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‘Black Holes’, Position-by-Position

Posted by Neil Paine on February 17, 2011

The chart on this post about non-passing guards was so popular, I decided to run it for players at all positions (minimum 30 MPG):

Centers Pos G Min MPG T/Min %Pass %Shoot %Fouled %TO
Emeka Okafor C 49 1586 32.4 0.50 19.3% 48.4% 22.0% 10.2%
Dwight Howard C 55 2019 36.7 0.93 21.0% 40.0% 29.1% 9.9%
Brook Lopez C 57 1959 34.4 0.94 26.7% 48.8% 17.0% 7.6%
Andrea Bargnani C 50 1796 35.9 0.96 28.5% 52.4% 12.0% 7.1%
Al Jefferson C 57 2009 35.2 0.81 31.3% 53.1% 11.2% 4.3%
Amare Stoudemire C 53 1949 36.8 1.18 34.9% 43.0% 14.5% 7.7%
Andrew Bogut C 46 1656 36.0 0.81 40.7% 41.2% 11.9% 6.2%
Anderson Varejao C 31 994 32.1 0.59 44.8% 36.6% 11.8% 6.8%
Nene Hilario C 51 1560 30.6 0.83 45.6% 33.0% 14.9% 6.6%
Joakim Noah C 24 883 36.8 0.88 48.9% 31.5% 13.0% 6.6%
Marc Gasol C 56 1866 33.3 0.89 53.1% 28.8% 11.4% 6.7%
Al Horford C 51 1790 35.1 1.08 57.2% 33.1% 5.9% 3.8%
Power Forwards Pos G Min MPG T/Min %Pass %Shoot %Fouled %TO
Zach Randolph PF 52 1929 37.1 0.89 30.4% 50.0% 13.6% 6.0%
Antawn Jamison PF 53 1737 32.8 0.91 32.4% 51.5% 11.5% 4.6%
LaMarcus Aldridge PF 56 2206 39.4 1.00 33.1% 46.7% 14.6% 5.6%
Elton Brand PF 55 1910 34.7 0.71 34.1% 48.2% 12.0% 5.7%
Channing Frye PF 53 1720 32.5 0.57 34.4% 54.8% 5.8% 5.1%
Chris Bosh PF 52 1863 35.8 0.88 35.4% 44.7% 14.4% 5.5%
Andray Blatche PF 48 1675 34.9 0.95 38.3% 43.5% 10.2% 8.1%
Kevin Love PF 56 2058 36.8 0.96 38.4% 39.8% 15.8% 6.0%
David West PF 57 2006 35.2 1.02 39.2% 43.1% 11.8% 5.9%
Jeff Green PF 47 1753 37.3 0.74 39.6% 45.2% 9.7% 5.4%
Dirk Nowitzki PF 46 1574 34.2 1.12 39.6% 41.4% 13.8% 5.1%
Carlos Boozer PF 35 1138 32.5 1.10 40.1% 42.0% 10.6% 7.3%
Luis Scola PF 57 1911 33.5 1.05 40.3% 44.0% 10.4% 5.3%
Paul Millsap PF 56 1910 34.1 0.95 42.5% 40.4% 11.6% 5.5%
Blake Griffin PF 56 2123 37.9 1.25 43.4% 36.0% 14.8% 5.8%
Kevin Garnett PF 45 1409 31.3 0.98 46.3% 38.5% 10.0% 5.2%
Josh Smith PF 55 1927 35.0 1.17 50.4% 33.8% 9.0% 6.8%
David Lee PF 46 1663 36.2 1.05 50.9% 33.8% 8.8% 6.5%
Pau Gasol PF 57 2127 37.3 1.11 51.1% 33.3% 11.2% 4.4%
