I realize it's early and it's hard to get good trends with such a small sample size, but I wanted to take a look at how these players started the year and how they're doing more recently. I didn't include Chuck Hayes or Juwan Howard due to the impact Hayes' injury had on the numbers -- same with Snyder and V-Span. Yao Ming <table width="650" border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0"><tr><td bgcolor="#666666"><table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="0"><tr bgcolor="#bb0022"><td valign="top" align="left" width="105"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#ffffff"><B>Player / Period</B></font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#ffffff"><B>G</B></font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#ffffff"><B>MIN</B></font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#ffffff"><B>FG%</B></font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#ffffff"><B>FT%</B></font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#ffffff"><B>3P%</B></font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#ffffff"><B>OFF</B></font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#ffffff"><B>DEF</B></font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#ffffff"><B>REB</B></font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#ffffff"><B>AST</B></font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#ffffff"><B>STL</B></font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#ffffff"><B>BS</B></font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#ffffff"><B>TO</B></font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#ffffff"><B>A/T</B></font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#ffffff"><B>PTS</B></font></td></tr><tr bgcolor="#ffffff"><td valign="top"><B><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000">Yao Ming (First 8)</font></B></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000">8</font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000"> 34.8</font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000"> 55.4</font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000"> 85.1</font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000"> 0.0</font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000"> 1.9</font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000"> 7.6</font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000"> 9.5</font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000"> 1.6</font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000"> 0.88</font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000">1.88</font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000"> 3.8</font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000"> 0.4</font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000">26.4</font></td></tr><tr bgcolor="#dddddd"><td valign="top"><B><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000">Yao Ming (Last 5)</font></B></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000">5</B></font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000">37.6</B></font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000">49.4</B></font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000">84.7</B></font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000"> 0.0</B></font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000">2.4</B></font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000">9.4</B></font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000">11.8</B></font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000">1.4</B></font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000">0.20</B></font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000">1.80</B></font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000">4.2</B></font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000">0.3</B></font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000">26.4</B></font></td></tr></table></td></tr></table> He's doing a much better job of staying out of foul trouble and as a result is seeing an increase in minutes (34-35 minutes in the first 8 games, nearly 38 in the last 5). He's not quite as sharp from the field as he was to start the year (55.4% to 49.4%), but his rebounding is up considerably (9.5 to 11.8). Yao is pretty much a rock this season and if he goes down for any length the Rockets are lotto toast. Tracy McGrady <table width="650" border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0"><tr><td bgcolor="#666666"><table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="0"><tr bgcolor="#bb0022"><td valign="top" align="left" width="105"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#ffffff"><B>Player / Period</B></font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#ffffff"><B>G</B></font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#ffffff"><B>MIN</B></font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#ffffff"><B>FG%</B></font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#ffffff"><B>FT%</B></font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#ffffff"><B>3P%</B></font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#ffffff"><B>OFF</B></font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#ffffff"><B>DEF</B></font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#ffffff"><B>REB</B></font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#ffffff"><B>AST</B></font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#ffffff"><B>STL</B></font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#ffffff"><B>BS</B></font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#ffffff"><B>TO</B></font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#ffffff"><B>A/T</B></font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#ffffff"><B>PTS</B></font></td></tr><tr bgcolor="#ffffff"><td valign="top"><B><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000">T-Mac (First 8)</font></B></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000">8</font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000"> 36.9</font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000"> 38.8</font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000"> 62.0</font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000"> 29.4</font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000"> 1.1</font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000"> 4.6</font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000"> 5.8</font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000"> 6.4</font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000"> 1.25</font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000">0.38</font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000"> 2.9</font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000"> 2.2</font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000">18.6</font></td></tr><tr bgcolor="#dddddd"><td valign="top"><B><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000">T-Mac (Last 5)</font></B></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000">5</B></font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000">37.4</B></font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000">46.7</B></font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000">73.3</B></font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000">30.0</B></font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000">0.2</B></font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000">6.6</B></font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000">6.8</B></font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000">7.2</B></font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000">0.80</B></font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000">1.00</B></font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000">3.8</B></font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000">1.9</B></font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000">20.2</B></font></td></tr></table></td></tr></table> Starting