down, we still retained possession. You can definitely tell those two guys are on the same wavelength. That backdoor cut Rudy made where Miller is nonchalantly dribbling and then suddenly lasers the ball perfectly to Rudy under the hoop, scoring in one sweeping motion was so pretty. Just no hesitation or wasted energy.
