Interesting Stats from 2/26/10 NBA Games

• Jason Kidd turned back the clock with his performance against the Hawks.  Kidd had 19 points, 16 rebounds, and 17 assists to score his 103rd career triple double.  This was Kidd's second career game with at least 16-16-16 and he, Magic Johnson, and Larry Bird are the only players to have a 16-16-16 statline in the last 29 years.
• Kidd also had two steals in that game to give him 2309 for his career.  That number puts him ahead of Scottie Pippen for fifth on the career list.  He's now just one steal away from tying Maurice Cheeks for 4th all time.
• Josh Smith also put up a great statline in that game as he had 18 points, 11 rebounds, 8 assists, and 7 steals.  He's only the second player in the last 20 years to reach those numbers in a single game.  It was last done by Kevin Garnett in a 1999 game against the Hawks.
• The Wizards blocked 13 shots in their loss to the Knicks which more than doubles their season average of 5 blocks per game.  It's the first time that the Washington Wizards blocked that many shots in a game but the Washington Bullets last did so in a 1996 game against the Seattle Supersonics.  I'm sure all the 2 year olds reading this blog are wondering who the Bullets and Supersonics are.
• Russell Westbrook had 18 points, 15 assists, and 8 rebounds as the Thunder beat the Timberwolves to end their two game skid.  Westbrook, who just turned 21 in November, is the fourth youngest player since 1986 to have at least 15 points and 15 assists in a game.  The only players who were younger are LeBron James, Chris Paul, and Stephon Marbury.
• You've got to give props to the Rockets for putting an emphasis on making free throws.  Both Luis Scola and Kevin Martin went to the line 14 times in their win over the Spurs, and both players made all 14 of their foul shots.  It's the first time (at least since 1986) that two players had a perfect FT% in a game in which they each had at least 14 attempts.
• Congratulations to Joe Johnson for getting his much-coveted 4th block of the season in the Hawks loss to Dallas.  The 6'8" uber-athletic Johnson now only needs one more block to match the season total of 5'9" Nate Robinson.

NFL WR Catch % (35-50 Receptions)

This chart shows the Catch % of the NFL wide receivers who had in between 35 and 50 receptions in 2009. This is different than the catch % you may have seen on other sites because this chart completely removes the QB out of the equation. Other sites describe catch % as the number of receptions divided by the number of times targeted. This is simply the number of receptions divided by the number of catchable passes (receptions/(receptions + drops)). For example, if a player had 90 receptions but 10 drops then his catch % would be (90/(90+10)) = 90%. Poor, off-target passes are taken out of the equation so this gauges a receiver's hands instead of factoring in his QB's ability (or inability) to deliver an on-target pass.

NFL Running Backs' Catch %

This chart shows the Catch % of the NFL running backs who had at least 30 receptions in 2009. This is different than the catch % you may have seen on other sites because this chart completely removes the QB out of the equation. Other sites describe catch % as the number of receptions divided by the number of times targeted. This is simply the number of receptions divided by the number of catchable passes (receptions/(receptions + drops)). For example, if a player had 90 receptions but 10 drops then his catch % would be (90/(90+10)) = 90%. Poor, off-target passes are taken out of the equation so this gauges a receiver's hands instead of factoring in his QB's ability (or inability) to deliver an on-target pass.

NFL Tight Ends Catch %

This chart shows the Catch % of the top 30 NFL tight ends in 2009. This is different than the catch % you may have seen on other sites because this chart completely removes the QB out of the equation. Other sites describe catch % as the number of receptions divided by the number of times targeted. This is simply the number of receptions divided by the number of catchable passes (receptions/(receptions + drops)). For example, if a player had 90 receptions but 10 drops then his catch % would be (90/(90+10)) = 90%. Poor, off-target passes are taken out of the equation so this gauges a receiver's hands instead of factoring in his QB's ability (or inability) to deliver an on-target pass.

NFC WR Catch % (50 or more receptions)

This chart shows the Catch % of the NFC wide receivers with at least 50 receptions in 2009. This is different than the catch % you may have seen on other sites because this chart completely removes the QB out of the equation. Other sites describe catch % as the number of receptions divided by the number of times targeted. This is simply the number of receptions divided by the number of catchable passes (receptions/(receptions + drops)). For example, if a player had 90 receptions but 10 drops then his catch % would be (90/(90+10)) = 90%. Poor, off-target passes are taken out of the equation so this gauges a receiver's hands instead of factoring in his QB's ability (or inability) to deliver an on-target pass.

