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Sunday, April 21, 2024

Basketball: The Efficient Player

Numbers. Everyone wants "numbers." Possession enders get numbers via scores, assists, rebounds, and stops. 

Efficiency reveals itself in:

  • Points/possession
  • Effective field goal percentage (and True Shooting)
  • High assist/turnover ratios
  • High free throw percentage
  • Low turnover percentages
  • High rebounding percentage
Efficiency implies skill, toughness, and good decision-making. 
 
Who is the epitome of efficiency? Nikola Jokic


Playoff Game 1, Jokic

FG 15-23 
EFG% 67.4%
FT   1-2 (nobody's perfect)
Rebounds 12
Assist/turnover 7/0

The efficient player scores and assists with few turnovers and few mental lapses (bad fouls, missed assignments). Jokic's EFG percentage for the season is over 61%. Luka Doncic clocks in at 57%, 46th in the league. I was surprised to see Jalen Brunson at 54%, 80th. 

Caitlin Clark's EFG percentage in 2023-4 was 56.8%. 

That doesn't invalidate 'raw numbers'. Yet, detailed analysis of scoring efficiency adds nuance. 

Watch the game through multiple lenses - impacting winning, decision-making, teamwork, and efficiency. 

The Boston Globe's Gary Washburn shares this from Jamal Crawford today:

“When you look at Boston, you look at one of the best starting fives in the league. We all know that,” said Crawford, now an analyst for Turner Sports. “The only question I have for Boston is if they can keep their trust. And what I mean by that is, if they’re winning by 15 or 17, the ball’s hopping, the ball’s one of the stars of the team. But as the game slows down and they get in those tight games, will it be the same energy, or will it revert back to more iso-ball?

“I think when they use each other and then attack, they’re almost unbeatable, but when they get in those dogfights, they resort back to what they’ve been doing in the past. That’s their only thing, so I think trust is their biggest opponent in this postseason run.”

Efficiency matters, not just 'stats'. 

Lagniappe. Create, maintain, and use advantage. 

Lagniappe 2. Master change of pace and change of direction.  


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