Interesting but Still Too Early

[Covert Rain]

Though way too early some interesting stats so far in the post D'Antoni era for the Suns. I was curious because I have only looked at the stats in a piece meal fashion plus it's way too early. Just the same I wanted to take a look.

Suns (This year)
PPG 100.5 (#6) - down 4.5 points (last year 104.5)
FG% .499 (#1) - Suns still # 1 in FG%. Up .1 (last year .498)
Opposing FG% .445 (#16) - almost the same (last year .457)
Opposing PPG 97.8 (#20) - Better then last year (last year 104.9)
Steals 6.3 (#25) - only different by .1 (last year 6.4)
RPG 39.3 (#23) - down 2.2 rebounds per game (last year 41.5)
APG 19.9 (#17) - down 6.3 Assists (last year 26.2)
Turnover 16.2 (#29) - Up 2.4 turnovers (last year 13.8)
BPG 5.1 (#16) - down 1.3 per game (Last year 6.4)

My thoughts:

• We are still scoring really well
• Allowing fewer points per game.
• The assists are way down but we are running less which means less easy buckets etc.
• It was surprising to see rebounds and blocks per game down slightly.
• Turning the ball over 2 1/2 more times then last year. Was a problem last year...still is. Man if we could get turnovers under control that would be a huge plus.

Very interesting. Overall I would say ....Terry Porter.....so far so good but it's definitely a sweet and sour scenario. Some things I am happy about and others we need some work on.

Just out of curiosity I pulled the Knicks stats for this year.

Knicks
PPG 105.7 (#1)
FG% 4.45 (#11)
Opposing FG% .483 (#29)
Oppsing PPG 105.5 (#30)
Steals Per Game 8.6 (#6)
RPG 42.4 (#14)
APG 23.9 (#4)
TO Per game 14.6 (#19)
BPG 1.2 (#30)

Being #1 would be great if your team wasn't giving up the same number of points on defense. Wow. I don't miss D'Antoni. At the very least he is giving the NY fans something to watch on offense.

 

[green machine]

I'd be more concerned with the differentials...like rebounding differential, mainly. I don't think the Suns are getting outrebounded very often, but they get less rebounds total because less shots are going up.

 

[jagu]

The big thing this year is I think we can maintain leads the way we play. I was always worried with D'Antoni and his chuck it up offense because once the team went cold the opposing team would storm back. This post it up offense works better to maintain leads IMO. This team still needs gelling. I think the turnovers will come down.

 

[Chaplin]

I think the numbers are skewed because so far when we've lost, we've lost bad. I mean, like really bad.

 

[mojorizen7]

The big thing this year is I think we can maintain leads the way we play. I was always worried with D'Antoni and his chuck it up offense because once the team went cold the opposing team would storm back. This post it up offense works better to maintain leads IMO. This team still needs gelling. I think the turnovers will come down.

Yep.
This was just one of the reasons that i despised the run & shoot philosophy. It'd be one thing to come out,run,get up by 25* & then get smarter with the basketball so as not to ALWAYS give your opponent 3 full quarters to get back into the game when your shooting % dips below 50(all the while ignoring the offensive glass or trying to stop anybody).
The run & shoot is an arrogant offense IMO....best run by arrogant coaches.


*this way of jumping on the opponent by 25 and never letting up worked in D'Antoni's first full season here,it was truly an amazing thing to witness. I remember opponents were beaten by halftime....down 30,out of gas and with no clue how to defend it.

 

[YouJustGotSUNSD]

Can we get Possessions Per Game comparisons to make this stuff relevant?

 

[French Fries]

I'd be more concerned with the differentials...like rebounding differential, mainly. I don't think the Suns are getting outrebounded very often, but they get less rebounds total because less shots are going up.

heh, can't get any more obvious than that. more significant i would say is to compare rebounding differential from last year to this year, because totals are always tricky. more in totals doesn't mean (at least not always) more efficiency...

i appreciate the effort, steel...

edit:

insignificant thought about the standings (i know, it's early, but it doesn't hurt to ask). i see houston and jazz ahead off us despite us having a better winning %. am i missing something, or what? they did beat us but i thought the rule only applies as a tie breaker and there isn't any ties (at least not yet)

 

[DeAnna]

The big thing this year is I think we can maintain leads the way we play. I was always worried with D'Antoni and his chuck it up offense because once the team went cold the opposing team would storm back.

