Boxed Out: A weekly look at statistical oddities around the NBA
The Suns are running again, and someone is always scoring, whether it's Steve Nash and company or perhaps some green-clad visitors. LeBron is dominating. A pair of youngsters named Kevin are making the most of their minutes. We have all sorts of wacky numbers to address in this week's Boxed Out.
Dwight Howard, Tuesday versus Charlotte: 16-for-23 from the field, 13-for-18 foul shooting, 45 points, 19 rebounds, 8 blocks
I wonder how many times he stared at his hand in this game. Although if there were ever a night when that befuddling bit of theatrics were remotely justifiable, this would have been it. Well done, D-12.
Kevin Love, Tuesday at Washington: 3-for-7 from the field, 11-for-12 foul shooting, 17 points, 11 rebounds
At this point, it's safe to say that he is just making his requisite weekly appearance in this space. The man sure can rebound.
Antonio McDyess, Tuesday versus Milwaukee: 11-for-15 from the field, 24 points, 14 rebounds
Too bad he chose to sit out a month and then resume working his tail off for a squad in turmoil rather than signing with a team that occasionally wins home games.
Malik Allen, Tuesday at Detroit: 7-for-12 from the field, 14 points, 8 rebounds
Where did this come from?
David West, Tuesday at Oklahoma City: 13-for-20 from the field, 11-for-12 foul shooting, 37 points, 13 rebounds
Better believe he was peeved about his center being traded earlier that day.
Kevin Durant, Tuesday versus New Orleans: 16-for-27 from the field, 11-for-13 foul shooting, 4-for-6 on threes, 47 points
What would he have to do to surprise you at this point?
Brook Lopez, Tuesday at Houston: 9-for-14 from the field, 21 points, 9 rebounds, 4 blocks
Another young player who intrigues me more than a bit. Sadly, it's an achievement to go minus-8 when a player starts a game that his team loses by 26.
Phoenix Suns, Tuesday versus LA Clippers: 140 points scored in regulation
It later turned out that this was their warm-up game offensively.
Darko Milicic, Tuesday at Utah: 6-for-7 from the field, 15 points, 10 rebounds
It isn't a good sign for a former number two overall pick if we feel the need to highlight any decent game he plays.
J.J. Hickson, Wednesday at Toronto: 22 minutes, 4-for-5 from the field, 8 points, 8 rebounds
He is only going to become more of an asset off the bench for the Cavs as time goes on.
Philadelphia 76ers, Wednesday versus Denver: plus-10 field-goal attempts, plus-7 free throw attempts, plus-6 total rebounding, plus-4 turnover differential
And they lost this game by 12 because they shot less than 33 percent while allowing nearly 49 percent from the field. The Nuggets made nine more field goals despite taking 10 fewer shots from the floor. Eesh.
Minnesota Timberwolves, Wednesday at Miami: 49 rebounds for, 24 rebounds against
Despite grabbing eight more offensive rebounds than the Heat did, Minnesota took 12 less field-goal attempts, courtesy of 23 turnovers compared to Miami's seven. The Wolves also managed to win the game.
The entire MIami team only out-rebounded Brian Cardinal (10) by 14.
Kirk Hinrich, Wednesday at Milwaukee: 8-for-14 from the field, 10-for-10 foul shooting, 5-for-8 on threes, 31 points
Odd occurrence.
New Jersey Nets and Dallas Mavericks, Wednesday at Dallas: 20 turnovers
Puts the Wolves' aforementioned 23 giveaways in an even worse light.
Joel Przybilla, Wedneday versus Memphis: 3-for-8 from the field, 6 points, 15 rebounds
A good way to tell that a guy is having an outstanding season from the field is when his 3-for-8 shooting night piques our interest far more than his 15-rebound performance does.
Al Horford, Wednesday at Sacramento: 18 points, 18 rebounds
Tom Ziller called him "an absolute beast" in his recap at Sactown Royalty. Seems accurate.
Phoenix Suns, Wednesday at LA Clippers: 142 points scored in regulation
In the words of former Missouri guard Keon Lawrence, "Some teams like to run. We like to run, run, run, run."
