Re: Antoine

["Berry, Mark S" <berrym@BATTELLE.ORG>]

George wrote:

Actually, Antoine averaged 23.4 ppg on 21.2 shots which I think is a very 
significant difference. He is scoring more points than shots -- which I 
consider acceptable -- as opposed to the scenario of 20 ppg on 25 shots
which 
I would find unacceptable.

---end---

OK, Antoine finished fifth in the league in shot attempts at 1,656. The four
above him were Stackhouse, Iverson, Jamison and McGrady. Obviously, none of
those players had a teammate of the offensive caliber of Paul Pierce. And of
those four, only Stackhouse, at .402, shot worse than Walker's .413. In
fact, Walker's mark is worse than anyone else in the top 15 and only Jamal
Mashburn (also .413), who was 16th in field goal attempts, matches Toine's
inaccuracy in the top 40. (Oh for that Mashburn-P.J. Brown trade)

Doesn't shot selection mean anything? Do you realize that Antoine attempted
603 three-pointers, and only one other player, Tim Hardaway at 517,
attempted as many as 500? Only five others-Stackhouse, Ray Allen, Reggie
Miller, Lindsay Hunter and Darrell Armstrong-attempted as many as 400. Think
about that!

Then look at free throw attempts. Antoine, despite being fifth in the league
in shots, was a miserable 39th in free throw attempts. Stackhouse, Iverson,
McGrady and Jamison-the four players who attempted more field goals than
Toine-all finished in the top 10 in free throw attempts. (Paul Pierce, by
the way, finished third in FT attempts-behind Shaq and Stackhouse, ahead of
Iverson.) 

Again, if that's good enough for you, fine. But it's not good.

Mark