to round in to form as he's going more to the hole for higher percentage shots and is hitting nearly 47% in his last 5 (compared to under 39% in his first 8). Free throw-shooting is also improved (62% to 73%). Three-point shooting is a consistent sore spot at 29-30% and unfortunately he's shooting more of them (4 a game through the first 8, 6 per in the last 5). Assists and rebounds are both up. This is definitely the playmaker of the team and if T-Mac is "back", there probably isn't better news to be had. Shane Battier <table width="650" border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0"><tr><td bgcolor="#666666"><table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="0"><tr bgcolor="#bb0022"><td valign="top" align="left" width="105"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#ffffff"><B>Player / Period</B></font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#ffffff"><B>G</B></font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#ffffff"><B>MIN</B></font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#ffffff"><B>FG%</B></font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#ffffff"><B>FT%</B></font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#ffffff"><B>3P%</B></font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#ffffff"><B>OFF</B></font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#ffffff"><B>DEF</B></font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#ffffff"><B>REB</B></font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#ffffff"><B>AST</B></font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#ffffff"><B>STL</B></font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#ffffff"><B>BS</B></font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#ffffff"><B>TO</B></font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#ffffff"><B>A/T</B></font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#ffffff"><B>PTS</B></font></td></tr><tr bgcolor="#ffffff"><td valign="top"><B><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000">S. Battier (First 8)</font></B></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000">8</font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000"> 37.0</font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000"> 44.4</font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000"> 50.0</font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000"> 36.8</font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000"> 0.4</font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000"> 2.8</font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000"> 3.1</font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000"> 3.1</font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000"> 1.63</font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000">0.50</font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000"> 0.5</font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000"> 6.3</font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000"> 9.4</font></td></tr><tr bgcolor="#dddddd"><td valign="top"><B><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000">S. Battier (Last 5)</font></B></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000">5</B></font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000">37.2</B></font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000">39.3</B></font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000">66.7</B></font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000">25.0</B></font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000">2.0</B></font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000">2.8</B></font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000">4.8</B></font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000">1.6</B></font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000">0.80</B></font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000">1.60</B></font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000">2.0</B></font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000">0.8</B></font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000">6.0</B></font></td></tr></table></td></tr></table> While Battier's defense has been solid, his offense is completely AWOL and he's seeing less and less of a role on the offensive end (7.9 shots per game to 5.6). Only his offensive rebounding and blocks are up, while his field goal percentage, three-point percentage, assists and steals are down considerably, and his turnovers are up. Too small of a sample size to be heavily concerned given Battier's very solid track record, but he should be getting more comfortable in the offense with each game -- not less. Rafer Alston <table width="650" border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0"><tr><td bgcolor="#666666"><table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="0"><tr bgcolor="#bb0022"><td valign="top" align="left" width="105"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#ffffff"><B>Player / Period</B></font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#ffffff"><B>G</B></font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#ffffff"><B>MIN</B></font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#ffffff"><B>FG%</B></font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#ffffff"><B>FT%</B></font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#ffffff"><B>3P%</B></font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#ffffff"><B>OFF</B></font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#ffffff"><B>DEF</B></font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#ffffff"><B>REB</B></font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#ffffff"><B>AST</B></font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#ffffff"><B>STL</B></font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#ffffff"><B>BS</B></font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#ffffff"><B>TO</B></font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#ffffff"><B>A/T</B></font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#ffffff"><B>PTS</B></font></td></tr><tr bgcolor="#ffffff"><td valign="top"><B><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000">Rafer Alston (First 8)</font></B></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000">8</font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000"> 38.8</font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000"> 39.5</font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000"> 70.0</font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000"> 40.4</font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000"> 0.4</font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000"> 3.5</font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000"> 3.9</font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000"> 5.0</font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000"> 1.63</font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000">0.00</font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000"> 2.9</font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000"> 1.7</font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000">12.1</font></td></tr><tr bgcolor="#dddddd"><td valign="top"><B><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000">Rafer Alston (Last 