2020-2021 NBA Season

white lightning

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Domantas Sabonis just missed another triple double tonight. Sabonis had 32 pts, 19 rebounds, 9 assists and 3 steals. What a night!:) His father must be proud as
his father is in the Basketball Hall of Fame. Indiana is a fun team to watch with Sabonis, McDermot and McConnell.
 

Phall

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I was bored and was looking through the various Top-50 stat leaders, eventually deciding to post them here. The NBA is still unwatchable for me, but I catch myself checking some box scores for the white stars and "second tier" of players, more so than for many previous years. With about 85% of the season complete, this is approximately where things will shake out.

(I'm including Enes Kanter, Brook Lopez, and Steven Adams here for the record)

Scoring:
4. Luka Doncic - 28.6 ppg
12. Nikola Jokic - 26.3 ppg
21. Nicola Vucevic - 23.8 ppg
32. Domantas Sabonis - 20.2 ppg
43. Jonas Valanciunas - 16.8 ppg
(Gordan Hayward would rank 35th currently, but cannot stay healthy again this season)

Rebounds:
3. Valanciunas - 12.4 rpg
4. Sabonis - 11.9 rpg
5. Vucevic - 11.5 rpg
7. Enes Kanter - 11.2 rpg
9. Jokic - 10.9 rpg
14. Mason Plumlee - 9.3 rpg
16. Steven Adams - 8.9 rpg
22. Doncic - 8.0 rpg
23. Jakob Poeltl - 7.9 rpg
30. Ivica Zubac - 7.3 rpg
40. Kelly Olynyk - 6.8 rpg

Assists:
3. Doncic - 8.9 apg
6. Jokic - 8.5 apg
14. TJ McConnell - 6.6 apg
15. Ricky Rubio - 6.5 apg
17. Sabonis - 6.2 apg
39. Tomas Satoransky - 4.8 apg
41. Joe Ingles - 4.6 apg

Three Pointers Made:
5. Duncan Robinson - 3.5 pg (13 ppg)
13. Bogdan Bogdanovich - 3.1 pg (15.5 ppg)
14. Joe Harris - 3.1 pg (absurd 48% conversion, best in league), (14.3 ppg)
17. Doncic - 2.9 pg (28.6 ppg)
19. Davis Bertans - 2.9 pg (11.2 ppg)
24. Ingles - 2.8 pg (12.3 ppg)
35. Vucevic - 2.6 pg (23.8 ppg)
42. Bojan Bogdanovich - 2.5 pg (16.2 ppg)

Steals:
2. McConnell - 1.8 spg
12. Rubio - 1.5 spg
15. Jokic - 1.4 spg
26. Kevin Huerter - 1.2 spg
36. Sabonis - 1.2 spg
44t. Facundo Campazzo - 1.1 spg
44t. Raul Neto - 1.1 spg
44t. Donte DiVincenzo - 1.1 spg
48. Alex Caruso - 1.1 spg
(Hayward would rank about 25th with 1.2 spg)

Blocks:
7. Poeltl - 1.7 bpg
10. Brook Lopez - 1.5 bpg
18. Marc Gasol - 1.2 bpg
27. Alex Len - 1.0 bpg
34. Plumlee - 0.9 bpg
35 - Daniel Theis - 0.9 bpg
36. Zubac - 0.9 bpg
43. Valanciunas - 0.8 bpg

There is some buzz that the NBA has become too monotonous, as some 40% of all made baskets are three-pointers, and teams tend to go for either the three or the lay-up/dunk without exception. There have never been fewer touches in the post for big men, and mid-range jumpers are rather non-existent due to their inefficiency. This is a culmination of "stat geeks" having taken over front offices and turning the sport toward analytics more than ever before.

I thought it would be interesting to get a gauge on the presence of white players and see if the stereotypical "white skillset" has become more prominent in the new-look NBA. One thing I noticed that doesn't jump off the page here is the relatively low point totals for the top white 3-point shooters. Many of the blacks within the top 50 3PM have scoring averages in the 20s. The white players on the list are much more "specialists" rather than volume scorers. Duncan Robinson is a famous case as a Division 3 college recruit who transferred up to Michigan, was a 6th man as a senior, went undrafted, and now starts for last year's Finals runners-up. There is definitely still some "inefficiency" here, even assuming the "stereotype" that these white players can't create their own shots.

Doncic, Jokic, and Sabonis are all veritable superstars. They belong in every conversation with the best players in the league. Despite their successes while each playing a different position, you can see that the shortest list above is white scorers, while the most prevalent stat-line is the big white rebounder. I was impressed to see so many whites (especially white backups) in the steals leaders. You could infer that these are "hustle stats" from lunchpail players, or you could suppose that these players are athletic enough to check their defensive assignments with excellent results.

