Defensive efficiency #5 in offensive efficiency. #2 in rebounding. #2 in defensive rebounding. This is pretty impressive. I would love for our team to keep this pace. Top 5 in D and O efficiency. We do this, then we are almost guaranteed top 3 seed in the West.
And our starting 5: Raymond Felton:: 13.3 ppg, 6.7 apg, 4.0 rpg Wesley Matthews: 16.3 ppg, 5.3 rpg Gerald Wallace:: 19.7 ppg, 7.7 rpg LaMarcus Aldridge: 20.7 ppg, 6.7 rpg, 3.0 apg Marcus Camby: 3.3 ppg, 11.3 rpg, 4.3 apg Totals: 73.3 PPG, 14 APG, 35 RPG Now this is pretty damn sexy!
The thing is, though, we've only played home games against not-exactly-stellar teams. It would've been bad if we lost, but it's not necessarily anything special that we didn't.
Philly isn't a bad team. Denver has only lost to us and the Lakers. I can see SacTown being a bad team though. I do agree about being at home though. I'm a little concerned about how we handle the road games. As long as we can keep up the "defensive efficiency" on the road; we should be looking good.
Our defense is bound to be better because of certain personnel changes that have occurred. I don't think we are as good as the stats say we are though, but we will certainly be better than in recent years. Minus injuries
I am more concerned with the D more than the O. My only reasoning for it is success on the road. This was why SAS had a history of being a damn good road team. That and having low post presence in Duncan. When you are on the road, your good D can totally take out the other team's fans out of the game. Hopefully the defensive efficiency will stay the same, or close to it. I think that's extremely important.
For a long time I've waited till 10 games in, to start looking at team stats. In almost every season, any teams that will surprise (good or bad) in the standings at the end of the season, have already surprised by then.
True and you are right... But it's nice to look at. I know we need offense, but I'm really loving the D stats. I really hope our team can keep up that efficiency. That's impressive.
You learn something new every day. I just realized that every thread title can be ended with the word "fellas." Here are the threads currently before this thread. Who's going to the Blazers-Clippers game in LA on the 1st fellas? Runnin' Gunnin' Blazers fellas! 3 down, 15 to go fellas. OT- Around the NBA fellas Hmm, that last one doesn't roll off the tongue as smoothly.
Threads are like fortune cookies. They are all better ending with "in bed". Who's going to the Blazers-Clippers game in LA on the 1st in bed? Runnin' Gunnin' Blazers in bed! 3 down, 15 to go in bed. OT- Around the NBA in bed It also works for threads that end in "fellas". Tell me which one is better: #3 in defensive efficiency fellas fellas or #3 in defensive efficiency fellas in bed Need to change the domain name to fortunecookiestwo.com
Personally I'd prefer ESPN abstain from posting any of the advanced team stats at least until 10 games or so in, like they do with the advanced stats for players. There's just nothing to be gleaned this soon.
To me, the rebounding is the key stat, and the one most unexpected. We were out rebounded by Utah by an average of 10 boards/game in the preseason, but have out rebounded all of our opponents (including Denver by 20) during the regular season - so far. Of course, Camby is the key, but we are getting very significant rebounding contributions from Gerald Wallace at the starting small forward position. As much as many of us like Nicolas Batum, The Predator is a much better rebounder. BNM
You know there were some major complaints about our offense last season, but I had more complaints about our D. It's nice seeing us be more fast offensively, but I am way more impressed with the defensive intensity. Defense is really hard to master and usually it's the veteran teams play the really good defense. Dare I say we are a "Veteran Team"? And does this completely destroy the "Let the cake bake" theory KP used to use?
#2 in rebound differential (only second to Charlotte). #3 in rebounds (Only Charlotte and NOLA are better), #1 in BPG, #2 in PBG differential (Only second to Miami)
Pritchard tried to build the team using his misguided philosophy, then Cho wanted to blow it up and repeat with young scrubs all over again. In contrast, the Vulcans and Larry Miller are going for experience. I like the way our philosophy of acquisitions has changed, and I say, let's not fill the GM job.