5)</font></B></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000">5</B></font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000">33.6</B></font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000">38.9</B></font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000">69.2</B></font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000">34.4</B></font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000">0.8</B></font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000">2.0</B></font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000">2.8</B></font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000">3.6</B></font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000">1.20</B></font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000">0.20</B></font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000">1.2</B></font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000">3.0</B></font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000">12.4</B></font></td></tr></table></td></tr></table> Skip's three-point touch is starting to drop (40.4% to 34.4%) as are his minutes (38.8 to 33.6), I'm speculating because of the hot shooting of Luther Head. Still, despite 5 less minutes, Rafer is taking more long-range shots (5.9 to 6.4) and overall is on pace to threaten Vernon Maxwell's franchise record for three-pointers attempted. His assists are also down from an already low 5 to 3.6 in his last 5 games, but fortunately his turnovers are way down also (2.9 to 1.2). Seems to be becoming less of a playmaker and more of a shooter with each passing game, which makes for a hot debate about whether Rafer is the right player for heavy minutes in this offense. Luther Head <table width="650" border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0"><tr><td bgcolor="#666666"><table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="0"><tr bgcolor="#bb0022"><td valign="top" align="left" width="105"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#ffffff"><B>Player / Period</B></font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#ffffff"><B>G</B></font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#ffffff"><B>MIN</B></font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#ffffff"><B>FG%</B></font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#ffffff"><B>FT%</B></font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#ffffff"><B>3P%</B></font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#ffffff"><B>OFF</B></font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#ffffff"><B>DEF</B></font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#ffffff"><B>REB</B></font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#ffffff"><B>AST</B></font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#ffffff"><B>STL</B></font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#ffffff"><B>BS</B></font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#ffffff"><B>TO</B></font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#ffffff"><B>A/T</B></font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#ffffff"><B>PTS</B></font></td></tr><tr bgcolor="#ffffff"><td valign="top"><B><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000">Luther Head (First 8)</font></B></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000">8</font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000"> 21.8</font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000"> 44.2</font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000"> 60.0</font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000"> 46.9</font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000"> 0.4</font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000"> 2.4</font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000"> 2.8</font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000"> 1.4</font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000"> 0.38</font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000">0.25</font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000"> 1.9</font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000"> 0.7</font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000"> 8.0</font></td></tr><tr bgcolor="#dddddd"><td valign="top"><B><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000">Luther Head (Last 5)</font></B></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000">5</B></font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000">24.8</B></font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000">42.1</B></font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000">88.9</B></font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000">54.5</B></font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000">0.6</B></font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000">3.4</B></font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000">4.0</B></font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000">2.0</B></font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000">0.60</B></font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000">0.20</B></font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000">2.2</B></font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000">0.9</B></font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000">10.4</B></font></td></tr></table></td></tr></table> Maybe very few are talking about it yet because it's so early and no one is sure if it will last, but Luther is having a brilliant season shooting the ball from long range. Through his first 8 he hit a sizzling 47% from downtown, and nearly 55% in his last 5. Rebounds, assists, steals, points all up. Unfortunately he has little to no point guard skills, but is shooting too well to not eat in to Rafer Alston's time.
Clutch, good post. I dont know what your advocating..... But With Tmac being more of a point-forward, and Battier (a good halfcourt passer, initiator into the post...... I say start Luther Head at point, when he can defend accordingly (depending on matchup) Let him stretch the court. He plays very well with McGrady.
I've been severely disappointed with plays called for Battier. I think JVG is trying to make Battier learn new things, and judging from his post play, ballhandling, and isolation, he clearly has room to grow. He is often out of control on these plays. I like the things Battier does a lot (you would have to be nuts not to), but I definitely think he can do a lot more. We should expect him to exceed his stat production with Memphis, and I feel he will be a disappointment if he doesn't. Rather than the master of intangibles, is he the master of interviews and lowering expectations? If you keep preaching about how you don't need to score, pretty soon you are a success if you don't?
54.5% 3P% for luther. That's impressive! Does anyone remember Luther's percentage from last year? I remember he also shoot a very high percentage at the beginning of the year.
Too small a sample size to compare. One bad shooting game could affect the stats for the period greatly, as could one great or bad rebounding game. As long as the team plays well, I'm not worried.
Great post and good to see their trends...I also agree that we need just a little more out of Battier especially when you know that he's capable and has a decent outside shot. Good to see Mac and Head and Yao putting up even better numbers for the past few games...
Clearly stated already that this is a small sample size, but the entire season is a small sample size -- this is merely to show trends from the last 5 games. Obviously .... however, some of us do like to dive a touch deeper in to why the team is playing well (or why they're not).
