By the numbers: The preseason to date

by JakeTheSnake on Oct 20, 2008 12:00 AM EDT in Team Analysis Comment 19 comments

Sure, there might not be a whole lot of correlation between the preseason and the regular season: The rotations will be different, we won't be playing in Europe, and the teams will actually care about winning. That said, it's still fun to look at the numbers to see if any red flags pop up for the regular season. Plus, it's fun to see players lead in statistical categories that they'd never lead in during the regular season.

78.6 - Average points per game scored by the Wizards. Not only is that the lowest team average in the league so far this preseason, it's the lowest average in the league by 6.6. points.

91.8 - Average points per game scored by Wizard opponents. That means that the average winning margin has been 13.2 points.

37.1% - The Wizards FG% so far this preseason. Like their points per game average, it's the lowest in the NBA this preseason, but only by .4% over Charlotte.

26.1% - 3P% allowed by the Wizards. See? It hasn't all been bad.

1 - Number of Wizards that have started every game this preseason. DeShawn Stevenson just doesn't miss games.

10.8 - Average points per game by the Wizards' leading scorer, Andray Blatche. Even though he has the highest scoring average, he's only shooting 33.8% from the field.

6.4 - Number of rebounds snagged by Dominic McGuire per game this preseason, leading the team. Who's second on the team in rebounding? That other small forward guy, Caron Butler who's averaging 5 a game. EDIT: As rook pointed out, Oleksiy Pecherov is also averaging 5 a game.

46.2% - Oleksiy Pecherov's shooting percentage from downtown. Makes you wonder how his overall FG% (35.3%) could be so low.

12 - Number of steals by Dee Brown in the first five games of the preseason, while averaging 24.8 minutes per game.

1.8 - Blocks per game by rookie JaVale McGee, who's only averaging 18 minutes per game. For you math scholars out there, that works out to 3.6 blocks per 36 minutes, or about the same per-36 average that Marcus Camby had last season.

But again, this is just the preseason. There's been some good and there's been some bad so far, but this isn't the time to overreact to anything that's happened up to this point. The key right now is to work on what needs to be worked on and not get swelled heads over what's being done well. Stay medium, folks.

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Actually

6.4 – Number of rebounds snagged by Dominic McGuire per game this preseason, leading the team. Who’s second on the team in rebounding? That other small forward guy, Caron Butler who’s averaging 5 a game.

………………….

But Caron is actually tied for 2nd in rebounding with……………… wait for it………………(is it our Starting Center, Etan Thomas?)…………..wait for it…………… (is it Jamison?, who averaged double figures in rebounds last year?)…………..wait for it………….(is it the young phenom, Blatche?)……………wait for it…………(the savvy vet, Songaila?)………………wait for it…………………………………………………..

NO – it’s Oleksiy Pecherov , who has collected 5 rebounds per game in only 18 mpg…

Despite being called out by Eddie Jordan after the game in Barcelona…. Pech has had a good Preseason…

In case you missed it, here’s what Eddie said:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/17/AR2008101703278.html
“I’m not pleased with Andray’s mistakes and I’m not pleased with Pecherov’s mistakes. They are too veteran to have the lapses and have missed assignments the way they did and to not give enough effort.” (from Ivan Carter’s article)

Now maybe Eddie is just trying to light a fire under Pecherov, but in that game Pech had 10 points (on 4-8 shooting) and 3 rebounds in about 17 minutes of play. Beyond the stats, I watched the game and thought that Pech played with energy; contesting shots, and mixing it up inside defensively. He took one quick 3, that was probably ill-advised; but otherwise played well within the Offense. Eddie Jordan certainly knows more than I do about the Wizards Offensive and Defensive schemes – but I didn’t see anything during the Barcelona game that jumped out at me that would warrant being specifically called out (by name) by the Coach.

by Rook6980 on Oct 20, 2008 10:42 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I will admit

I was one of the loud voices calling for McGee to be given a one way ticket to DLeague-ville for the year. However, he has looked a lot better than I expected, a lot better than I thought he looked in Vegas. Given the injury situation, keeping him around is probably a good idea. I do think starting him was more about lighting fires under other guys than about who is our starting center. But it seems that the kid may be earning some minutes.

Now if he can just stop getting completely lost on D.

by MR on Oct 20, 2008 11:08 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Ditto.

The Washington Wizards: providing career scoring nights for unknown opposing bench players since 2004.

by mamemimo on Oct 20, 2008 1:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Based on these numbers...

a rescue package is needed! The real problem is that if there is no-one consistently producing points, then giving floor time to anyone who is an obvious non-factor on offense is a problem regardless of the other skills they bring to the table. This is where the offensive limitations of Dmac and DeeB will hurt them and the team.

I was looking again at the calling-out of Opech and Andray, too. Opech may have been making some subtle errors that the Coach spotted, but the main target had to have been Blatche.

by khrabb on Oct 20, 2008 3:24 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Nick Weatherspoon

We should pause and remember ’Spoon! He was a great contributor (and crowd favorite) on the glory teams of the late 70s. And 58 is way too young…

by khrabb on Oct 20, 2008 5:06 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Fanshot/Fanpost it plz

Thanks!

