Boxed Out: A weekly look at statistical oddities around the NBA
The effect of a 4-0 week for the Celts: I've got no particularly acerbic introdcutory comments for you today. Hope everyone is enjoying their holiday weekend and that you're ready to start a new week with a brand-new edition of Boxed Out.
Brook Lopez, Monday versus Oklahoma City: 10-for-17 from the field, 11-for-12 foul shooting, 31 points, 13 rebounds, 2 blocks
In the past week and change, I've made any number of snide comments about Nets fans, and the Jersey folks have lost two games to the Celts by a combined 52 points. Seems worth throwing them a bone by noting one of their rookie center's several impressive performances of late.
Washington Wizards not named Mike James or Caron Butler, Monday versus Milwaukee: 31-for-55 from the field
Too bad those other two combined to go 4-for-25 from the field en route to a come-from-ahead Wizards loss.
Jared Jeffries, Monday at New Orleans: 1-for-8 from the field, 3 points, 9 rebounds (5 offensive), 6 assists, 0 turnovers
Six dimes from Jared Jeffries might help explain how the Knicks managed assists on 30 of their 39 made baskets in an upset win in the Big Easy.
Travis Outlaw, Monday at Chicago: 9-for-14 from the field, 4-for-5 on threes, 11-for-13 foul shooting, 33 points, 7 rebounds, 3 blocks
I tend to believe that his shot selection is often questionable and that he isn't the world's headiest player, but that's a heckuva game.
LeBron James, Tuesday at Memphis: 9-for-15 from the field, 11-for-14 foul shooting, 30 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists
This almost didn't make the cut because LeBron didn't even come close to threatening for a quadruple-double. Which means this doesn't even sniff honors for best performance involving a triple-double this week. Warm up the "Overrated" chants!
Dirk Nowitzki, Tuesday at Denver: 15-for-26 from the field, 12-for-12 foul shooting, 44 points, 14 rebounds, 1 turnover
Well played, sir.
Orlando Magic, Tuesday at Sacramento: 23-for-37 on three-pointers
That's insane. And a big part of the reason Orlando put up 139 points in regulation.
David Lee, Wednesday versus Washington: 12-for-21 from the field, 30 points, 10 rebounds, 6 assists
Lee joins Jared Jeffries as the second Knicks forward to rack up six assists in a game this week.
Andrea Bargnani, Wednesday versus Chicago: 10-for-14 from the field, 9-for-10 foul shooting, 31 points, 10 rebounds
He just looks so much more comfortable than he did a month ago.
Ronnie Price, Wednesday at Oklahoma City: 15 minutes, 1-for-1 from the field, 3 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist, 4 fouls, minus-24
He was on the floor for a quarter and a quarter of a quarter. And in that span his team got outscored by 24 points. By the team with the worst record in basketball. Think about that for a second.
Chris Paul, Wednesday at Dallas: 33 points, 11 assists, 10 rebounds, 7 steals
Paging Mr. James, paging Mr. James: That right there is a triple-double for you. And then some.
Jamal Crawford, Wednesday versus Sacramento: 60 minutes, 13-for-31 from the field, 35 points, 0 personal fouls
Thanks to CelticsBlog member vwoodruff for submitting this one, accompanied by the following comment: "I haven't seen Crawford ball in a while... but I think a game like this pretty much says, 'I play no defense.' Insane." Amen.
Chauncey Billups, Thursday versus Phoenix: 1-for-10 on threes
Good thing he killed it from two-point range (5-for-8) and the foul line (13-for-14).
Deron Williams, Friday at Memphis: 27 points, 12 assists, 8 turnovers, 0 rebounds
He was the only one of ten Utah players to get minutes who didn't grab a single rebound.
Darius Miles, Friday versus Utah: 14 minutes, 10 points, 7 rebounds, $18 million added to Portland Trail Blazers payroll
Shame on you for thinking the Grizzlies signed this super-productive swigman just to cause trouble for Kevin Pritchard and friends.
Michael Redd, Friday at Sacramento: 16-for-26 from the field, 6-for-9 on threes, 44 points
Also in this game: Four Kings starters (John Salmons, Jason Thompson, Brad Miller, Kevin Martin) score at least 20 points, and they do it on a combined 24-of-38 shooting from the field and 36-of-42 foul shooting. This game was completed in regulation.
Boris Diaw and Raja Bell, Saturday versus Portland: 5-for-18 from the field, 15 points
Can those Phoenix imports play efficient offense or what? Not to be forgotten, long-time Bobcat Gerald Wallace put up a smooth 31 points and 16 boards in a victory over Portland.
New Orleans Hornets and Detroit Pistons, Saturday at Detroit: 6 turnovers each
Ah, this is the sort of thing we were hoping for in the conclusion to last week's Boxed Out: Thirty NBA teams average more than 12 turnovers per game. For those scoring at home (or, in the case of my pal Acks, at Applebees), that would be all of them.
Matt Bonner, Saturday at Chicago: 12 points, 11 rebounds, plus-12
Good week for redheads. I'm becoming a bigger Scal fan by the day as well.
Yao Ming, Saturday versus Miami: 12-for-12 from the field, 2-for-3 foul shooting, 26 points, 10 rebounds
The single-game record for field goals without a miss is 18, done by Wilt Chamberlain on February 24, 1967. Second and third place on that list? Also Wilt, with a 16-for-16 and a 15-for-15 in the same month (hat tip to Larry Schwartz of ESPN).
A 12-for-12 performance seems the appropriate place to end this week's Boxed Out. As always, feel free to let us know which stats we missed. You'll be shocked to know the Babble comes your way this afternoon. See ya on the flip side of the meridian.