Rummpd
01-29-2011, 09:04 AM
Stats don't determine a priori who is better but right now the SAS and LAL are actually amazingly close in team stats:
Using Hollinger's methods that attempt to correct for pace and other factors:
LAL 2nd in NBA on offense
Spurs 3rd
http://espn.go.com/nba/hollinger/teamstats/_/order/true
On the defensive side Spurs are 7th and Lakers are 8th
Overall the LAL (#1) currently lead slightly in the power ratings (mainly due to the margin of loss by SAS (#2) to the NOH in the last 10 games) but SAS has a slightly higher point differential overall and has played a stronger SOS. Lakers have played 3 more road games so some of weighing of that difference (home teams get 3.5 points per games for figuring in how he weight his win) may be gone by the end of the week.
Honestly for all the back and forth on the board both teams are damm strong teams and both have demonstrated the ability to ramp up the defensive side.
Both teams are also resting key stars - Kobe, Duncan, Manu and Parker are all playing relatively low minutes and Jackson has been judicious in minutes to get Bynum back as healthy as he can.
IMO these are the two best teams in the NBA for all the pub given to the East (which granted has several strong teams still) as the West teams also play in a conference that still wins over 60% of its games vs. the East and in the West any team can jump up and bite a top team more easily than in the East. The West currently has still 6 of the top 10 teams with the Mavs at 13 but certainly stronger than that as they have beat many top tier teams and with Dirk back still another potential force in the West. Look also how both Boston, Heat and the Bulls have survived injuries in part due to relatively weak schedules so far and the Hornets are also maintaining their pace as a stronger team than expected team - they have played an absolutely brutal schedule as have, in particular, the Mavs so far.
http://espn.go.com/nba/hollinger/teamstats
Using Hollinger's methods that attempt to correct for pace and other factors:
LAL 2nd in NBA on offense
Spurs 3rd
http://espn.go.com/nba/hollinger/teamstats/_/order/true
On the defensive side Spurs are 7th and Lakers are 8th
Overall the LAL (#1) currently lead slightly in the power ratings (mainly due to the margin of loss by SAS (#2) to the NOH in the last 10 games) but SAS has a slightly higher point differential overall and has played a stronger SOS. Lakers have played 3 more road games so some of weighing of that difference (home teams get 3.5 points per games for figuring in how he weight his win) may be gone by the end of the week.
Honestly for all the back and forth on the board both teams are damm strong teams and both have demonstrated the ability to ramp up the defensive side.
Both teams are also resting key stars - Kobe, Duncan, Manu and Parker are all playing relatively low minutes and Jackson has been judicious in minutes to get Bynum back as healthy as he can.
IMO these are the two best teams in the NBA for all the pub given to the East (which granted has several strong teams still) as the West teams also play in a conference that still wins over 60% of its games vs. the East and in the West any team can jump up and bite a top team more easily than in the East. The West currently has still 6 of the top 10 teams with the Mavs at 13 but certainly stronger than that as they have beat many top tier teams and with Dirk back still another potential force in the West. Look also how both Boston, Heat and the Bulls have survived injuries in part due to relatively weak schedules so far and the Hornets are also maintaining their pace as a stronger team than expected team - they have played an absolutely brutal schedule as have, in particular, the Mavs so far.
http://espn.go.com/nba/hollinger/teamstats