These aren't advanced metrics by any stretch, which would glean more insight than just counting stats. Still, they are the most visible to the average fan and have some weight in how the NBA shapes and markets its on-court product. You can see the dearth of white American players, which implies that there's a bias from a young age here versus Europe and abroad.
 

white lightning

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Excellent work Phall. I was really hoping Luka Doncic would average 30 pts a game. He still has a slight chance but it's looking bleak with under 10 games to go in the shortened season. I still think it's
impressive that we have 3 of the top 5 rebounders. Luka has been in the top 4 or 5 in scoring all year long. Both Doncic and Jokic are the best in the league in triple doubles. I really hope that Jokic
wins the MVP. Denver is having another fine season even with alot of the injuries. Jokic might be be best offensive center in the history of the NBA with his all around abilities. I've also said many times
that TJ McConnell puts up great numbers for a guy coming off the bench. In a fair league he would be starting every night.
 

Don Wassall

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The number of Whites doing well reminds me of when I used to follow the NBA in the 1980s and '90s and into the early 2000s when I was starting up CF. In the '80s and '90s there would often be two or three Whites averaging over 20 points per game and others were among the rebound leaders and of course three point shooters. It might even be better now, very glad to see some inroads being made though White American stars continue to be rare. Almost makes me want to follow the league again, but I'm not there yet! Still way too much I dislike about the NBA, from the commissioner and the owners on down to racist bombthrowers like Lebron, and of course the lack of fundamentals.
 

white lightning

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As of today with about 6 games to go in the shortened NBA Regular Season Nikola Jokic is still the heavy favorite to win the NBA MVP Award. We won't know for several months for any bettors here
I think we may finally see one of our guys win a huge award on the hardwood. Let's hope that he can win it as he deserves it and that the Nuggets can go deep into the playoffs again or even to the NBA Finals.
 
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Luka Doncic showed what a great all around player he is in a big win over the Nets. They triple teamed him plus he was a bit off on his shooting yet he set up all the other players with easy open shots/dunks.
He is the best player in the league.
 

El Gringo

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Bogdonovich nukes the nuggets as the Jazz continue their hotstreak whiteout Mitchell and Conley.
 

Phall

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While Orlando is in tank mode, they are giving minutes to two of John Beilein's former Wolverines. Moe Wagner was waived by Boston after being included as an extra piece in a trade. In his first start with the Magic, he promptly put up 24 points and has stayed in the starting role since. His critics call him "inconsistent," which I interpret to mean that he does not monopolize the ball on offense. Wagner is on his fourth team in four years, which is frankly a waste of his talent as a high-energy big with range.

Iggy Brazdeikas barely suited up for the Knicks despite thoroughly dominating on their G-League team for two years. He's getting rotation minutes with Orlando and filling up the stat sheet. Hopefully, this audition pays off into a role on some club next year.
 

Warhawk_46

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Seems the referees are especially tough on Luka Doncic. He has been getting a lot of technical fouls and was ejected for a questionable flagstaff last night. He certainly doesn’t seem the get the benefit of the doubt other superstars get. Hmm, wonder why that could be?
 

white lightning

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Seems the referees are especially tough on Luka Doncic. He has been getting a lot of technical fouls and was ejected for a questionable flagstaff last night. He certainly doesn’t seem the get the benefit of the doubt other superstars get. Hmm, wonder why that could be?

Yeah and him getting kicked out early in the game really hurt his scoring, assists and rebounds averages. Funny how that works. He can't do anything without a whistle being blown these days. Doncic has a bullseye target on his back!

At least the Mavs are a lock to make the playoffs. The problem is Porzingis is always hurt. He needs to stay healthy for Dallas to have any chance. Luka Doncic can only do so much by himself. Alot of other Mavs Players have been hurt this year. They are the walking wounded. This has added to the frustration that Luka Doncic faces trying to carry the team all by himself.
 
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Warhawk_46

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Agreed.

Porzingas can be a force when healthy but he seems to suffer what so many +7-footers see which is a myriad of lower body injuries. Here’s hoping he can get healthy soonest.

Maxi Kleber has been banged up too. Would be nice to see JJ Reddick start to get serious minutes.
 

white lightning

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The Atlanta Hawks and the Indiana Pacers are both in the NBA Playoffs. Both of these teams play 3 whites guys with heavy minutes and usually have 2 of them as starters. Good to see. I have really enjoyed
watching Bogdanovich have a career year. He scored 20 pts again tonight and is averaging over 16 pts per game with 3 assists and almost 4 rebounds per night.

