06-04-2021, 04:50 PM
I disagree with the notion frequently expressed here and elsewhere that the Clips are “going small.” That’s half the truth at best. What they’re doing, I submit, is going medium.
To be specific, it isn’t just (or mostly) 7’0, 240 lb. Ivica Zubac who’s been riding the pine. It’s also 6’1, 180 lb. Patrick Beverly.
Through 5 games this playoff seriea, these erstwhile starters (big and small) are averaging 16 (Zu) and 10 (Be) minutes per game. Their replacements are smaller (6’8, 230 lb. Nicolas Batum) and bigger (6’2, 208 lb. Reggie Jackson). And the difference these players have made on the court is remarkable.
Let’s compare a cumulative 80 minutes and +/- of -42 (Zu) to his replacement’s 147 minutes and +/- of +65 (Ba). The former has a net effect of negative 0.53 points per minute on his team. The latter, a +0.44. Swapping one for the other has made a 0.97 points-per-minute difference as to who’s ahead or behind and by how much. (Over the course of 48 minutes, that’s a 47 point differential.)
Similarly, a cumulative 51 minutes and +/- of -22 (Be) compares poorly to his replacement’s 145 minutes and +/- of +32 (Ja). The net difference there (-0.44/min vs. +0.22) computes to 0.66 points to the margin per minute (32 points per game).
These are remarkable swings. They say a lot about not just NBA centers but also NBA guards. And they make me way, way less sad about the Mavs missing out on 6’0, 184 lb. free argent Kemba Walker, and the aforementioned Pat Bev, as well as trading away 6’2, 185 lb. Seth Curry.
To be specific, it isn’t just (or mostly) 7’0, 240 lb. Ivica Zubac who’s been riding the pine. It’s also 6’1, 180 lb. Patrick Beverly.
Through 5 games this playoff seriea, these erstwhile starters (big and small) are averaging 16 (Zu) and 10 (Be) minutes per game. Their replacements are smaller (6’8, 230 lb. Nicolas Batum) and bigger (6’2, 208 lb. Reggie Jackson). And the difference these players have made on the court is remarkable.
Let’s compare a cumulative 80 minutes and +/- of -42 (Zu) to his replacement’s 147 minutes and +/- of +65 (Ba). The former has a net effect of negative 0.53 points per minute on his team. The latter, a +0.44. Swapping one for the other has made a 0.97 points-per-minute difference as to who’s ahead or behind and by how much. (Over the course of 48 minutes, that’s a 47 point differential.)
Similarly, a cumulative 51 minutes and +/- of -22 (Be) compares poorly to his replacement’s 145 minutes and +/- of +32 (Ja). The net difference there (-0.44/min vs. +0.22) computes to 0.66 points to the margin per minute (32 points per game).
These are remarkable swings. They say a lot about not just NBA centers but also NBA guards. And they make me way, way less sad about the Mavs missing out on 6’0, 184 lb. free argent Kemba Walker, and the aforementioned Pat Bev, as well as trading away 6’2, 185 lb. Seth Curry.