Amar'e Stoudemire, Wednesday at LA Clippers: 15-for-20 from the field, 12-for-13 foul shooting, 42 points, 11 rebounds, plus-38
Amazing what can happen when a guy gets interested in playing again. Too bad we won't get to see him running with the rest of the momentarily rejuvenated Suns for the next two months.
Michael Curry, Thursday versus San Antonio: one really bad timeout
He called it after San Antonio came out of a timeout and missed to give the Pistons the ball back trailing by one point in the final minute. As Reggie Miller noted on TNT, the issue here was that calling the timeout allowed Gregg Popovich to put Bruce Bowen back on the floor, rather than forcing San Antonio to guard Allen Iverson (13-for-28, 31 points) with someone less capable, most likely Roger Mason Jr. Bowen didn't give AI the look he wanted on the next play, and the Pistons wound up with Rasheed Wallace flinging a fall-away from 18 feet with Tim Duncan right in his face. No good.
Dick Bavetta, Thursday in Utah: present to officiate
Whatever.
Rafer Alston, Friday at Charlotte: 1-for-9 from the field, 8 assists, 1 turnover, plus-7
Best of Rafer, worst of Rafer.
David Lee, Friday versus Toronto: 9-for-16 from the field, 24 points, 15 rebounds
I'm still not sure if the Knicks know whether they plan to keep this guy around come summer.
Rudy Gay, O.J. Mayo and Mike Conley, Friday versus Sacramento: 16-for-53 from the field
Just keep flinging, guys. No worries. Credit them for totaling 27-for-32 from the foul line.
Aaron Brooks, Friday versus Dallas: 7-for-15 from the field, 19 points, 8 assists, 4 turnovers
Congratulations on your promotion, Aaron.
Ben Gordon, Friday versus Denver: 13-for-23 from the field, 7-for-7 foul shooting, 4-for-7 on threes, 37 points
He puts up these high-efficiency, high-volume scoring games quite often.
LeBron James, Friday at Milwaukee: 16-for-29 from the field, 15-for-22 foul shooting, 8-for-11 on threes, 55 points (24 in the third quarter), 9 assists, 5 rebounds
Poor rebounding night for him. If he could hit his foul shots, he breaks 60. Everything else seemed to go all right.
The standards aren't that absurd, but they are headed in that general direction with this guy. Wow.
Phoenix Suns, Friday versus Oklahoma City: 140 points in regulation
There's that good ol' "regression to the mean." Or not.
Leandro Barbosa, Friday versus Oklahoma City: 16-for-21 from the field, 5-for-7 on threes, 41 points, 7 rebounds, 7 assists, 7 steals, plus-29
Amar'e who?
Rasual Butler, Friday at LA Lakers: 11-for-20 from the field, 6-for-8 on threes, 31 points
He poured in 17 of those points over the course of the fourth quarter and overtime. Just couldn't seem to miss.
Jermaine O'Neal, Saturday versus Philadelphia: 8-for-12 from the field, 17 points, 10 rebounds
He's off to a reasonable start in South Beach.
Washington Wizards, Saturday versus San Antonio: plus-7 field-goal attempts, plus-8 free throw attempts, plus-5 turnover differential, plus-3 offensive rebounds
Yet they were minus-31 in that minor category of points scored. Embarrassing.
Russell Westbrook, Saturday at Golden State: 13-for-24 from the field, 31 points, 11 assists, 4 turnovers
Not terrible for a guy still struggling to be more efficient from the field and trying to figure out the point guard position as a rookie.
Dwyane Wade, Sunday at Orlando: 17-for-30 from the field, 14-for-15 foul shooting 50 points
The rest of his team totaled 49 points.
Rajon Rondo, Sunday at Phoenix: 13-for-18 from the field, 1-for-1 on threes, 32 points, 10 rebounds, 6 assists
Thanks again, Robert Sarver.
That will do it for this week's edition of Boxed Out. Feel free to remind us of anything we missed. The Daily Babble comes your way this afternoon.
Catch ya on the flip side of the meridian.