Yet Another Shelden Williams Post
12.29.05
I know I can’t be the only one that’s noticed that the discussion regarding player of the year has ignored defense or any other aspect besides scoring. It’s like the award has been renamed scorer of the year. And even if it was, Randy Foye deserves to be mentioned in the same breath as JJ Redick and Adam Morrison. But I have had this nagging feeling that Redick is not even the best player on his team. After looking at some things, it does appear close. I’ll let you be the judge. First, the vitals on offense.
O-Rtg %Poss MPG Redick 122.5 27.9 35.6 Williams 121.1 25.7 32.2
They are essentially equal in efficiency, although Redick uses more possessions which makes his efficiency more impressive. While Redick scores more, Williams doesn’t miss many shots himself and makes up most of the scoring difference with his offensive rebounding. I added minutes per game because that has importance in this discussion. Redick’s skills get three more minutes per game than does Williams and that can’t be ignored.
So advantage Redick on offense.
While defensive analysis is lot more subjective (and that’s part of the reason why it’s largely ignored), I think nearly everybody with a clue would say that Williams is more important defensively. He is one of the better defenders in the nation when you consider his blocks and his 23% defensive rebounding percentage. And even besides all that, Williams has more steals than does Redick (18 to 13). In fairness to Redick, Duke is 2nd nationally in three-point percentage defense, which he probably has something to do with.
So the question you have to ask yourself is: which is the bigger difference between the two, the defensive gap or the offensive gap? I think there’s a legitimate case that Williams’ advantage in defense is bigger than Redick’s advantage in offense. If it weren’t for the playing time difference, it would be a much easier case to make. But like I said, you be the judge.
Line o’ the Night
FG 3pt FT Reb
Min M-A M-A M-A O-T A F S TO BLK Pts
Chris Oliver 29 12-15 1-2 8-8 6-14 0 4 1 1 0 33
Result: Win. Radford 85, Dartmouth 78.
Roy Hibbert isn’t Shelden Williams
12.28.05
I’m working on getting some pages up with the Dean Oliver-style individual stats. In the meantime, enjoy these recent Lines o’ the Night, won’t you?
Last Friday
FG 3pt FT Reb
Min M-A M-A M-A O-T A F S TO BLK Pts
Rodney Stuckey 34 9-15 1-2 5-6 3-3 7 2 7 0 1 24
Result: Win. Eastern Washington 76, Cal Poly 62.
A busy night for one of the busiest men in the game this season.
Tuesday
FG 3pt FT Reb
Min M-A M-A M-A O-T A F S TO BLK Pts
Roy Hibbert 31 8-8 0-0 2-2 0-5 0 1 0 0 3 18
Result: Win. Georgetown 61, Colgate 45.
One of the things about this personal stats venture is that the true value for a guy like Hibbert is discovered. His per-game averages won’t get much attention because he plays 25 mpg for a tortoise-paced team. For instance, compare Hibbert’s opportunities to that of Shelden Williams. Duke plays at a pace that is 16% faster than Georgetown. Williams plays 34% more minutes per game than Hibbert. In essence, the Landlord gets 54% more possessions to put up his numbers. Give Hibbert those opportunities and his 14.4 ppg, 6.6 rpg, and 2.7 bpg become 22.2/10.2/4.2.
Hibbert, like Williams, is a rare shot blocker that isn’t foul prone. Maybe we’ll see him get more minutes during Big East battles.
Wednesday
FG 3pt FT Reb
Min M-A M-A M-A O-T A F S TO BLK Pts
Marvett McDonald 29 10-14 7-11 0-0 0-4 4 3 1 0 0 27
Result: Win. UAB 90, Oklahoma State 71.
Individual Stat Leaders
12.18.05
I’m getting a little closer to posting some of the more exotic individual stats on a regular basis. For now, here are some of the national leaders (through Saturday). I’ve required one to play in 40% of his team’s minutes to qualify. For shooting stats, a player needs to average four FGAs per game. Stats against non-D1 teams don’t count.
Best Offensive Rebounder: Jason Cain of Virginia is grabbing 20.3% of his own team’s missed shots - even after getting shut out against Gonzaga on Saturday. Eventual leader Joey Dorsey of Memphis currently sits 10th nationally (18.9%).
Best Defensive Rebounder: Aaron Gray of Pitt is hauling in 31.9% of his opponents missed shots while he is on the court. He’s averaging double-digit rebounds in only 24.9 mpg. Granted, against weak competition.
Biggest Ballhog: Jose Juan Barea uses 37.8% of Northeastern’s possessions while he is on the court.
Biggest Gunner: Rodney Stuckey takes 39.4% of Eastern Washington’s shots while he is on the court.
Best Shotblocker: A two-man race between Northeastern’s Shawn James (blocks 21.3% of opponents’ two-point shots) and Wyoming’s Justin Williams (21.1%). Pearson Griffith of Murray State is in third at 18.8%.
Best Thief: Charlie White of Jackson State is getting steals on 10.2% of opponents’ possessions.
Best FT Rate (100*FTA/FGA): Evansville’s Matt Webster has shot 68 free throws compared to 57 field goals for a 119.3 FT Rate.
Best Shooter: Ohio State’s Je’Kel Foster owns a 87.7 eFG% (42 of 61 overall, 23 of 38 on threes).
Ironman Award: Marist point guard Jared Jordan has played 97.1% (272 of 280) of his team’s minutes.
Friday
FG 3pt FT Reb
Min M-A M-A M-A O-T A F S TO BLK Pts
Paul Davis 34 9-11 0-0 6-7 2-11 1 3 0 3 1 24
Result: Win. Michigan St. 83, Cleveland St. 75.
Not too much longer until it’s fair to say Michigan State ‘06 = Gonzaga ‘05. Unstoppable offense, pathetic defense.
Saturday
FG 3pt FT Reb
Min M-A M-A M-A O-T A F S TO BLK Pts
Derek Coleman 34 9-15 6-7 7-8 0-5 6 3 0 2 0 31
Result: Win. Robert Morris 97, Charleston Southern 85.
Sunday
FG 3pt FT Reb
Min M-A M-A M-A O-T A F S TO BLK Pts
Steven Smith 59 17-27 3-5 4-5 2-11 6 3 3 4 1 41
Result: Win. La Salle 107, Central Connecticut 106 (4OT).
When I saw La Salle scored 107, I thought for sure Smith would have 50.