Creates matchup problems. Shoots over smaller players, drives on bigger players. An ability to get to--and convert from--the free throw line. Can score from anywhere on the floor.
That is how I would describe players who are tough to guard, and I want to focus particularly on that last statement: Can score from anywhere on the floor.
Hoopdata.com tracks shot locations from five different ranges: At the rim; inside 10 feet; 10-15 feet; 16-23 feet; & 3pt. It's great to see that Blake Griffin leads the NBA with 4.2 FG at the rim (R. Westbrook is 2nd at 3.9!), or that Kyle Lowry is shooting 10% on long 2s this season (10%, wtf!).
Anyways, converting that statement "score from anywhere on the floor" and using it with this data, I came up with the following question:
How many players in the NBA are hitting at least one shot per game from each of the five ranges listed above ?
Here they are:
Kobe Bryant
Kevin Durant
Steve Nash
Rudy Gay
and....
Andrea Bargnani
I like seeing this, and it reaffirms something I said last season, that Bargnani is a much more natural scorer than Chris Bosh. That offence comes easier to him than it does to Bosh.
Quick aside: If you're wondering what's changed about Bargnani's game this season, how this was made possible... this evolution of his scoring... well, he's on pace to take the fewest three-pointers of his career. Even though he's still connecting at the same rate of his career pace (38%), he's still only averaging 3.1 attempts per game (down from a career-high 4.1 last season).
So, I'm comfortable saying Andrea Bargnani is one of the toughest players in the NBA to defend, and I don't think I should be laughed out of a room for saying it!
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8 comments:
Andrea is getting more room to move with CB4 gone and now he's spreading out where his shots come from. Last year he had to take more 3s because Bosh was clogging up the middle.
I won't laugh you out of the room.
My wish is that Andrea gets better at scoring when the defense is focused on him. If he can score better when there is a tough defense in front of him, then he'll start getting the respect.
The difference is Bosh still scores much more efficiently than Bargnani, which is what matters most at the end of the day.
"The difference is Bosh still scores much more efficiently than Bargnani, which is what matters most at the end of the day"
Actually what matters most at the end of the day is the fact that Bargs is far more versitile offensively than Bosh will ever be.
"Actually what matters most at the end of the day is the fact that Bargs is far more versitile offensively than Bosh will ever be."
This makes no sense.
While Bargs may have seemed to stop taking as many 3s this year, what he's doing instead is launching more long 2s.
It's been statistically proven that long 2's are the least efficient shots in the game, so why not just take a step or half back and go for the extra point?
He has his second worst EFG% of his career this year (http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/b/bargnan01.html).
Which is slightly less than Bosh last season.
I want to know this: Does Bargnani score more when he scores first in the paint (inside out), or when he makes his first points at long range (outside in)? How about other stats like rebounds, blocks, etc.?
The most unique thing about Bustnani is his management. Most teams would have realized that a no defence or rebounding C will be a huge detriment to your chances of winning.
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