Ranking the Spurs

[Marcus Bryant]

Here's a look at how the Spurs rank in the league after the 1st 11 games of the 2005-06 season versus their rank for the entire 2004-05 season.

source i (http://www.nba.com/statistics/sortable_team_statistics/sortable1.html)
source ii (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/statistics?stat=tmcompare&season=2006&seasontype=2&league=nba)

From left to right, the 2005-06 season stat and ranking is listed first, followed by the 2004-05 stat and ranking. Rankings indicate the Spurs’ position among all teams on a continuum from best (1st) to worst (30th).

Offensive
Points per game average…96.9 (14th)….96.8 (18th)
Field goal %...47.4% (5th)….45.3% (10th)
3-point field goal %....36.7% (9th)….36.3% (8th)
Free throw %...75.6% (10th)…..72.4% (26th)
Assists per game…19.63 (21st)….21.6 (14th)
Turnovers…15.90 (18th)…13.0 (6th)
Assist to turnover ratio…..1.30 (21st) ….1.66 (7th)
Blocks against…4.00 (7th)….5.1 (23rd)
Steals against….8.18 (22nd)….7.2 (9th)
Offensive rebounds….10.7 (23rd)…..12.0 (15th)
Rebounds by opponents’ defense…28.4 (9th)….29.3 (10th)

Defensive
Points per game allowed…89.63 (3rd)….88.4 (1st)
Opponents’ field goal%....43.4% (11th)…42.6% (3rd)
Opponents’ 3-point %….32.1% (10th)….36.7% (24th)
Opponents’ free throw %....71.1% (9th)….76.8% (25th)
Blocks per game….5.45 (11th)….6.6 (2nd)
Steals per game…6.90 (20th)….7.50 (17th)
Assists per game allowed….17.45 (2nd)…16.90 (1st)
Opponents’ turnovers……14.5 (18th) ...14.5 (11th)
Offensive rebounds allowed…11.2 (6th)….10.9 (4th)
Defensive rebounds….32.2 (3rd)…30.4 (11th)

Rebounding
Total rebounds allowed…39.54 (7th)…….40.2 (6th)
Total rebounds per game….43.00 (10th)….42.4 (12th)

Differentials (2005-06 season only)
Points scored per game….+7.27 (2nd)
Assists per game….+2.18 (6th)
Rebounds per game…+3.45 (7th)
Blocks per game…+1.45 (7th)

Miscellaneous (2005-06 season only)
Fouls received….20.72 (2nd)
Fouls by opponent…20.81 (29th)
Disqualifications per game…0.27 (23rd)
Opponents’ disqualifications…0.18 (14th)

[Marcus Bryant]

At first glance, the Spurs' defense has some room for improvement. The Spurs have noticably improved in their FT shooting performance and their 3 point shooting defense.

Also, the Spurs' ball control is a bit sloppy this season.

All in all, most of the significant differences can probably be attributed to the turnover the rotation has experienced since last season, injuries and ever shifting lineups.

Edit- ...the weaker rankings can also be abscribed to the fact that this is the start of the season.

[Useruser666]

Would you say the reason the Spurs allow opponents more assists per game is because the only way the other team can score is through assists and not through individual play?

[Marcus Bryant]

The Spurs have had one of the best assists allowed per game rankings in the league this year and last. That would seem to be due to having one of the best D's in the league.

I know these rankings can seem a bit screwy. I had to edit a couple when I was putting together that post. The way to think about it is that the rankings are from best to worst. In the case of assists allowed, the Spurs had the fewest allowed last season and the 2nd to least allowed through the first 11 games of this season.

[SA210]

Defense, assists, turnovers need to improve. It can be done. Then we'll be unbeatable.

[Extra Stout]

Would you say the reason the Spurs allow opponents more assists per game is because the only way the other team can score is through assists and not through individual play?
0.55 assists per game is not that huge of a difference.

But I would not agree with your reasoning. If a team is getting assisted baskets rather than making individual plays, that indicates worse defense. It means somebody broke free for an open shot, or that somebody broke down the defense and a rotation was missed.

[Marcus Bryant]

Oops, I misunderstood what User was referring to.

[101A]

Fouls against & for concerns me.

There is only one team in the league getting fouled less than the Spurs - and only one team that fouls more often?! With Duncan, Parker & Ginobilli, that is alarming. Not a big believer in coincidences...

[101A]

Sorry, misunderstood; fouls get fouled the least AND foul the least...I get it.

Carry on.

[boutons]

Nobody, not even Spurs, is putting the effort to play serious defense, but Spurs are still first in PPG allowed, and 2nd in +pts differential, 3rd in opp FG%. Not too shabby for Nov, and no doubt that it will get better, as always.

Offensively, ASTs are down from last year, an indication of poorer team play, probably due to Tony (esp), Tim, and Manu creating their own shots vs team play. AST per FG will go up as team play increases.

The Spurs allow a high 3G %age, but as we saw last year, the opp. qty of 3Gs made/game is among the league best (lowest).

Still too early, 9 or 10 games, to be worried about any comparative stats. Nothing really alarming.

Right now I'm focused on beating Mavs and AJ next week. Mavs are in dire need of getting their butts kicked and heads deflated.

Pop has NEVER beaten AJ, while getting embarrassed, blown out in every single game!! :)

[TDMVPDPOY]

We gotto get more to the line imo, we are shooting that great at the line should try and cause more fouls to get to the line.

[Marcus Bryant]

A good sign is that the Spurs continue to be near the top of the league in assists allowed per game as well as assist differential. Last season the Spurs led the league in assists allowed as well as the differential. They aren't as strong (yet) in FG% allowed as they were last season. I suspect that will improve as the Spurs work the new guys in. Also, I suspect that the Mavs and Wizards games hurt the Spurs in that category.