Interesting Stats from NBA Games, 2/19/10

• The Memphis Grizzlies managed just 87 points even though they went to double overtime against Miami.  It was the fewest points scored in a double-OT game since Dallas scored 85 in a 1998 game vs. Indiana.
• The high-scoring Phoenix Suns scored just 88 points in their win over Atlanta, but they still won the game.  Since Steve Nash re-joined the team in 2004, it was only the third time that Phoenix won a game despite reaching 90 points.
• In that same game, Phoenix made only 2 three-pointers which is the fewest they've made in a game since not making any on March 27, 2004 which was the last season before the Nash-era began.
• Though Orlando lost to Dallas, Dwight Howard had a Superman effort with 29 points, 16 rebounds, and 5 blocked shots.  Since the start of the 2007 season, Howard now has 6 games where he's posted a 25-15-5 statline.  The rest of the NBA has combined for just 6 such games over that same period.
• Since his 55 point game in November, the season has just gone downhill for Brandon Jennings.  Jennings went 1-13 from the field against Detroit but still managed to finish with 10 points.  Jennings month-by-month FG% from October to February looks like this 52%-42%-38%-32%-31%.
• Darren Collison recorded a triple double with 18 points, 13 rebounds, and 12 assists (and also 8 turnovers).  The UCLA rookie is the 5th youngest player since 2000 to have a 12-12-12 statline in a game.  The others from youngest to oldest were LeBron, CP3, Jay Williams, and Gilbert Arenas.
• It was a very inauspicious debut for Antawn Jamison with the Cavs as he went 0-12 and finished with 2 points.  Since 2000, only 7 other players went 0-12 (or worse) from the field in a game including Vince Carter, Zach Randolph, and Gilbert Arenas.
• Since coming into the NBA in 1967, no team has blocked more shots than the San Antonio Spurs.  But they failed to block any shots in their loss to the 76ers on Friday.  It was only the 11th time in the last 20 years (start of David Robinson-era) that San Antonio did not block a shot in a game.

AFC WR Catch % (50 or more receptions)

This shows the Catch % of the AFC wide receivers with at least 50 receptions in 2009. This is different than the catch % you may have seen on other sites because this chart completely removes the QB out of the equation. Other sites describe catch % as the number of receptions divided by the number of times targeted. This is simply the number of receptions divided by the number of catchable passes (receptions/(receptions + drops)). For example, if a player had 90 receptions but 10 drops then his catch % would be (90/(90+10)) = 90%. Poor, off-target passes are taken out of the equation so this gauges a receiver's hands instead of factoring in his QB's ability (or inability) to deliver an on-target pass.

A Look at PER Compared to Salary for 2010 NBA All Stars

Who are the NFC's most efficient pass rushers?

Who are the AFC's most efficient pass rushers?

Why Rashard Mendenhall is so Vital to Ben Roethlisberger's Success

If I told you that Ben Roethlisberger posted a QB rating of 92.1 in the shotgun you may wonder why the Steelers don’t use that formation more often. But if I then told you that Roethlisberger has a QB rating of 109.9 when under center, then you may wonder why the Steelers use the shotgun period. That’s the question I’m wondering as well after Roethlisberger’s QB rating under center jumped 24 points from 2008 when it was around 85.

Perhaps the biggest reason why there was such a large jump for Big Ben is because of one player: Rashard Mendenhall. In 2008 the Steelers didn’t have much of a running game; the combo of Willie Parker and Mewelde Moore combined for just 3.9 yards per carry. In 2009 Mendenhall averaged 4.6 yards per carry, good enough for 7^th in the league for players with at least 200 carries. The reason why Mendenhall helps Roethlisberger when he’s under center is because of the threat of the run. Defenses have to prepare for the run or the pass from that formation which means they can’t commit to one or the other. Put 8 in the box and Pittsburgh will throw the ball. Drop your safeties 20 yards from the line of scrimmage and you can expect a handoff to Mendenhall. But when Roethlisberger is in the shotgun, then the defense knows what to expect. There’s no threat of the run so the defenders can just watch the man they are covering or the zone they are occupying and pay no attention to the running back. Take a look at the chart below and you can clearly see when the Steelers spread the field with receivers and take the threat of the run out of the equation, Roethlisberger’s rating recedes like Santonio Holmes’ hairline. Yes the numbers are somewhat ambiguous as related to being under center vs. the shotgun due to the Steelers running multiple-receiver sets while Roethlisberger is under center. But for the shotgun, there is ALWAYS at least 3 receivers in the formation. (In the chart below, receivers are defined as any player split wide or in the slot including running backs and tight ends who are flexed out).

