Sunday, December 21, 2014

NOVEMBER 2014: PLAYERS STATISTICS. NBA REGULAR SEASON.

Most impressive "ATTACK / EFFICIENCY / DEFENSE" players’ statistics in the 2014/15 NBA REGULAR SEASON: NOVEMBER 2014.

 
Welcome to the new NBA season.
First, congratulations to the San Antonio SPURS that won the 2014 NBA Finals. As a reminder, the best defensive team won with all SPURS’ players reaching a defensive rating below or equal to 111 while the best player within the HEAT was only 115 (all the most impressive details of the 2014 NBA’s final here).


A. ATTACK/EFFICIENCY.
The first part of the season is already full of surprises with the slow beginning of the Oklahoma City Thunder due to the injuries of the MVP Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook while the reigning NBA champion, still led by an amazing Tim Duncan at age 38, is also battling with the injuries of the NBA final MVP Kawhi Leonard and Tony Parker. Finally, the Los Angeles Lakers should miss the playoffs despite the comeback of Kobe Bryant. As usual, I began with my benchmark of "all around/versatile player" (a similar benchmark to the one used to determine my G.O.A.T/per decade, while less focused on defense and efficiency; see my article: What do the statistics say about who should be the Greatest Of All Time (G.O.A.T)? PART 1.).  
Within this screening, we can already find all the big names in the discussion for the title of the MVP of the year with Stephen Curry, Marc Gasol, James Harden and Lebron James.

a. In 2014-15, in the regular season, game played in November, requiring Points >= 18 and Total Rebounds >= 6 and Assists >= 2.5 and Field Goal Pct >= 0.50, sorted by most games matching criteria. RESULTS for at least 3 (the full statistic).
Rk
Player
Count
1
5
2
5
3
4
4
4
5
3
6
3
7
3
8
3

I then screened (b) efficiency in term of most points per 48 minutes with a field goal Pct >= 0.50 while the player is on the floor, (c) the triple-double of the month, and I ended with a focus on (d) the most efficient shooters in November (see my article on the most efficient shooters ever in NBA history in the regular season).  

b. In 2014-15, in the regular season, per 48 minutes, game played in November, requiring Points >= 120 and Minutes Played >= 24 and Field Goal Pct >= 0.50, sorted by most games in season matching criteria. RESULTS for at least 3.
Rk
Player
Count
1
5
2
5
3
4
4
4
5
4
6
3
7
3
8
3
9
3
10
3
11
3
12
3
13
3
14
3
15
3
16
3

c. In 2014-15, in the regular season, game played in November, requiring player recorded triple-double, sorted by most games in season matching criteria.
Rk
Player
Count
1
1
2
1
3
1
4
1
5
1

d. In 2014-15, in the regular season, game played in November, requiring 2-PT Field Goal Pct >= 0.5 and 3-Pt Field Goal Pct >= 0.4 and Free Throw Pct >= 0.9 and Minutes Played >= 24, sorted by most games matching criteria. RESULTS for at least 3.
Rk
Player
Count
1
5
2
4
3
3
4
3
5
3
6
3
7
3
8
3
9
3
10
3
11
3
12
3
13
3
14
3




B. DEFENSE.
On defense, I focused on 2 different sets of data. The first one (a) looks at player impact on opponents' points (a global view of the impact of the defense), defensive player impact on opponents’ offensive rebounds (the fewer offensive rebounds, the less second chance points by opponents) and opponents' field goal % (a good defense imply a lower field goal %). Finally, I screened (b) individual statistics specific to defense (defensive rebounds, steals and blocks).
In November, I found some names usually associated with excellent defense as Dwight Howard, Marc Gasol (two previous “Defensive Player of the year”) and Tim Duncan (the record-man of selection for the NBA All-Defensive Teams - see the statistic - ).

a. In 2014-15, in the regular season, game played in November, requiring Opponent Offensive Rebounds <= 10 and Opponent Field Goal Pct <= 0.35 and Opponent Points <= 80 and Minutes Played >= 24, sorted by most games in season matching criteria. RESULTS for at least 2.
Rk
Player
Count
1
3
2
3
3
2
4
2
5
2
6
2
7
2
8
2
9
2
10
2
11
2
12
2
13
2
14
2
15
2
16
2
17
2
18
2

b. in 2014-15, in the regular season, game played in November, requiring Defensive Rebounds >= 6 and Blocks >= 1 and Steals >= 1, sorted by most games matching criteria. RESULTS for at least 4.
Rk
Player
Count
1
2
8
3
7
4
6
5
6
6
5
7
5
8
5
9
5
10
5
11
5
12
4
13
4
14
4
15
4
16
4
17
4



COMING SOON: PART 4: THE G.O.A.T of the 90's... 

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