Lamar Odom PF 57 1887 33.1 0.99 51.9% 33.3% 9.4% 5.3%
Boris Diaw PF 56 1915 34.2 1.02 62.4% 27.5% 3.6% 6.5%
Small Forwards Pos G Min MPG T/Min %Pass %Shoot %Fouled %TO
Travis Outlaw SF 57 1733 30.4 0.61 33.5% 51.1% 10.2% 5.3%
Kevin Durant SF 50 1979 39.6 1.16 35.2% 43.7% 14.4% 6.7%
Michael Beasley SF 47 1536 32.7 1.06 35.6% 47.7% 9.8% 6.9%
Wilson Chandler SF 51 1759 34.5 0.75 36.6% 51.5% 7.1% 4.8%
Carmelo Anthony SF 50 1774 35.5 1.22 36.6% 43.0% 14.1% 6.3%
Danilo Gallinari SF 48 1671 34.8 0.74 37.5% 39.5% 18.5% 4.5%
Danny Granger SF 53 1924 36.3 1.08 39.7% 41.3% 12.3% 6.7%
Richard Jefferson SF 55 1716 31.2 0.65 40.1% 43.2% 10.6% 6.1%
Rashard Lewis SF 50 1700 34.0 0.71 42.1% 44.9% 6.4% 6.5%
Nicolas Batum SF 55 1755 31.9 0.71 42.2% 45.4% 8.0% 4.4%
Rudy Gay SF 54 2152 39.9 0.98 42.6% 41.1% 9.9% 6.4%
Gerald Wallace SF 47 1838 39.1 0.88 42.7% 36.7% 14.4% 6.3%
Luol Deng SF 53 2070 39.1 0.90 43.0% 41.3% 10.2% 5.5%
Trevor Ariza SF 54 1893 35.1 0.79 47.0% 38.1% 9.0% 5.9%
Grant Hill SF 51 1552 30.4 0.95 48.0% 35.7% 11.0% 5.4%
Paul Pierce SF 54 1881 34.8 1.13 49.1% 33.8% 12.2% 4.9%
Carlos Delfino SF 23 756 32.9 0.91 50.2% 40.1% 5.3% 4.3%
Tayshaun Prince SF 57 1908 33.5 1.01 50.5% 40.1% 6.0% 3.4%
Dorell Wright SF 55 2155 39.2 0.92 51.0% 37.5% 6.5% 5.0%
Ryan Gomes SF 56 1693 30.2 0.64 51.0% 38.8% 6.3% 3.9%
Andrei Kirilenko SF 50 1610 32.2 0.97 55.2% 27.0% 12.1% 5.8%
LeBron James SF 54 2070 38.3 1.91 59.6% 25.8% 9.4% 5.2%
Shane Battier SF 57 1758 30.8 0.77 62.3% 28.6% 4.6% 4.5%
Shooting Guards Pos G Min MPG T/Min %Pass %Shoot %Fouled %TO
Nick Young SG 52 1641 31.6 0.81 27.4% 55.4% 12.0% 5.1%
Anthony Morrow SG 40 1274 31.9 0.62 36.0% 52.0% 7.1% 4.9%
DeMar DeRozan SG 56 1926 34.4 0.84 36.0% 44.4% 13.9% 5.7%
Kevin Martin SG 55 1722 31.3 1.21 36.6% 39.1% 18.7% 5.6%
Jason Richardson SG 56 1849 33.0 0.78 36.6% 51.5% 7.7% 4.2%
Wesley Matthews SG 56 1915 34.2 0.92 39.4% 42.2% 12.5% 5.9%
Dwyane Wade SG 52 1928 37.1 1.47 47.6% 33.5% 12.9% 6.0%
Stephen Jackson SG 54 1999 37.0 1.26 48.7% 35.6% 8.8% 6.9%
Brandon Roy SG 23 813 35.3 1.17 48.9% 36.7% 10.4% 4.0%
Kobe Bryant SG 57 1933 33.9 1.70 49.7% 34.1% 10.8% 5.4%
Ray Allen SG 54 1948 36.1 0.95 50.5% 37.8% 7.3% 4.4%
