If you're not on the L-Train, what are you waiting for?

And your picture isn't displaying.

 

As someone who's read Brian's posts for years, I find he's been thoughtful, accurate, and in control of the facts. His statistical and capalogical (is that a real word?) analyses are as good as it gets.

I see LMA double teamed whenever he touches the ball. He scores anyway, and his teammates are playing 4 on 3.

His reputation as a soft rebounder was well earned. A guy his size has no excuse for grabbing jus 8 a game, or less. The talk of him playing with a real center making a difference doesn't square with his low rebounding numbers playing alongside Przybilla and Oden.

Settling for outside shots as much as he does is a good way to avoid contact and physical play inside. It also keeps him fresher for ends of games and possibly makes injury less likely.

LMA has the 10th best eFG% on the team. That speaks directly to Brian's main point. His FG% overall has declined each of the past three seasons! too. And sub .500 shooting from a PF isn't great.

The big change is in his rebounding. He's grabbing almost 2x the defensive boards he was two seasons ago. You have pretty much the same starters except the guy playing C scores less, grabs fewer rebounds, and has a PER 3 points lower than Hickson last year. This indicates he's more focused at the defensive end. The team has gone from 26th best to 20th best on defense, and it is translating to wins.

 

I don't remember which thread I posted it in, but while he's only 48th (among players who've played 20 games and 15mpg, so it's relatively arbitrary, but I didn't want guys like Oden showing up after 6 minutes) in players in getting the rebounds that are near him, he's 10th in "opportunities" (on the defensive end). So he's not Rodman (or even Love) at getting the boards that are available, but he's become elite in being in the right area to get them. I'm trying to find stats from the last couple of years (especially the "LaMonster" of 2011 time) to see if it's scheme-based, luck, or just him getting his hands dirty on D. Either way, he's approaching elite DRB% while his ORB% has dropped to a career-low.

And that D is translating into wins, but less so, I surmise, than becoming the league's best offense.

 

over what period of time is that in relation to?

 

Last season.

 

they weren't last last year!? Good lord, I'd hate to be a fan of the worst team

 

When I look at team offense rank vs. defense rank for the championship teams, I don't see teams at 20th best on defense.

Last year, the Heat were 2nd on offense and 9th on defense.
The year before, 8th/4th.
Dallas 8th/8th
Lakers 11th/4th
Lakers 3rd/6th
Celtics 10th/1st
Spurs 5th/2nd
Heat 7th/9th
Spurs 8th/1st
Pistons 18th/2nd
Spurs 7th/3rd
Lakers 7th/2nd
Lakers 2nd/21st. <---
Lakers 5th/1st
Spurs 11th/1st
Bulls 9th/3rd
Bulls 1st/4th (69 wins)
Bulls 1st/1st (72 wins)
Houston 7th/12th
Houston 15th/2nd
Bulls 2nd/7th
Bulls 1st/4th (67 wins)
Bulls 1st/7th
Pistons 11th/2nd
Pistons 7th/3rd
Lakers 7th/9th
Lakers 1st/7th
Celtics 3rd/1st
Lakers 1st/7th
Celtics 6th/3rd
Sixers 5th/5th
Lakers 1st/10th (Showtime, Westhead)

Blazers 1st/20th this season

 

we do have a good offense. Best in the league.

It'd be better if LMA wasn't missing so many long jumpers.

Does it matter than Damian and Wes are shooting better from 3 than LMA is shooting from anywhere outside 8 feet? I mean, LMA is a great player. No one's saying he isn't. But his efficiency (or lack thereof) on long J's isn't helping the team's offense. Check the game threads--I can't think of a time that I (or many of the other h8ers) has said anything about LMA taking an open J. No one says much when he goes into the paint, even when he misses. Most praise him when he starts abusing Diaw and the like.

 

Correct. But they do refute some stories...and that's where I try to help.