Histoically speaking the stats say a big Yes Here are the Stats over the last 20 years in the NBA, for scorers over 30 ppg, the number of wins their teams had and the position in the standing at the end of regular season. 01-02 - Iverson - 31.4 - 43 wins - 6th seed in East 00-01 - Iverson - 31.1 - 56 wins - 1st seed in East 95-96 - Jordan - 30.4 - 72 wins - 1st seed in East 92-93 - Jordan - 32.6 - 57 wins - 2nd seed in East 91-92 - Jordan - 30.1- 67 wins - 1st seed in East 90-91 - Jordan - 31.5 - 61 wins - 1st seed in East 89-90 - Jordan - 33.6 - 55 wins - 3rd seed in East 89-90 - Karla Malone - 31 - 55 wins - 4th seed in West 88-89 - Jordan - 32.5 - 47 wins - 6th seed in East 87-88 - Jordan - 35 - 50 wins - 4th seed in East 87-88 - Dominique - 30.7 - 50 wins - 3rd seed in East 86-87 - Jordan - 37.1 - 40 wins - 8th seed in East 85-86 - Dominique - 30.3 - 50 wins - 4th seed in East 84-85 - B King - 32.9 - 25 wins - 10th in East 83-84 - A Dantley - 30.6 - 45 wins - 2nd seed in West 81-82 - G Gervin - 32.3 - 48 wins - 2nd seed in West 81-82 - M Malone - 31.1 - 46 wins - 4th seed in West 81-82 - A Dantley - 30.3 - 25 wins - 11th in West I know there is long way go and it will be tough for Steve to keep up 30 plus ppg, but what the heck!! So over the past 20 years there have been 18 players who have averaged over 30ppg over the regular season and in 15 cases there teams had records over .500 and in 16 of these cases there teams went onto to make the playoffs, which is a great strike rate.
read above if not 84-85 - B King - 32.9 - 25 wins - 10th in East 81-82 - A Dantley - 30.3 - 25 wins - 11th in West
If you look at the 2 teams that dominated the 80's, the answer is a BIG NO!!! Bird and Magic never avg'd 30 a game but did whatever was necessary to win. Jordan could do this and score 30 a game (amazing). Is Francis as good as Jordan? Jordan had Pippen, Francis has Mobley? Long way to go so anything could happen.
OK, time to get new glasses! Anyways, the reasons that Steve is at 30 PPG have as much do with the production, or lack of, from his teammates as it does with his stellar play. As the frontcourt continues to gel, I would definitely expect Steve's numbers to come down. Somewhere between 22-24 ppg sounds right.
That is some great research SS. Very interesting #s. I really dont expect Francis to keep up this kind of scoring pace. If he does, hes going to breakdown like Iverson did from the pounding hes going to take when defenses start to really key up on him. Also, one thing I took from that list, 30PPG may mean playoffs but not necessarily a ring, unless your name is MJ.
Bob, I didn't say NOT scoring 30 wouldn't get you to the playoffs, i don't have that much time to research. I was just looking at what happens to teams records if they DO have a 30ppg scorer Rocketfan85, not sure where i said Steve was as good as MJ adn hell i wasn't even stating you needed a 30ppg scorer to win titles, thanks for your contructive input. Codell, The Iverson pounding factor if he keeps you this pace has me scared too, AI is a walking pinball. The ring thing also stands out for me aside from MJ of course, and remember the thing with him, was the ring didn't come till his team-mates stepped up on top of his scoring. At the end of the day a stud scorer must help in the 4th when points need to be scored and the game is on the line.
If Shaq was out for the year and it was just Kobe, Kobe would average 30 or more and the Lakers STILL wouldnt make the playoffs.
I completely agree. I loved what you just said about the stud scorer taking over the 4th when the points need to be scored. I love Steve's game right now. If the only way this team can win on a consistant basis is to have Steve carrying the load and scoring 30PPG, then we have to do what we have to do. However, I say, lets get to the 4th as a team and let Steve carry us to victory or when all else fails. His teamates should be given the opportunity, EVERY GAME, to prove that they can either fail or succeed. If they fail, then let Steve shoot as much as he wants cause thats the only other way we can win. If his teamates succeed, the Steve should use his abilities to help maitain that lead.
Looking at your list, only 4 of those won championships. A 30 point scorer may get you to the playoffs but in the playoffs the better TEAM wins. 85 was responding to my post.
Bob, I was not making fun of your post. It had nothing to do with your post, I just said Francis is not in the same class as MJ, and who is?
Five players in NBA history have led the league in scoring in the same season in which they led their team to a championship. Six have led the league in rebounding as a member of a title team. The following is a list of both groups of players: Leading Scorers Shaquille O'Neal- Los Angeles Lakers -1999-00- 29.7 Michael Jordan -Chicago Bulls- 1997-98- 28.7 Michael Jordan- Chicago Bulls- 1996-97- 31.1 Michael Jordan- Chicago Bulls -1995-96- 30.4 Michael Jordan- Chicago Bulls- 1992-93- 32.6 Michael Jordan -Chicago Bulls- 1991-92- 30.1 Michael Jordan- Chicago Bulls- 1990-91- 31.5 George Mikan- Minneapolis Lakers- 1949-50- 27.4 George Mikan- Minneapolis Lakers- 1948-49- 28.3 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar- Milwaukee Bucks- 1970-71- 31.7 Joe Fulks- Philadelphia Warriors- 1946-47- 23.2 Leading Rebounders Bill Russell- Boston Celtics- 1964-65- 24.1 Bill Russell- Boston Celtics- 1963-64- 24.7 Bill Russell- Boston Celtics- 1958-59- 24.7 Wilt Chamberlain- Los Angeles Lakers- 1971-72- 19.2 Wilt Chamberlain- Philadelphia 76ers- 1966-67- 24.2 Dennis Rodman- Chicago Bulls- 1997-98- 15.0 Dennis Rodman- Chicago Bulls- 1996-97- 16.1 Dennis Rodman- Chicago Bulls- 1995-96- 14.9 Moses Malone- Philadelphia 76ers- 1982-83- 15.3 Bill Walton- Portland Trail Blazers- 1976-77- 14.4 George Mikan- Minneapolis Lakers- 1952-53- 14.4
great stats Finn for me after the season we had last year the playoffs would be a step in the right direction, we gotta walk before we can run. with Mo back the rebounding is in the bag
Very interesting association. But just as for many non-trivial questions, the answer to this particular question is, "it depends." Maybe there are some external factors being ignored. Like the outstanding defense and rebounding of Jordan's Bulls, or the weak Eastern conference of Iverson's Sixers, or the smart team ball of Malone's Jazz -- all of which probably have played an equal role in getting those teams to the playoffs. Still, it's nice to know we may have one of the key factors in making the playoffs -- and a definite go-to guy at crunch time. Now if we can just get some more insurance, like these other teams. I'll settle for some solid defense -- the smart team ball can (and probably will have to) come later.
Agree Smeg. However, if Jason Collins could just accidently on purpose step on Shaq sore toe Sunday and knock him out for the season, we may do more than just make the playoffs. Hell, if Yao can continue to improve, we may win the championship
