The Best & Worst of Super-Clutch Scoring
Today, I investigated my super-clutch scoring stat to find some interesting developments from around the league. I also talked about the New Orleans Pelicans’ recent success. Let’s break down everything I saw from last night around the association.
Super-Clutch Scoring Update
Two months ago, I created a new NBA stat. It was called Super-Clutch Scoring. I built it as another way to see how good teams & players were down the stretch of games. I defined Super-Clutch Scoring as the last two minutes of a game with a difference of just three points.
I thought that there wasn’t a way to track this stat, but I came to a pleasant realization. NBA.com added a way for you to be more specific about clutch stats, meaning we can see how certain teams/players are performing under my new stat. After looking at the numbers, here’s everything interesting that I found.
The Best & Worst Teams In The Super-Clutch
The Best
The best team in the super-clutch this season has been the Washington Wizards. That may come as a surprise, given how the Wizards have collapsed over the past two weeks. But if they’re good at one thing, it’s winning close games.
With a 10-1 record in the Super-Clutch, the Wizards have the best winning percentage (91%) this season. They lead the NBA in super-clutch points per game (6.0). Their +3.4 plus/minus in the super-clutch is also the best in the league.
While I dislike the Wizards with a passion, they’re good when it counts.
The Worst
In terms of the worst team in the super-clutch, it’s easily the Indiana Pacers. There’s a reason they’re going to blow things up and rebuild in a few weeks. They’ve been hemorrhaging wins late in games, the biggest reason for their poor start to 2022.
They are 2-11 in the super-clutch, tied with the Celtics for the most losses in the NBA. They shoot just 23% from the field (29th) and 21% from three (23rd). Their -3.1 plus/minus is 29th in the NBA, just in front of the Celtics, who were a close second for this “honor.”
If Indiana were even decent in close games, they wouldn’t be one of the worst teams in the NBA. Oh well.
The Best & Worst Players In The Super-Clutch
There’s a lot of different directions you could go in determining the criteria for both of these categories. Let’s start with the best player in the super-clutch this season.
The Best
A measure of a player’s impact is plus/minus. The higher the plus/minus, the more impact a player has. Luke Kennard (LAC) and Kyle Kuzma (WAS) both have +33 plus/minuses this season. In terms of effectiveness, they top the charts.
Another way to look at this is points scored. This one is easy enough to follow. Who is scoring the most points down the stretch of games? That would be Joel Embiid, who has scored 29 points in 14 super-clutch games this season. In terms of putting the ball in the basket, nobody has been better than The Process.
But using just one metric is a flawed way of looking at this. So, I will combine a lot of different metrics to find the best player in the super-clutch this season. Here’s what I found after some digging. The best super-clutch player is…
Chris Paul
8-2 Record
14 minutes
18 points
10/10 FT
+19 plus/minus
While Chris Paul has attempted just six shots in the super-clutch this season, he has an uncanny ability to get to the free-throw line. It also helps that he hasn’t missed a free throw when the Suns need him to make them. Per usual, CP-3 is the guy you want down the stretch.
The Worst
Now let’s get to the worst player in the super-clutch this season. Think of the opposite of what we just did. Who has the worst plus/minus? Who is the least efficient? There’s a clear-cut answer to this question, unlike the first one. The worst player in the super-clutch this season is…
Jayson Tatum
4-11 Record
30 minutes
11 points
3/15 FG (20%)
0/4 3-PT
3 Turnovers
-48 plus/minus
I don’t have to explain these numbers. They are beyond bad.
FRANZ FOR PRESIDENT
Franz Wanger will not stop being great. Even in a blowout loss to the Bucks, Wagner continues his evolution as a gadget player. He was busting out euro-steps, drawing fouls like James Harden, showcasing all his new skills. That all culminated in this amazing stat line;
38 points (career-high) – 7 rebounds – 60% FG – 10/10 FT
Wagner was very aggressive in getting downhill, attacking the Bucks’ frontline. He was surgical in his drives to the rim, consistently beating great defenders like Jrue Holiday. Here are three of my favorite Franz plays from last night.
