Comments on: McGrady’s Peak

By: Neil Paine

Neil Paine — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 03:06:55 +0000

Well, it's been a year and a half since I wrote this, but I think I was referring to the fact that T-Mac's defensive rating in Orlando (translated to 2009's scoring environment) was 3 points higher than Kobe's was at the same age (21-24). Also, I don't want to speak for Hollinger, but personally I freely admit that our box score defensive metrics are nowhere near as good as the offensive ones. Offensively, we can explain more than 75% of the variation in adjusted plus-minus, while defensively we can explain less than 35%. That's why DPOY voting and All-Defense selections, while horribly objective/biased, are probably informative to use in addition to the defensive stats. Simply put, on D, the box score stats need serious help... we're basically measuring almost everything that's important on offense, but barely anything that's important on defense.

By: Andrew

Andrew — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 02:00:46 +0000

Defence is a British spelling

By: Minstrel

Minstrel — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 21:01:44 +0000

Sorry, the first sentence of the second paragraph above should read "It seems like you're just parroting conventional wisdom here, based on Kobe winning more and being selected to All-Defense teams."

By: Minstrel

Minstrel — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 21:00:22 +0000

"Sure, he had his issues with defense, an area where he doesn't compare to LeBron or Kobe" Based on what do you say this? Your own advanced stats on defense (Defense Rating, Defensive Win Shares) contradict you (at least in regards to Kobe; James comes out solidly ahead of both in Defensive Win Shares). It seems like you're just parroting conventional wisdom here, based on Kobe winning more and being selected to All-NBA teams. Which seems about as reasonable as saying Kobe was clearly the better overall player due to Kobe winning a lot more and having higher MVP finishes (an irrational standpoint that you and Hollinger seem to be trying to combat).

By: Andy

Andy — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 21:53:59 +0000

All the expectations were high in 03-04, picking up Howard. Atlantic Division crown... then it turned out to be one of the most dysfunctional teams ever, though not belligerent. I think they won 2 of 20 games without McGrady, and like 18 with him? Something crazy.

No McGrady and Hill or McGrady and Howard. Sad.

By: Tsunami

Tsunami — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 20:03:56 +0000

Kinda crazy thinking about that.

Players that play in LA or NY get overhyped, McGrady in his day was devastating.

Too bad he couldn't sustain it. It was especially disappointing that he hasn't improved his jump shot as he's gotten older, or FT shooting, for that matter.