Quick comments Rafer needs to focus on hitting a higher percentage of the 2 pointers and finish the lay ups- at best he is streaky 3 point shooter, just not worth it. Shane needs to add more offense atleast 4 more points a game ( ie 2-3 more shots)- not just the corner 3 point shooting. Luther is doing fine- in fact exceeding my expectations- but he is NOT a Point guard. V span is a the best passing PG we have on the team- and he is NOT a rookie. Novak should get atleast 10-12 minutes before J howard ever becomes an option- no amount of experience can help in this case. A JVG connundrum I cannot solve ( similar to the fascination with Rybo!) Not playing Bonzi is a case of primed ego- than prudent decision making. Yes we are winning, but where is our dependable SG option? Well Scott Skile topped JVG- didn't he!
If I had to nitpick, it would be Battier's offense. Lately it looks like he only gets hustle points. Those are great. And I know we didn't bring him to be a 3rd option and he's such a valuable asset because he out-smarts and out-hustles. My point is that it would be to our advantage if Battier could avg a few more points on a regular basis. It's tough to ask for someone to step up in the offense only in troubled times when they've been getting hustle points the whole game.
good point because bonzi is clearly in the shape ben wallace is in. and it's certainly prudent decision making to play a player who is completely out of shape. anyhow....thanks for posting the numbers clutch. it will be interesting to watch how these trends develop. hopefully, we will see battier's percentages start to increase significantly. further I would like to see the trends on battiers charges taken. I know people discount that stat because it isn't sexy but it is the equivalent of a steal, if not slightly more valuable.
All I'm saying is that if a player has 2 great game and 3 below average ones, the 5 game average is may show that he played fairly well when it's not the case. For example, this is the Game by Game stats of Yao: http://www.nba.com/playerfile/yao_ming/game_by_game_stats.html I wouldn't say there a definitive downward trend on his shooting. A 5% drop over the 81 shots is not statistically that significant. It's basically 4 more missed shots over 5 games. Could well be based on pure luck. A 5% drop over, say, 82 or even 41 games would have a higher statistical significance. Sure, one might one to understand the reason for winning/losing deeper. I just don't think this analysis is the way to do it.
battier shot pretty well start the season, i think ppl are key in on him a bit more now. i think he should get to the basket ball to make ppl respect him drive thus get more space on 3 points. i'm a bit worried by alston's stats, it like he's nothing more then bring the ball up the court
Thanks Clutch, I appreciate these kind of posts with stats that you and others do - it helps to explain the reasons for w/l's and who plays well and plays well together. I mentioned in another thread that at the pre-game shooting Tmac was putting an extremely high arc on the ball - like way too high - he seemed to be working on the arc rather than the accuracy - as he is hitting the rim lately, but it is then bouncing out due to being too flat. So he seemed to be trying to get his nice arc back and he had a pretty good night - including some solid drives to the hoop which had also been missing from his game. Can't wait until there is enough stats to talk about Hayes and others.
I'm not sure what insight you think you may be providing, but I'm not pretending it's anything more than what is laid out -- 5 games. Thank you for explaining how averages work and how it's all good as long as we're playing well. Now, back to the show...
Clearly, Clutch should have given us the player's standard deviation, league average deviation, and each player's r^2 correlation with winning. Then we would know a lot more.
Don't get your panties in a wad. Don't read too deep into Clutch pointing out your client's dip in statistical production. He's safely under contract for the next 5 years or so anyways. Relax a bit.
I'm confused as to what is Alston's role on this team is if his distributing role has been taken away by Tmac...
It's 5 games, sure. But to say that a player has played better or worse over these games based on some of these numbers don't seem to make sense when most of the change can be attributed to luck. Sorry, as a person with a math background, it's a pet peeve of mine when people (either you guys here or ESPN) say "he's doing better" or "he's doing worse" then show some kind of numbers comparisons that can be likely attributed to luck. (For example... when people say OMG he choked, when a player misses a late FT. I find it kind of funny because everyone will miss them once a while).
And all these would probably say the same thing: inconclusive, no significance. With the current sample size, unless the change is dramatic (like a 20% increase in FG% or a 4 rebounda per game increase in average), it's likely not a significant change. For example, it was said: Well, Rafer shot 11 for 32 for a 34.4% average. If he had gotten luckier on just 2 more shots, his average would have been 40.6%. Like I said, chances are this is a result of luck rather than his "touch" starting to drop. I'm not saying you can't look at it or mean it as a personal attack. All I'm saying is things like a 5% drop over 32 shots is simple result of chances.