You know you'll get devoured by Cheaney, Wallace, and Juwan Howard.

by Mike Prada on Oct 20, 2008 5:28 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Pecherov's FG%

I’ve only been able to watch one game so far (the first one), but I wonder if Pecherov is taking a lot of shots from just inside the 3-point line. For some reason players have a harder time hitting those than they do actual threes, and he certainly tends to hang around that general area.

by Jon L on Oct 20, 2008 6:57 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Not sure

I’ve watched all the Preseason games that were televised – and I have not seen him take “a lot of shots” from just inside the 3… As a matter of fact, I can’t even recall one… although he may have …

I think his 2-point shooting % is poor because he’s missed a few chippies inside… Although he bangs inside well, he does not seem to have very good upper body strength. He does not get pushed out of the lane, or knocked off his position because he has a solid base…. but frequently misses shots around the basket because he doesn’t have a strong enough upper body to finish through contact. And, of course, he’s not getting any foul calls because he’s not established enough yet to warrant those.

by Rook6980 on Oct 21, 2008 10:38 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

One thing about Pech...

Is that Eddie doesn’t really want him trolling around the 3 point line….in many cases, we need a guy at his position to be crashing the boards on offense. Our bigs can’t make it easy on the opposition to secure a rebound and get out and run….but when prowling around the perimeter, Pech isn’t exactly putting himself in position to board.

Not to say that EJ doesn’t enjoy his shooting ability being able to open the lane, but he’d rather that come within the offense via pick and pops.

Representing DC with Wizards & Stuff - Truth About It Dot Net

by Truth About It on Oct 20, 2008 11:03 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Not so sure about that

Many times, Eddie Jordan has mentioned Pech’s ability to hit from outside…. and the fact that an opposing team has to respect that. It brings a big out from under the basket, and provides easier penetration as well as cutting lanes to the basket.

I think Pech is doing exactly what the Wizards want him to do…. Shoot from outside (including 3-pointers), provide a threat Offensively; while banging and boarding on the Defensive end.

by Rook6980 on Oct 21, 2008 10:33 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yea, but.....

He needs to know how to put himself in the correct position on offense…..essentially when he needs to be on the perimeter and when he needs to be in the paint.

I’m not saying that I don’t want him out there knocking down threes…..but many times, he seems to be wondering around aimlessly, relegating himself to the perimeter.

Pech needs to have more court awareness on the offensive end so that he can place himself in prime position to do both.

Representing DC with Wizards & Stuff - Truth About It Dot Net

by Truth About It on Oct 21, 2008 11:20 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think the fact that Pech is discussed in this way

Is the sign of good things. He’s closer to being a contributor than I thought and this discussion reflects that. Maybe Pech is one of the guys who fills the void for Haywood (crazier things have happened).

"Would you like to shoot me now or wait till you get home." --- Daffy Duck

by George Templeton on Oct 21, 2008 12:41 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

If you watch

Watch the games again on your DVR, and pay particular attention to where he moves. You’ll see Pech (for his 15 minutes of fame) – but he’s not just wandering around aimlessly on the outside.

He’s setting screens, usually for the SF or SG. Rolling into the corner; and then shifting back to the elbows to set more screens…. It’s not aimless wandering… He doesn’t set particularly good screens (like Songaila) – so the Pick-and-pop, and Pick-and-roll are not there yet. Part of the problem is that he’s playing usually with Dee Brown, and Dee doesn’t use screens as effectively as Antonio Daniels does (but that’s for another discussion)

It sure looks like his movements are part of the Princeton Offense to me.. Especially the Princeton that uses a Center at the High Post ; a Center that can hit from outside.

It’s definately different than when Brendan Haywood is in the game…. Then you’ll see more back screens, and Haywood posting up….. a little bit at the elbows, but not as much….. And it’s also different than the movement Etan Thomas displays… (you very rarely see Etan Thomas setting high screens – nor will you see Pech flail his arms or flop his hair, either… but that’s also for a different post)…

by Rook6980 on Oct 21, 2008 1:22 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

You're right....

In that I need to watch the games more closely…that’s why I’ll DVR these last two and scrutinize.

But let’s assume he is “getting” the offense…..what else made Eddie call him out?

Representing DC with Wizards & Stuff - Truth About It Dot Net

by Truth About It on Oct 21, 2008 2:18 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Only on this site

would one be admonished for not watching a preseason game closely enough!

by MR on Oct 21, 2008 3:12 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

LOL

THAT was funny

although, if it sounded like I was admonishing someone, I apologize.

by Rook6980 on Oct 21, 2008 3:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

The craziest part is

that I DO feel that I need to watch the preseason games more closely!

by MR on Oct 21, 2008 4:20 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Truthfully

I couldn’t tell why he called him out.

Perhaps he just got caught in the line of fire… when Eddie decided to admonish Blatche.

Eddie apparently saw something he didn’t like – and like I said before, he knows the Offense and Defense a whole lot better than I do.

My guess is that Pech made some mistakes on the Defensive end… probably spacing, or talking, or something subtle that you or I wouldn’t notice as blatantly obvious as losing his man, getting beat back door, failing to close out on a shooter, or failing to box out, etc… I certainly didn’t see any thing that stood out – but then again, it could have been something less obvious.

by Rook6980 on Oct 21, 2008 3:40 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs