Yes. By a shot and a half a game over DeRozan, 2 over K*be/Steph, and 3 shots per game over guys like KG/Bosh/Melo/Horford/Scola
Here's another fun stat...LMA took more 16'-23' jumpers last year (510) than the following bigs took...period (all in 74 games or more, same as LMA played--no counting Rondo and Nash, who were injured for half the year, but also qualify) Kuofos Taj Gibson DeAndre Jordan Andrew Nicholson Ed Davis Glen Davis Elton Brand Tyson Chandler If you want to make it "less than 6.9 shots per game", you can also add guys like Drummond, Kanter, Valanciunas...
Are you starting to understand why I dislike him as a player so much? Also, for some added color, Rondo shot 48% from that range. Rajon Rondo. The guy that everyone thinks of as a poor shooter. When sorted for FG% from that range you have to go THREE PAGES DEEP before you find LMA - I believe he ranks #100 (after you exclude players playing <15mpg): http://www.hoopdata.com/shotstats.aspx?team=%&type=pg&posi=%&yr=2013&gp2=20&mins=15
I'm not positive this is what you were asking for, but let me know if it's not: His percentages have been remarkably consistent--setting aside his rookie year, he's been between 40.3% and 42.8% every year in his career. Even his rookie year was 39%. He's not getting better, or worse. Attempts by year: 2006-7 147 (3.0/game) 2007-8 357 (4.7/game) 2008-9 436 (5.4/game) 2009-10 369 (4.7/game) 2010-11 339 (4.4/game) 2011-12 304 (5.6/game) 2012-13 510 (6.9/game)
Interesting analysis. The problem however is that he is taking more CONTESTED shots from that range than the other players which is why his efficiency is so low. He's posting up a godawful distance from the basket.
I don't believe that's the case. In all the games I watch he's generally wide open when shooting those shots. Those shots generally come about after LMA sets a screen for Lillard, and Lillard pulls a double-team resulting in LMA being wide open at the top of the key. Rarely is he shooting contested shots from that range.
The more shot attempts last season seemed like many variables. We had zero bench, no one to demand the double and the pace was much faster than the Nate years.
That may actually be better than his mid range game. If he only shoots 33% from 3pt range, it's much better than the 42% he makes mid range.
I don't think that had as much to do with it as our new system under Stotts. It was pretty obvious that the coach was trying to make him into Dirk light.
well yeah, of course he did. Again he was among the league leaders in minutes played and he's the main option on a team that needs him on the High Post as they've no other decent options to give them proper spacing. 16-23' jumpers are the shots that High Post players take. With a rookie PG being the only off the dribble threat, PDX really struggled to get good open looks. While it would be awesome if LA could be a lot better and maybe jump over his man and dunk from the 3 point line (ideally while doing a flip) or back down the world on the low block, it remains a positive that he can get off a reasonable jumper on just about any single coverage as the clock winds down. It appears again that he's their only real High Post option. I've pined for one to be added to allow LA to shine on the low block again but oh well... STOMP
That just really surprised me. He was #1 by a large margin. I would have figured it would be a guard.
I'm surprised you're surprised by that. Guards don't play a mid-range game anymore. It's all deep 3's or drives to the hoop. Mid-range shooters are mostly high post bigs now.
Actually, of the top 20 by volume, 9 are bigs (LMA, Dante Cunningham (?!), Jefferson, Melo, Horford, Bosh, Garnett, Scola, Josh Smith) and 11 guards (Derozan, Steph, K*be, Monta Ellis, JR Smith, Ridnour(?!), Klay, Westbrook, Jamal Crawford, Evan Turner, Jrue Holiday). WTH is Minny doing giving 700 16'-23' shots to Dante Cunningham (39%) and Luke Ridnour (45%)?
Was that last year? Minnesota didn't have many options last year. As far as LMA taking a lot of mid range shots, who else did we have besides Dame? I hope Batum will take more this year as well as CJ, but hell we lack mid range shooters as well. LMA and Damian are our best. Wes, Mo, Wright...all volume 3 pt shooters. Although Mo has the ability to hit the pull up mid range shot. Meyers as well, but how many shots will he get?
My impression as well. As others have said, if he makes a few uncontested threes at a decent clip, instead of taking the same contested shot closer in at a tepid rate, it's not all bad. I liked Brian's suggestion that he replace four of his mid-range shots with two threes and two in the post.
