Suppose Francis got 1 more call per game on drives to the basket

Obviously, last year was Steve's best year as a pro, he averaged 21 ppg, shot 43.5% from the field, and 35.4% from the free throw line. I made a post in the Sell Francis High thread about how his numbers this year maybe down since he's not getting to the free throw line as much as last year. Last year, Francis went 476-595 from the line (80%). He shot 571/1312 from the field (not including three points shots for 43.5%).

Last year
FTM: 476
FTA: 595
FT%: 80.0
FGM: 571
FGA: 1312
FG%: 43.5

This year
FTM: 337
FTA: 435
FT%: 77.5
FGM: 450
FGA: 1117
FG%: 40.3

Per game, he has averaged 2.03 FTs less this year than last year. Let's say that this manifests itself in one drive to the basket where he gets "fouled" but throws up a shot anyways knowing he'll get to the line if he gets the foul (the point being this year, he didn't get the call, and thus no FTA and another FGA). This equates to one less shot attempted per game times 79 games played. This year, Francis is shooting 77.5% from the free throw line. If you extrapolate the added points from the additional free throws and take away the one shot missed per game, here are his numbers:

Adjusted numbers for 2003-2004
FTM: 461 {77.5 % of 595.37 = 461.41)
FTA: 595 {(2.09 x 79) + 435 actual FTA} (435+160.37)
FT%: 77.5
FGM: 450 (actual number made)
FGA: 1038 {1117 shots actually attempted - one less shot per game that resulted in free throws rather than a shot attempt (1117-79=1038)}
FG%: 43.4

If Francis makes 124 free throws in his "adjusted stats" compared to his real stats, that adds 124 points to the 1310 points he has scored so far this year (made FGs + made three pointers + made free throws).

Points per game: (1310+124)/79= 18.2

So, two things are apparent by looking at these numbers. First, I have a lot of free time, that's what happens when Jarod Fernandez starts a game against a loaded Cardinals line-up. Second, Steve isn't that far off his career numbers. Anyone who watches the Rockets knows that Steve takes the ball to the hole a lot every game. You can't question how hard he plays every night (the Jazz game notwithstanding), and we all understand that quetioning his basketball IQ is another matter entirely. All I'm trying to say is that if Francis got one more call per game, would we as fans be questioning his value to his team? Sure his assist to TO ratio would remain unchanged. The only differences would be in FG% and PPG. Would one call per game get all the "Steve haters" off of Steve's back?

I guess the converse of this argument is that maybe if they laid off the refs a little bit, maybe they would get some calls.

Any thoughts or comments?

18.2 ppg/5.48 rpg/6.24 apg/3.72 TOpg
would you take that player on your team?

Time for the Seattle game!!

 

dang... i got lost in the threads, sorry. Could an admin please move this to the GARM forum?