Boxed Out: A weekly look at statistical oddities around the NBA
The Celtics' post-Christmas won-loss record is among the subject matter that we won't be addressing in today's edition of Boxed Out. But everything else is fair game. Let's roll our way into the sports pages, or perhaps in the parlance of our times, the archive of box scores at NBA.com. Either way, time to crunch some numbers.
Kevin Martin, Monday at New Jersey: 0 starts, 11-for-21 from the field, 4-for-7 on threes, 10-for-11 foul shooting, 36 points, 4 assists, 4 boards
The second of consecutive performances (we covered the first last week) in which the man Sacto fans know affectionately as Speed Racer totaled 81 points off the bench. On stunningly good efficiency, one might add. Two nights earlier, Martin almost outscored the Kings' starting five, falling short by a 48-45 margin. He was not to be denied this time, topping the combined scoring effort of five Sacramento starters, 36-33. Sadly for Kings folk, Martin did not top the Nets, and the Kings fell, 98-90.
George Hill, Monday at Miami: 17 minutes, 4-for-4 from the field, 3-for-3 on threes, 4-for-5 foul shooting, 15 points, 7 rebounds
A lesson for me in the danger of liberally heaving adjectives around. If Kevin Martin's efficiency was stunning (which it was), I'm not quite sure what to call this. Good showing, Dead-Eye George.
Chris Bosh, Monday at Milwaukee: 12-for-14 from the field, 7-for-10 foul shooting, 31 points, 11 rebounds
Seems like we're fixated on guys who had a real easy time putting the ball in the hole this week. In the interest of balance, it seems worth noting that Will Solomon, starting in place of Jose Calderon, went 2-for-13 in this game.
Jameer Nelson, Tuesday versus Washington: 5-for-17 from the field, 14 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 turnovers
We mention this only because it's reassuring to be reminded that Jameer Nelson is in fact still human.
Kevin Martin, Tuesday at Chicago: 1 start, 8-for-15 from the field, 2-for-4 from three, 11-for-14 foul shooting, 29 points, 1 rebound, 7 turnovers
Reinsert a guy to the starting lineup, and he just falls off the map, ya know? Or not.
Andres Nocioni, Tuesday versus Sacramento: 12 minutes, 1-for-11 from the field, 3 points, 1 rebound
If you're going to take 11 shots in 12 minutes, you're going to want to hit at least a couple of them.
Eric Gordon, Tuesday at Dallas: 46 minutes, 9-for-18 from the field, 13-of-15 foul shooting, 32 points, 6 assists
Whale of a game for a rookie playing on a shorthanded Clippers team.
David West, Tuesday at LA Lakers: 14-for-23 from the field, 12-of-13 foul shooting, 40 points, 11 boards
It's always impressive when someone rolls into the Staples Center and out-duels Kobe Bryant, albeit narrowly. Mamba settled for a measly 39 on 14-of-22 shooting. Chris Paul chipped in with a slick 32 points and 15 assists. Ultimately, if you find an encore showing of this game on television somewhere, it's worth sitting down for a few minutes. This was a good one.
Andris Biedrins, Wednesday versus LA Lakers: 6-for-8 from the field, 12 points, 17 rebounds, 8 assists
Versatile dude.
Deron Williams, Wednesday versus New Orleans: 3-for-7 from the field, 8 points, 8 assists, 4 rebounds, 3 turnovers
The opposing point guard went 10-for-18 for 26 points to go with 7 assists, 0 turnovers and 2 rebounds. But Deron's team won by 26.
James Posey, Friday versus LA Clippers: 6-for-8 from the field, 3-for-5 on threes, 16 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 turnovers
Miss ya.
Michael Beasley, Friday at Sacramento: 10-for-19 from the field, 23 points, 10 boards
The rook from Kansas State has battled inconsistency this year, but he looked solid in accumulating his second double-double of the week.
Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, Andrew Bynum, Friday versus Indiana: 27-for-43 from the field, 22-for-30 foul shooting, 77 points, 23 rebounds, 18 assists, 9 turnovers
And the Pacers managed to take this one down to the wire to lose by just two, despite the Lakers tacking on a 5-for-7 from Josh Powell.
Detroit Pistons and Utah Jazz, Saturday at Utah: 9 turnovers each
This stat would be cooler if there were any individual teams in the league averaging more than 18 turnovers per game, but it's still uncommon to see two teams going an entire game in single-digit turnovers. Of course, at 35.9 percent shooting from the field, Detroit might as well have been turning it over on most possessions anyway in a 17-point loss, but we'll let that slide.
As always, please don't be bashful on filling us in on all the statistical goofiness that didn't fit in this week's edition of Boxed Out. Babble comes at ya at one o'clock Monday afternoon. See ya on the flip side of the meridian.