Dallas won in a blow out. Luka Doncic led everyone with 33 pts, 8 rebounds and 8 assists. Porzingis returned from injury and had 19 pts in 22 minutes. It is smart for the Mavs to ease him back into the heavier
minutes with only 2 games left in the regular season. Kleber and Melli played but no Reddick for some reason.
 

jacknyc

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Dallas has some good shooters already, who are more familiar and comfortable within their offense, that's probably why they are not using Reddick very much.
But what I don't understand, is why don't use Boban Marjanovic?!
The guy is basically unstoppable down low, and is a huge defensive deterrent in the paint.
When he gets minutes, he really performs well.
 

icsept

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Redick has a heel injury and can’t seem to get healthy. If healthy, I believe he can be a valuable contributor. Porzingis and Kleber are back in the lineup. So, hopefully Dallas can put it all together in the playoffs. Any one of 8 teams could win the West. The East is Philly, Néw Jersey, or the Bucks. Anybody but Philly works for me.
 

white lightning

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I always say the Indiana Pacers should start TJ McConnell at the off guard position. He is 2nd in the nba in steals coming off the bench and always scores and gets alot of assists regardless. Aaron Holiday is not even average
and the only reason they probably don't start TJ is his skin color in my honest opinion. TJ McConnell is night and day a better starting guard. Tonight he got a rare start against one of the best teams in the nba being
the Bucks. Let's see how he did in the start?

TJ McConnell 23 points, 7 assists, 5 rebounds and 3 steals. Not a bad night! He could easily do this every night if they unleashed the kid!

Domantas Sabonis 10 points, 14 assists. 6 rebounds and 1 steal in an off night for the all star shooting and rebounding wise.
Doug McDermott 19 points, 2 assists, and 1 rebound.
Goga Bitadze 10 points, 4 assists and 6 rebounds.

Despite the Pacers losing a tough game they are guaranteed a spot in the NBA Playoff Series.
 
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Leonardfan

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I saw that Ben Wallace has been inducted to go into the hall of fame. His years with the Pistons were the last time I followed basketball with any sliver of interest. My recollection of Wallace was that he was a good defender and rebounder - other than that he was pretty much a liability - no ball handling skills and very poor shooter. I checked his career stats and he only averaged 5.7 pts in his career (he never averaged double digit points scored) - that is somehow negated by his 4 defensive player of the year awards and 1 NBA championship. He had a solid 5 year stretch as a very one dimensional player - just another fine example of caste logic and just how watered down the hall of fame (for every sport) has become.
 

white is right

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I saw that Ben Wallace has been inducted to go into the hall of fame. His years with the Pistons were the last time I followed basketball with any sliver of interest. My recollection of Wallace was that he was a good defender and rebounder - other than that he was pretty much a liability - no ball handling skills and very poor shooter. I checked his career stats and he only averaged 5.7 pts in his career (he never averaged double digit points scored) - that is somehow negated by his 4 defensive player of the year awards and 1 NBA championship. He had a solid 5 year stretch as a very one dimensional player - just another fine example of caste logic and just how watered down the hall of fame (for every sport) has become.
I agree his prime abruptly ended and it wasn't long enough for being a bench type scorer for hall of fame induction. The basketball hall of fame is very political concerning who gets in with international players, semi busts due to injuries, women and college coaches getting in.

Tom Chambers will wait for another year but Ben Wallace gets in?
 
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icsept

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I saw that Ben Wallace has been inducted to go into the hall of fame. His years with the Pistons were the last time I followed basketball with any sliver of interest. My recollection of Wallace was that he was a good defender and rebounder - other than that he was pretty much a liability - no ball handling skills and very poor shooter. I checked his career stats and he only averaged 5.7 pts in his career (he never averaged double digit points scored) - that is somehow negated by his 4 defensive player of the year awards and 1 NBA championship. He had a solid 5 year stretch as a very one dimensional player - just another fine example of caste logic and just how watered down the hall of fame (for every sport) has become.

There’s no way Ben Wallace was a hall of fame caliber player. But, the basketball hall of fame isn’t nearly as exclusive as the NFL gold jacket club. Since Ben Wallace got in, that pretty much assures that the loathsome Draymond Green will make it as well.
 

Warhawk_46

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While a very good defender for half a decade, his absolute lack of ability on the offensive end (seriously, he made Rodman look like a great offensive player) has to mean he makes the Piston’s HOF but not the league’s. But he is black so...
 
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Jokic should rightly be the MVP, no question, but of course with the racial politics of the league there is a question.

Was flipping through the sports alphabet soup channels and saw that black supremacist LeBrown James thinks Steph Curry should be MVP. LeBrown, being unable to make a case for himself, is showing his racism by promoting his "brutha" Curry over the rightful recipient Jokic.
 

Bucky

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Jokic should rightly be the MVP, no question, but of course with the racial politics of the league there is a question.

Was flipping through the sports alphabet soup channels and saw that black supremacist LeBrown James thinks Steph Curry should be MVP. LeBrown, being unable to make a case for himself, is showing his racism by promoting his "brutha" Curry over the rightful recipient Jokic.

racial solidarity is acceptable because well you know.

Joker should be MVP! Hands down!
 
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