Isn't this exactly what happened with the Jazz? Suns couldn't buy a bucket when it counted.

 

[jagu]

Isn't this exactly what happened with the Jazz? Suns couldn't buy a bucket when it counted.

Not really the Suns got a whistle blown on every possession for the Jazz. It's hard to win basketball games on a back-to-back, road game, in Utah, with refs like that. I didn't think they disappeared offensively, they did for a stretch when the second unit came in and did jack squat but it was a pretty good offensive performance. The second quarter foul show did the Suns in.

 

[DeAnna]

Not really the Suns got a whistle blown on every possession for the Jazz. It's hard to win basketball games on a back-to-back, road game, in Utah, with refs like that. I didn't think they disappeared offensively, they did for a stretch when the second unit came in and did jack squat but it was a pretty good offensive performance. The second quarter foul show did the Suns in.

Not in the 4th qtr. They were only down by 2, then the Jazz went on a 13-2 run (or something like that) and pulled away.

 

[YouJustGotSUNSD]

Yeah it was close for the majority of the game but we fell apart with like 8 min to go and never came back.

 

[Cheesebeef]

The big thing this year is I think we can maintain leads the way we play. I was always worried with D'Antoni and his chuck it up offense because once the team went cold the opposing team would storm back. This post it up offense works better to maintain leads IMO.

I was no fan of DA, but this team hasn't shown any propensity to hold leads any better than his did or are you guys already forgetting how a 17 point lead over an awful Memphis team was erased in the blink of an eye or how 12 point and 17 point leads over Portland were erased in the blink of an eye twice in one game or how a 9 point lead going into the 4th (and a 12 point lead in the fourth) disappeared in the span of a couple minutes against an awful Milwaukee team, or how a 16 point lead in the third and a 9 point lead going into the fourth disappeared against Sacto? Teams have stormed back just as easily as they always have against us, DA or no DA thus far this season.

 

[Mainstreet]

I don't see how one can draw a legitimate comparison between Porter in his first season in Phoenix and D'Antoni in his first season in New York especially in regard to stats. It really isn't fair to both although Porter has much more talent in Phoenix than does D'Antoni in New York. Based strictly on talent, Porter should have the better team as D'Antoni is trying to install his system in New York minus the players he needs to run it.

I think point differential is the best way to compare teams but like I said, right now it is like comparing apples to oranges. Maybe next season would be a more accurate barometer.

 

[BC867]

I don't see how one can draw a legitimate comparison between Porter in his first season in Phoenix and D'Antoni in his first season in New York especially in regard to stats. It really isn't fair to both although Porter has much more talent in Phoenix than does D'Antoni in New York. Based strictly on talent, Porter should have the better team as D'Antoni is trying to install his system in New York minus the players he needs to run it.

I think point differential is the best way to compare teams but like I said, right now it is like comparing apples to oranges. Maybe next season would be a more accurate barometer.

We know that D'Antoni is going to put on a good regular season show, while lifting the Knicks from their dismal seasons. Regular season show is what he's shown he's good at. Lifting the Knicks from the bottom to the middle isn't an overwhelming challenge.

My concern is the Suns reaching the playoffs, ready to be successful. With established team chemistry. With a healthy and rested/energetic team. With the defense and inside strength needed to do well in the post-season. And with respect from the refs and the league as being a strong team.

Yes, comparing Porter to D'Antoni anytime during the regular season will be apples to oranges. Doing it after the last game of the post-season will be valid.

We already see that philosophy working for the Suns. A strong foundation is being established right from the start.

And the pattern necessary to face the inevitable injuries, fatigue and foul trouble that pop up in the playoffs.