Latrinsorm
05-05-2013, 10:53 PM
In 1984 AD, the NBA moved from [6 playoff teams per conference, top 2 seeds get a bye, best of 3 first round] to [8 playoff teams per conference, best of 5 first round]. From that time to the end of the 2012 season, the team with the better regular season record and home court advantage (usually but not necessarily the team with the higher seed) is 331-104, or 76.1%. Three players for your consideration, all records before this year.
Player A: 24-0 with home court, 6-7 without.
Player B: 11-3 with, 4-3 without.
Player C: 2-2 with, 0-7 without.
Player D: 28-2 with, 5-8 without.
Match 'em up.
Kobe Bryant
LeBron James
Carmelo Anthony
Michael Jordan
.
.
.
Answers:
Kobe - D
LeBron - B
Carmelo - C (and if you got this wrong you are pretty dumb, no offense)
Michael - A
[A brief coda: Kobe post-Shaq is 13-1 and 0-4 under the above conditions. Also, both LeBron and Kobe have 1 Finals loss on their record when having homecourt, while LeBron has 1 Finals win while not having it and Kobe has 0.]
.
What does it mean? Probably nothing. Loafing during the regular season (SHAQ) doesn't mean you were clutch in the postseason, it means you loafed in the regular season. The sample sizes are tiny.
What does clutchness mean? Perhaps "not choking" (winning with homecourt) and perhaps equally "elevating your game" (winning without it). All players listed (except 'Melo) are above average for both categories, does Kobe's 93% and 38% mean he is demonstrably inferior to Jordan's 100% and 46% and that (also taking into account the vast gulf in individual statistics and honors) no one should ever favorably compare the two ever again? Ever? Of course. Does Kobe's deterioration in both percents after Shaq left mean he rode Shaq enormous coat-tails and has never deserved all-time great status? Of course.
But putting aside the purpose of meaning, I just thought these were interesting numbers.
Player A: 24-0 with home court, 6-7 without.
Player B: 11-3 with, 4-3 without.
Player C: 2-2 with, 0-7 without.
Player D: 28-2 with, 5-8 without.
Match 'em up.
Kobe Bryant
LeBron James
Carmelo Anthony
Michael Jordan
.
.
.
Answers:
Kobe - D
LeBron - B
Carmelo - C (and if you got this wrong you are pretty dumb, no offense)
Michael - A
[A brief coda: Kobe post-Shaq is 13-1 and 0-4 under the above conditions. Also, both LeBron and Kobe have 1 Finals loss on their record when having homecourt, while LeBron has 1 Finals win while not having it and Kobe has 0.]
.
What does it mean? Probably nothing. Loafing during the regular season (SHAQ) doesn't mean you were clutch in the postseason, it means you loafed in the regular season. The sample sizes are tiny.
What does clutchness mean? Perhaps "not choking" (winning with homecourt) and perhaps equally "elevating your game" (winning without it). All players listed (except 'Melo) are above average for both categories, does Kobe's 93% and 38% mean he is demonstrably inferior to Jordan's 100% and 46% and that (also taking into account the vast gulf in individual statistics and honors) no one should ever favorably compare the two ever again? Ever? Of course. Does Kobe's deterioration in both percents after Shaq left mean he rode Shaq enormous coat-tails and has never deserved all-time great status? Of course.
But putting aside the purpose of meaning, I just thought these were interesting numbers.