Boxed Out: A weekly look at statistical oddities around the NBA
I'm writing this after watching the shellacking of the Mavs this afternoon, which means for the second undefeated Celtics week in a row, I feel too good to come up with a wiseacre remark to ring in this week's Boxed Out. Maybe I'm mellowing, though it's unlikely. Happy trails to recently deposed Grizz coach Marc Iavaroni. Let's roll.
Bulls starting frontcourt, Monday at New York: 38 rebounds (13 offensive)
Luol Deng (10), Tyrus Thomas (10) and Joakim Noah (18) combined for just three less boards than the Knicks as a team. The Bulls went plus-17 for the game on the boards. And minus-4 on the scoreboard. Too bad Ben Gordon and Andres Nocioni (4-for-24 between them) couldn't buy a bucket. Also, Mike Breen called Jo Noah by his father's name (Yannick) way too many times in this game.
Rafer Alston, Monday versus Denver: 7-for-15 from the field, 18 points, 11 assists, 0 turnovers
Rafer's team won by two points, and he was a bigger part of the reason why they won than why they could have lost. This is noteworthy.
Amare Stoudemire, Monday at Boston: 0-for-7 from the field, 3 points
Fear the redhead!
Greg Oden, Monday versus Milwaukee: 9-for-14 from the field, 24 points, 15 rebounds, plus-27
A big part of the reason Brandon Roy managed a plus-30 despite shooting just 4-for-13 from the field for nine points.
Pau Gasol, Monday versus Cleveland: 11-for-13 from the field, 22 points, 12 boards
While everyone watched LeBron and Kobe, he was busy being the difference in the game up front.
Manu Ginobili, Tuesday versus Indiana: 8-for-10 from the field, 4-for-4 on threes, 6-for-7 from the line, 26 points, 8 rebounds, plus-26
The Spurs just don't seem to go away.
Linas Kleiza, Tuesday versus Sacramento: 11-for-17 from the field, 27 points, 6 rebounds
MIZ-ZOU!
Kevin Love, Tuesday at Utah: 24 minutes, 5-for-7 from the field, 12 points, 9 rebounds
By popular demand, some love for Kevin.
Charlie Villanueva, Wednesday versus Dallas: 12-for-17 from the field, 4-for-7 on threes, 32 points, 10 rebounds, plus-37
The Bucks put up 133 in regulation in this game and won by 34. Not good times for the Dallas defense.
Devin Harris, Wednesday at New Orleans: 1-for-11 from the field, 6 points, 6 assists, 0 rebounds, 3 turnovers, minus-15
One might call this sort of performance "perturbing," so to speak.
Mehmet Okur, Wednesday at Houston: 2-for-13 from the field, 8 points, 6 rebounds, 2 turnovers, 5 fouls
This was a major contribution to his team losing to the Rockets.
Wally Szczerbiak, Wednesday at Portland: 23 minutes, 8 points, 10 rebounds
Ten rebounds? Really, Wally?
Antawn Jamison, Caron Butler, Andray Blatche, Wednesday at Sacramento: 32-for-56 from the field, 85 points
The bummer here was that these three only left five shots for Nick Young to take. The more significant news was that they managed to win the game.
Oklahoma City Thunder and Golden State Warriors, Wednesday at Golden State: 68-for-73 foul shooting (93.2 percent)
Who says the NBA lacks fundamentals?
Andrew Bynum, Wednesday at LA Clippers: 17-for-24 from the field, 42 points, 15 rebounds, 3 blocks
Because we had to mention this performance at some point this week.
DeAndre Jordan, Wednesday versus LA Lakers: 11-for-12 from the field, 23 ponts, 12 rebounds, 4 blocks
Because amid all the Bynum hubbub, it would have been easy to miss what the unpolished rookie from Texas A&M did in that same game.
Knicks starters Wilson Chandler, David Lee, Jared Jeffries, Chris Duhon and Quentin Richardson, Friday versus Memphis: minus-5, plus-7, minus-14, plus-3, minus-4 respectively
This is odd because the team's top four reserves (Al Harrington, Nate Robinson, Danilo Gallinari, Tim Thomas) posted the following figures: plus-36, plus-32, plus-22, plus-23. Knicks by 20.
Phoenix Suns and Charlotte Bobcats, Friday at Charlotte: 27-for-41 foul shooting (65.8 percent)
Maybe not so much on the fundamentals after all.
Flip Murray, Friday versus Milwaukee: 23 minutes, 11-for-13 from the field, 25 points
Instant offense indeed.
James Posey, Friday at Minnesota: 39 minutes, 8-for-19 from the field, 7-for-11 on threes, 24 points
Watching that relaxed, off-one-foot three-point stroke is still so much fun.
Jose Calderon, Friday at Chicago: 9-for-10 from the field, 1-for-1 on threes, 4-for-4 foul shooting, 23 points, 10 assists, 0 turnovers
Nearly a perfect offensive game.
Monta Ellis, Friday versus Cleveland: 34 minutes, 20 points
Both season highs, breaking his previous marks of zero in both categories. Welcome back, Monta.
Tim Thomas and Nate Robinson, Saturday at Philadelphia: 17-for-30 from the field, 8-for-15 on threes, 8-for-8 foul shooting, 50 points, 5 rebounds, 10 assists
Mike D'Antoni just loves to use his bench. Never expected to say that.
Mario Chalmers, Friday versus Orlando: 8-for-12 from the field, 20 points, 6 assists, 3 steals, 0 turnovers
Really like this guy.
Dallas Mavericks, Sunday at Boston: 32 made field goals
Interesting only in that they allowed 34 assisted baskets. And lost by 24.
So there you have it. Wally Szczerbiak wipes the glass, Monta Ellis is back, Devin Harris is still figuring out how to respond to his benching last week, and we got in two fun stats about Celtics opponents. It's a good life.
Back as always this afternoon with the Babble. See ya on the flip side of the meridian.