Eric Gordon SG 41 1550 37.8 1.39 50.7% 33.0% 11.3% 5.0%
Raja Bell SG 50 1534 30.7 0.62 51.4% 37.8% 6.6% 4.3%
John Salmons SG 46 1586 34.5 1.06 51.4% 34.5% 8.9% 5.3%
Monta Ellis SG 55 2262 41.1 1.46 52.2% 33.6% 8.8% 5.4%
Landry Fields SG 54 1759 32.6 0.64 53.3% 34.0% 6.4% 6.4%
Jamal Crawford SG 49 1504 30.7 1.25 53.4% 31.8% 9.6% 5.2%
Arron Afflalo SG 57 2001 35.1 0.71 53.9% 34.9% 6.9% 4.3%
Tyreke Evans SG 46 1740 37.8 1.47 57.0% 29.9% 7.3% 5.8%
Jason Terry SG 55 1768 32.1 1.38 58.0% 32.1% 5.3% 4.7%
Joe Johnson SG 46 1661 36.1 1.54 59.0% 31.0% 6.3% 3.6%
Manu Ginobili SG 55 1706 31.0 1.56 59.3% 26.4% 9.5% 4.8%
Andre Iguodala SG 44 1631 37.1 1.44 67.8% 21.4% 7.4% 3.4%
Point Guards Pos G Min MPG T/Min %Pass %Shoot %Fouled %TO
Brandon Jennings PG 36 1182 32.8 1.53 58.9% 29.8% 6.8% 4.5%
Rodney Stuckey PG 48 1445 30.1 1.55 59.0% 26.0% 10.5% 4.5%
Derrick Rose PG 52 1974 38.0 2.05 62.7% 26.0% 6.7% 4.6%
Beno Udrih PG 53 1816 34.3 1.14 63.2% 25.9% 6.6% 4.2%
Darren Collison PG 51 1556 30.5 1.49 64.0% 25.0% 5.6% 5.4%
Stephen Curry PG 47 1575 33.5 1.60 64.0% 25.4% 5.3% 5.3%
Chauncey Billups PG 51 1646 32.3 1.45 64.4% 21.6% 8.8% 5.2%
Russell Westbrook PG 54 1925 35.6 2.15 65.2% 22.1% 7.8% 5.0%
Kirk Hinrich PG 48 1471 30.6 1.24 66.9% 23.7% 4.9% 4.5%
Tony Parker PG 55 1791 32.6 1.80 67.6% 22.8% 5.4% 4.3%
Jrue Holiday PG 56 1956 34.9 1.54 68.4% 22.4% 4.1% 5.1%
Mike Bibby PG 55 1657 30.1 1.07 68.5% 25.3% 2.3% 3.9%
D.J. Augustin PG 56 1872 33.4 1.58 69.4% 21.5% 5.6% 3.5%
Deron Williams PG 53 2009 37.9 2.18 69.9% 18.6% 7.1% 4.3%
Devin Harris PG 54 1724 31.9 2.07 70.0% 17.7% 7.7% 4.6%
Mike Conley PG 57 2045 35.9 1.55 70.1% 20.9% 4.9% 4.1%
John Wall PG 42 1550 36.9 1.96 71.3% 18.0% 5.7% 5.0%
Raymond Felton PG 54 2074 38.4 1.85 71.8% 20.0% 3.7% 4.4%
Kyle Lowry PG 53 1762 33.2 1.54 71.9% 18.9% 5.3% 3.9%
Andre Miller PG 55 1803 32.8 1.91 72.1% 17.9% 5.8% 4.3%
Chris Paul PG 58 2070 35.7 2.17 75.8% 15.0% 6.0% 3.2%
Steve Nash PG 51 1696 33.3 2.50 78.0% 13.6% 4.2% 4.3%
Jason Kidd PG 55 1846 33.6 1.79 81.0% 13.9% 1.3% 3.9%
Jose Calderon PG 49 1521 31.0 2.06 81.0% 13.7% 2.0% 3.3%
Rajon Rondo PG 43 1622 37.7 2.34 82.6% 10.9% 2.1% 4.3%

