I've seen these "drive" rankings brought up before, but couldn't find the thread to bump back up: http://stats.nba.com/playerTracking...&sortField=DTP&sortOrder=DES&filters=GP*GE*20 They measure a lot of things, but what I find most interesting is Team PPG on a player's drives to a basket. Jeremy Lin is ranked #11, but Harden is only ranked #20?!??!!?!!?! He's behind chucker Brandon Jennings and jump shooter Jameer Nelson? I just would have expected Harden to be in the top 3 or 4 - heck, I would have thought he'd vie for the #1 spot honestly. Am I missing something? Is Dwight preventing Harden's drives? But then why is Jeremy doing pretty well? IMO, our team thrives when Harden and Jeremy and sometimes others attack the basket, draw a double team, and create an open shot on the outside for somebody - or just finish and draw a foul on their own. Plus, I have to admit that I just plain like players who are tough enough to take it to the rack instead of settle for the jumper (TMac used to make me mad at that). So, is Harden just getting lazy or what? I know he has the talent - unquestioned. No more contested three pointers - fight for it.
a under appreciated part of Asik's game was the screens he would set, in the pick & roll. Many people said he was butterfingers in the pick & roll, but the truth is asiks picks helped harden get his superstar rep last year, everyone just don't see dirty work
Two things off the top of my head. Harden leads the league in fast break points, and those don't count in the drive rankings, although some of them may appear that they should. Harden is also shooting more mid range shots this season than last year.
I think that stat is misleading. I'm pretty sure it doesn't account for free throws. For example, Kevin Durant is even lower than James Harden in team points per drive, and Durant is probably the most dangerous dribble penetration threat in the NBA.
Wow! If it doesn't account for free throws, then close thread. Mystery solved. I just assumed it included free throws. That is a really sh#tty stat if it doesn't count free throws.
Parsons, Harden and Lin also do well in FG% on drives. Among players who have a significant amount of points off drives, these players were the best at this: LeBron James Kevin Durant Eric Bledsoe Dwayne Wade Ty Lawson Mario Chalmers Chandler Parsons 53.8% Jeremy Lin 53.6% Deron Williams Tony Parker Chris Paul ...(few other players) James Harden 50.7%
Amazing that we have 3 guys all above 50% on drives. Lebron is sick though http://stats.nba.com/playerTracking...d=FG_PCT&sortOrder=DES&filters=DVS_TOT*GE*100
I think it does. Otherwise, how do you explain "total player PTS on drives" being an odd number? For example, Greg Stiemsma has a total of 1 point on 1 drive.
He gets fouled a lot. So I'm assuming those rankings don't include free throws made off of drive attempts he was fouled on.
These stats have been discussed in great detail by TTNN and Durvasa. Very interesting if you haven't seen read that thread before. http://bbs.clutchfans.net/showthread.php?t=249121&page=6 http://bbs.clutchfans.net/showthread.php?t=249121&page=7
While I will check those out, I don't have time to read through the lengthy threads today. I would appreciate it if someone can satisfy my curiosity and tell me whether those drive stats incorporate free throws - if they covered that in those two threads. Thanks!
It also showed that Lin has more drives to the basket than Harden, hmmmm certainly not matching the stand at the corner and shoot threes reptuation.
It's only coded as a drive if you start at least 20 feet of the rim, and get within at least 10. Seemed like last year most of Harden's drives started from the free throw line and went straight to the rim. This year, he's often getting fouled at the top of the key, stopping and popping, launching a floater from just inside the free throw line, or catching the ball already almost to the paint. All these things then would not be coded as drives.
