Hornets showing youth in overall performance -- Gerry V

Gerry V By Gerry V
on November 12, 2012 at 10:54 AM, updated November 12, 2012 at 10:56 AM

"It's the path to survival: defend properly, rebound, limit mistakes, and hit the open man."

The New Orleans Hornets have played five games this season and stand at 3-2. Today, let's look at some team trends that have evolved over that group of games.

PACE: The Hornets average 91.6 possessions per game, which ranks them No. 29 in the NBA.

I always evaluate shot locations, both on the offensive and defensive ends of the floor. It tells the story about where teams are getting their shots and reveals the story about ball and player movement and how effective a team is in defending those actions.

AT THE RIM: Hornet shot attempts less than five feet from the basket chart at 81-of-136 (59.6 FG%).

A very impressive stat within those numbers is that 62 percent of those scores are the result of an assist.

In Games 1 and 2, the Hornets averaged 31 shot attempts "at the rim."  In Games 3 and 4, that average dipped to 18 attempts per game. Not having Anthony Davis in those game was a big reason.

When Davis returned for the Charlotte game (where he was 6-of-10 "at the rim"), the team attempts from that area was 27 ... an increase of nine attempts over the previous two games. Aminu and Davis combined for 16 attempts "at the rim" with a 11-of-16 success rate.

OPPONENTS AT THE RIM: Opponents are 80-of-138 for a 58 FG%. 

HORNET DEFENSIVE PLAY: Opponents are shooting 42 FG%, 27.8% in 3-point percentage, and averaging 88.6 points per game. Defensive efficiency (points allowed per possession) ranks the Hornets as a TOP TWO team in that area. Pace does play a role, yet one cannot ignore the percentages allowed -- impressive.

Here's another stat that plays a role in the Hornets' defensive play: Opponents are shooting only 33.9% in their attempts five feet or further from the basket.

I've seen a nice improvement in defensive closeouts (running out at shooters) and an increased number of defensive possessions where player rotations (help defenders flowing to the ball and contesting shots) have improved.

AREAS THAT NEED GROWTH: Teams always seek to improve, as they understand on many nights the margin of error is small. The Hornets can help lift some pressure off themselves by improving in the following areas. Here's what the first five games have revealed as far as rankings are concerned.


FG ATT'S  -- No. 29 ... PACE plays a role here, as fewer possessions impacts your shot attempts. Also OFFENSIVE REBOUNDING RATE (percentage of offensive rebounds a team secures) plays a role... in that the Hornets are No. 21.

FGS MADE -- No. 29 ... The Hornets are shooting 65-of-214 when they shoot jumpers; that number must improve. Their 3-point shooting is not healthy either (25-of-89; 28.1%).

FT ATT'S -- No. 26 ... Free throws are easy money. Getting to the line is vital, as it increases your points per possessions. Plus, it helps take pressure off your offense. The Hornets' attempts are low for now, and their FT RATE (the percentage of possessions that get you to the free throw line) is only No. 20 in the league. 

STEALS -- No. 26 ... Steals is another category that creates extra possessions, which in turn increases the number of shot attempts and is an indicator of your defensive play. The Hornets are No. 23 in points off turnovers with 13.3 per game.

SCORING -- No. 29 ... If you review the numbers already listed, you can see why the Hornets are not consistent as of yet in their scoring. The PACE + DEFENSIVE PLAY has been their saving grace so far.

That's a capsule in some areas of play that we can use as a starting point in this very young season. As you can see, there are some bright areas along with areas of play that have room for improvement.

Having young talent on your team explains some of the minus areas; they will adapt and learn as the season evolves.

We have seen some bright areas so far, and the obvious Anthony Davis NBA potential has been a smile creator.

BONUS ITEM: Here's a little item I will leave you with.

Question: What two areas of play tell you a team has "live legs" and is ready to play?

Answer: Defensive Rebounding (the "tough man" stat) and Off-the-Ball Defense (measures alertness, reactions etc.).

Next time, we'll look at some player performances.

PS: The Lakers made all the offseason moves to win the NBA title. Phil Jackson (as we all know) is the only choice they can make for their head coaching job. It's not even a debate: He has more rings than fingers.