Interesting Stats from 2/9/10 NBA Games

• Zydrunas Ilgauskas struggled against the Nets by going 1-10 for just 2 points.  It is the tenth time this season that Big Z has scored 2 or fewer points in a game.  Before this season, Big Z had played in 705 games and scored 2 or fewer points a total of 10 times.
• Even though Shaq only scored 7 points vs. New Jersey, he was still active in other areas.  He also had 8 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals, and 2 blocks.  It's just the third time since 2001 that Shaq had at least 5 assists, 2 steals, and 2 blocks in a game.
• The Houston Rockets were dreadful in all facets of the game vs. Miami as they finished with just 66 points which ties a franchise low.  They also became only the second team since 1986 to have fewer than 9 assists, 3 steals, and 2 blocks in a single game.  The other was the Knicks on Dec. 23, 2007 but they managed to score 90 points in their game.
• Udonis Haslem came off the bench to pull down 14 rebounds against the Rockets, and all of them were defensive rebounds.  He is the only player this year to grab 14 defensive rebounds in a game despite not starting.
• Ty Lawson's had a fairly pedestrian night against the Mavericks with 13 points, 7 assists, and 5 rebounds.  But he did this in just 21 minutes which makes him the first player this season to record a 10-5-5 statline in 21 or fewer minutes.
• Joe Smith has never been known as a pick-pocketter in his career but this is kind of embarrassing: Smith has played 321 minutes this season and only has 1 steal!  But Jonathan Bender has a chance to catch him as he's played 212 minutes and has yet to record a steal.

Philip Rivers: King of the Long Ball

Every time I watched the Chargers play, it always amazed me how often Philip Rivers hooked up with one of his receivers for a deep pass. Lots of QBs pile up big numbers because their receivers gain YAC but it always seems that with the Chargers, most of their yardage comes from when the ball is in the air (Sproles not withstanding). Thus, I tracked down the stats of all of the playoff QBs' numbers when they throw a pass 30 or more yards.

It's important to note that these are not 30+ yard pass plays but rather only plays in which the ball was in the air for 30 or more yards. Here are the yardage results on these plays as well as the number of 30+ yard pass completions for each QB:


Rivers' efficiency in throwing the deep ball is unparalleled; in fact, McNabb and Romo were the only QBs who had more 30+ yard completions than Rivers had 40+ yard completions (7). It certainly helps to have a pair of 6'5" receivers who can go up and pull down the pass but you still have to be accurate enough to put the receiver in such a position. Much was made of Rivers' funky throwing motion when coming out of NC State, but none of that should matter for any QB as long as he can put the ball where it needs to be.

10 Things to Know before the Super Bowl

• The average number of points scored by the winning Super Bowl team is 30.1 points while the average for the losing team is 15.3 points.  However, those numbers are somewhat skewed by the assortment of rule changes that have favored the offenses.  Before the adoption of the illegal contact penalty in 1978, the average score was 23.4 to 9.6.

• Drew Brees has yet to win a playoff game outside of the Superdome.  If the Saints win the Super Bowl then Brees will become just the 8th QB to have his first career non-home playoff win come in the Super Bowl.  The last to do it was the recently retired Kurt Warner in 1999.

• By the time Super Bowl XLIV starts, it will have been exactly 400 days since the Colts lost a game in which Peyton Manning played into the 4th quarter and 504 days since they lost to a team that plays a 4-3 defense under that same condition.

• Speaking of 4-3 defenses: the Colts will finally play one in the playoffs for the first time since Super Bowl XLI against the Bears.  Indy has not lost a playoff game to a 4-3 team since January 4, 2003.

• If Adam Vinatieri plays vs. the Saints then it will be his sixth Super Bowl which will tie the most ever by a single player (Mike Lodish).  If the Colts win then Vinatieri will have five Super Bowl wins which will tie him with Charles Haley for the most all-time.

• The Colts’ current starting kicker, Matt Stover turned 42 on January 27, 2010 which means he will be the oldest player to ever play in the Super Bowl once the game comes around.

• Jim Caldwell will seek to become the 3rd rookie head coach to win a Super Bowl joining George Seifert and Don McCafferty.  Like Seifert (Walsh) and McCafferty (Shula), Caldwell is following in the footsteps of a hall of fame coach (Dungy) and all 3 coaches had the luxury of coaching a QB that can arguably be considered the greatest of all time.  (McCafferty had Unitas, Seifert had Montana, and Caldwell has Manning).

• Drew Brees has fumbled 6 times in 5 career playoff games and he has fumbled 12 times in 17 games played this season.  That’s not good news especially considering the fact that Robert Mathis leads the NFL with 31 FFs since 2004 and Dwight Freeney is 3rd over that span with 23 FFs.

• If the Saints are to win then Brees will have to overcome his history of poor performances in Miami.  In two career games at Pro Player/Dolphin Stadium, Brees has thrown 1 TD compared to 4 INTs while being sacked 8 times.

• Speaking of playing surface, Brees has struggled when playing on grass this year as compared to turf while Manning has actually played better on grass than turf despite playing his home games in a dome.  Here is how their numbers stack up when playing on grass:

Interesting Stats from 2/3/10 NBA Games

• Marcus Camby had 6 points and 20 rebounds in the Clippers' loss to the Hawks.  It was the 11th time since 2005 that Camby had at least 20 boards but fewer than 10 points in a game.  No other player has done it more than once during that timeframe.
• The Bulls lead the NBA with 6.4 blocks per game (entering Wed.) but they failed to block a single shot against 76ers.  It was the first time since November 24, 2006 that the Bulls did not block a shot in a game and on that day the Bulls also happened to be playing Philadelphia.
• The Wizards attempted just 7 free throws in their loss to the Knicks who attempted only 8 of their own.  In other words, those two teams combined to shoot as many free throws in their game as LaMarcus Aldridge (11-15 FT) did by himself against the Jazz.
• Since 2003 only 2 players have had at least 30 points, 13 assists, 5 rebounds, and 2 blocks in a game: Dwyane Wade and LeBron James.  Wade did it again on Wednesday night to give him 4 career games with those numbers which nudges him just past LeBron who has 3 such games.
• If I told you a Warrior had 46 points on just 23 FGAs, then you'd probably think it was Corey Maggette.  I know I would but it wasn't Maggette who did that vs. the Mavs, but rather his teammate Monta Ellis.  Ellis was 17-23 from the field (4-6 on 3PAs) and 8-13 from the free throw line in what was his career high scoring game.
• Utah shot 62.5% from the field and 90.6% from the line in their win over Portland.  It's only the 7th time since 2000 that a team shot at least 60% on field goals and 90% on free throws in a game.  Not surprisingly, those teams are 7-0 in those games.
• Kobe Bryant scored just 5 points in 37 minutes in the Lakers' win over the Bobcats.  It was the fewest points he's scored in a game since January 13, 2005 (when he played just 6 minutes).  But in games in which he's played at least 30 minutes (now 821 after Wednesday), Bryant's 5 points is a new career-low.

Charlie Weis has his hands full in KC

When you take a look at Matt Cassel's 2008 stats and you factor in the appointment of Charlie Weis as Chiefs' OC, you realize that Kansas City is faced with a paradox: Charlie Weis loves to employ the spread offense which frequently has at least 3, but often 4 or 5 receivers on the field at a time. But Cassel struggles in multiple receiver sets where its tougher to read defenses and throw the ball downfield. (With the stats above, receivers are counted as anyone who lines up out wide or in the slot; thus, running backs and tight ends flexed out are counted as receivers).

So what should the Chiefs do? Forcing Cassel into the spread could be like fitting a square peg into a round hole. I thought about the Chiefs possibly utilizing Cassel more in the shotgun which would give him a little more time to avoid the rush and a better look at the defensive alignment. However, that idea was put to rest once I saw these stats: