We need more paint.. lots more paint.
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New Orleans finished ranked 15th (tied) in offensive efficiency, but despite having a respectably efficient offense, possessions were often stagnant and horrifying to watch. Possessions where the ball would slowly swing around the perimeter or the lead guard would get his momentum stopped before he crossed the 3 point line were by no means aberrations, and many of these instances resulted in long-range chucks to beat the shot clock. In today's NBA, most of the offense is created through guard play, which is why guards who can penetrate and create offense are so valuable. Last year, the Pelicans were short on guards who could get into the paint and create their own shots, for a variety of reasons:
- Eric Gordon: shelved for half of the season (and not 100% healthy for the rest)
- Austin Rivers: 20 year old rookie
- Brian Roberts: more of a scorer and diminutive size limits effectiveness in paint
- Roger Mason, Jr: a floor-spacer who works off of the penetration of others
Paint Possessions
Game | Possessions | FTs | 2 pointers | 3 pointers | Points/Poss* |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Houston | 50 | 14 | 34 | 6 | 1.08 |
Phoenix | 48 | 10 | 36 | 3 | 1.02 |
Minnesota | 51 | 4 | 44 | 9 | 1.12 |
Houston | 46 | 12 | 32 | 3 | 1.02 |
Houston | 49 | 8 | 34 | 12 | 1.10 |
Memphis | 47 | 8 | 36 | 9 | 1.13 |
Cleveland | 53 | 17 | 38 | 6 | 1.15 |
Los Angeles Clippers | 48 | 8 | 36 | 6 | 1.04 |
Averages | 49.0 | 10.1 | 36.3 | 6.8 | 1.08 |
Possessions Outside of the Paint
Game | Possessions | FTs | 2 pointers | 3 pointers | Points/Poss* |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Houston | 46 | 6 | 14 | 18 | 0.83 |
Phoenix | 50 | 4 | 12 | 39 | 1.10 |
Minnesota | 39 | 2 | 14 | 24 | 1.03 |
Houston | 47 | 1 | 30 | 12 | 0.91 |
Houston | 48 | 5 | 20 | 9 | 0.71 |
Memphis | 46 | 8 | 12 | 18 | 0.83 |
Cleveland | 40 | 2 | 14 | 21 | 0.93 |
Los Angeles Clippers | 33 | 6 | 24 | 6 | 1.09 |
Averages | 43.6 | 4.3 | 17.5 | 18.4 | 0.92 |
Number | % | Points/Possession | |
---|---|---|---|
Paint Possessions | 392 | 52.9% | 1.08 |
Non-Paint Possessions. | 349 | 47.1% | 0.92 |
Notes/Conclusions
- Points in the paint have always been valued. But this data illustrates that possessions where New Orleans got inside the paint at any time are noticeably more efficient, as there is a substantial gap in the points per possession (1.08 versus .92) between the two categories.
- The clearest outliers in the data from the second section are the games against Phoenix and the Clippers. Ryno was absolutely unconscious from 3 point land against Phoenix and Anthony Davis's mid-range shot was money versus the Clippers.
- There are many more 3 pointers from possessions outside the paint. New Orleans rarely got into the paint and kicked it out.
- Vasquez struggled to get inside the paint, and when he did, he was almost always on the very edge of the paint and his defender was almost always on his hip, which could explain why he wasn't driving/kicking to 3 point shooters when he got into the paint.
- The offense was moving the opposing defenses noticeably better in the games where Gordon appeared, even if he resorted to taking ill-advised jumpers in those particular games.
4 responses to “Paint Percentage”
I call them MULTIPLE SHOT possessions…they help explain several stats and and one can offset the other..(low Fg% can be offset with multi shot poss…..offensive rebs that result in putv=backs or draw fouls that lead to ft attempts etc..)
GerryV oh, absolutely. I was just saying that I made the distinction between offensive rebounds that are put back right away and those that result in resets. And absolutely, more looks at basket, all other things held equal, is certainly desirable.
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Pelicans lacked Offensive Diversity….lacked 3-ball attempts and makes…..ft attempts and makes..plus due to the lack of the number of possessions ( least amount in the NBA) their middle of the pack Offensive Efficiency was actually worse then indicated…..thats why the addition of Holiday and Evans to go along with Evans will help pace ( tempo) and ft attempts…and their style will give some space and air for others to have ample supply of oxygen to shoot…spacing!….and many over look the poor defensive play overall….too much pressure placed on the offense that needed a jolt