Re: McDyess a Ball Hog

[Mike Dynon <mdynon@ix.netcom.com>]

Cecil, you have been big on stats lately.  While they have value, please
allow me to inject some perspective.  I agree Antoine shoots too much
and should make a better percentage.  He takes about 21 FGA/game and
gets about 6 FTA/game; SAR has about 16 FGA/game and 8 FTA/game.  The
big difference is that Walker has taken 281 3-pointers to just 46 for
SAR.  If Walker would cut back on the 3s and go more to medium-range
shots, his percentage would rise.  However, if Walker also got one or
two more calls per game, as SAR does, his overall FGA would drop (when a
foul is called, the attempt isn't counted unless the shot is made) and
his percentage of makes would be forced upward.

Clearly, Toine needs to use better judgment in his shot selection and in
his approach to the refs.  BUT, his decision-making isn't the only
factor.  1. The refs could call the game based not on personalities, but
on what actually happens.  2. Walker doesn't have SAR's luxury of
playing with a legit big-man scorer like Big Country; when he does, the
stats comparison will be more "apples to apples."  3. We saw how Walker
improved when he plays with Kenny; McDyess (who couldn't hog the ball if
he wanted to on that team of bombardiers) has had Jason Kidd setting him
up all season.

Now, he'd better work on those free throws during the lockout  :-)

Mike Dynon
----------
Cecil Wright wrote:
> 
> Toine has put up 1629 attempts so far this year.  One of the reasons he
> hasn't scored too much the last few games could be because his arm is sore
> :-)  He has knocked down 684 for a fg% of .420.  One must admit this is not
> a good percentage for a forward of his caliber.  As well, for a player who
> takes so many shots, he's bound to get to the line, where he's .653 on
> 296/453 shooting.
> 
> McDyess, OTOH, has taken 874 shots, 468 of which were successful.  That's a
> fg% of .535.  He also shoots .706 from the line at 221/313.
> 
> Abdur-Rahim by comparison has shot 616/1275 from the floor for a fg% of
> .483.  He goes .788 at the line on 480/609.  That's right, he's hit 12 more
> shots in 265 fewer attempts than Toine.  BTW he has nailed .435 % of his
> 3's.
> 
> Cecil