That giant euro-step is so fun to watch. He covers so much ground while moving his feet so quickly. He’s also getting better at these awkward-looking floaters in the lane. Similar to Josh Giddey, it may not look fantastic, but it works.
Defenses want to run Franz off the 3-PT line, where he’s shooting 36%. Straight-line drives like these are encouraging. He can get to the rim and finish, something he’ll have to do more with his shooting being known as his primary weapon.
Is your team’s rookie forward (if you have one) doing that? No, I didn’t think so.
The New Orleans Pelicans Are Holding On For Dear Life
The New Orleans Pelicans aren’t very good. In their attempts to build around franchise donut Zion Williamson hasn’t gone smoothly. Williamson hasn’t played at all this season after a fabulous 2021 campaign. The Pelicans have floundered without him, resting near the bottom of the Western Conference.
But over the past few games, things have changed. The Pelicans are starting to find formulas that work. Willie Green is starting to work his magic, trying to turn a rudderless ship. Let’s see how the Pelicans are holding on for dear life.
What’s Up Doc?
The Pelicans are 6-4 in their last 10 games. Why is that? The Pelicans haven’t been elite, but they’re getting better. Let’s take a look into why the Pelicans are turning things around.
Over the past 10 games, the Pelicans have a net rating of just 1.1. That’s good, but not great. They aren’t a top-10 defense in the last 10 games, nor are they a top-10 offense. So what gives? Why are the Pelicans turning things around?
The offense isn’t elite, but it’s getting there. The Pelicans are averaging +4.7 ppg over this streak. They are also shooting +3FG% over that same time. They continue to pound the offensive glass, mainly due to the beast that is Jonas Valanciunas.
Here’s who they can thank due to this offensive push;
Brandon Ingram: 24.9 points – 5.8 rebounds – 5.1 assists – 57% TS
Jonas Valanciunas: 18.3 points – 11.6 rebounds (4.4 ORB) – 1.5 blocks – 62% TS
Josh Hart: 16.5 points – 9.1 rebounds – 5.5 assists – 1.1 steals – 71% TS
Josh Hart’s play as of late has been impressive. Hart has been getting out in transition, racking up free throws, and even becoming Ray Allen 2.0 (42% 3-PT over the last 10 games). Josh Hart is giving the Pelicans a reason to keep him long-term.
While we can thank a little more kick on offense for the recent success, the real reason the Pelicans are finding their way is because of defense.
The Pelicans’ starting lineup over the past 10 games has been elite. Valanciunas, Graham, Ingram, Hart, and rookie Herb Jones have a 14.0 net rating. In that same time span, that starting unit has a defensive rating of 103.3 Defense has been the key for New Orleans.
New Orleans’ Defense Over The Past 10 Games
109.9 DRtg (14th)
108.7 Opp PPG (14th)
45.1% Opp FG (13th)
12.1 Opp 3PM (15th)
33.7% Opp 3-PT (8th)
11.4 Opp TOV (29th)
8.0 Opp FB PTS (2nd)
63.5% Opp RA FG (13th)
Moral of the story: Being average is good.
With their immense length in the starting unit, the Pelicans’ defense has been great. Herb Jones, the rookie from Alabama, has been superb.
The Pelicans are becoming an average team. That might not sound great, but it’s a huge step for this team. Herb Jones has been one of the steals of the draft. Jonas Valanciunas has proved to be a massive upgrade over Steven Adams. Josh Hart is living up to his weird contract.
Even with all my complaining about this team, it is good to see them taste a little success. Is all of this sustainable? Probably not, but that’s not the point. The Pelicans needed some winning in their lives, to distract them from everything else.
Now it’s time for Zion to play. That might be easier said than done.
What Are Your Thoughts From Last Night’s Games? Leave A Comment Down Below!
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