25 Responses to “‘Black Holes’, Position-by-Position”

  1. AHL Says:

    I...I can't believe Kobe shoots it only 34.1% of the time.

    My life is a lie.

  2. cesar rivera Says:

    where the hell is al harington on this list. If he toches the ball no one ever sees it again. He is the black hole!

  3. Neil Paine Says:

    Al doesn't play 30 MPG. But here are his numbers:

    T/Min     %Pass     %Shoot     %Fouled     %TO
    0.84      41.2%     45.5%      5.9%        7.5%

    That 41.2% pass% is actually pretty average for PFs.

  4. Nick Says:

    LeBron is the second-most pass-y SF in the league? And still is the #2 scorer in the league? That's pretty amazing.

  5. Matt Houston Says:

    Can you let me know what JaVale McGee's #'s are. Gotta imagine he does not pass a great deal.

  6. Neil Paine Says:

    #5 - Yep, you got that right:

    T/Min	%Pass	%Shoot	%Fouled	%TO
    0.47	18.3%	54.6%	17.8%	9.3%
  7. Neil Paine Says:

    #4 - The only way to pull that off is to have the ball in your hands an ungodly amount -- and James easily has the most touches/min of any non-PG.

    The crazy part is that he's actually toned down both the passing% and the touches/min this season vs. last year in Cleveland:

    Year	Age	Tm	T/Min	%Pass	%Shoot	%Fouled	%TO
    2004	19	CLE	1.55	56.1	30.6	7.7	5.6
    2005	20	CLE	1.75	57.9	28.7	8.8	4.5
    2006	21	CLE	1.74	52.9	31.5	11.2	4.5
    2007	22	CLE	1.66	52.9	31.0	11.3	4.8
    2008	23	CLE	1.93	55.7	28.9	11.0	4.5
    2009	24	CLE	2.02	58.2	27.2	10.6	4.1
    2010	25	CLE	2.13	61.5	24.5	9.7	4.2
    2011	26	MIA	1.91	59.6	25.8	9.4	5.2
  8. DSMok1 Says:

    This is all based on the presumption that 17% of a player's passes end up as assists, right? That's rather variable, isn't it?

  9. Neil Paine Says:

    Of course it is. That's why it's an estimate.

  10. Kirk Says:

    I'm guessing Corey Maggette has a great/terrible track record for this. Please tell me he beats out Travis Outlaw for SF.

    Be curious to see career numbers.

  11. Neil Paine Says:

    #10 - He would beat out Outlaw, if marginally:

    Year    Age     Tm      T/Min   %Pass   %Shoot  %Fouled %TO
    2000    20      ORL     0.85    29.6    38.7    20.2    11.4
    2001    21      LAC     0.99    36.4    36.7    18.9    8.0
    2002    22      LAC     0.95    43.2    34.8    14.4    7.6
    2003    23      LAC     0.99    36.4    38.9    17.3    7.4
    2004    24      LAC     1.14    43.4    33.3    16.5    6.8
    2005    25      LAC     1.28    43.2    32.2    18.2    6.4
    2006    26      LAC     1.11    36.8    35.6    20.2    7.4
    2007    27      LAC     1.22    44.5    29.4    18.8    7.3
    2008    28      LAC     1.15    38.9    35.0    19.4    6.8
    2009    29      GSW     0.96    33.2    38.9    20.5    7.4
    2010    30      GSW     1.12    40.0    35.0    18.4    6.6
    2011    31      MIL     1.07    33.3    38.2    19.9    8.6
  12. jimbo Says:

    there should be an all black hole team, players with the lowest passing percentage and an offensive rating lower than his team average but make the minimum like 20 mpg

  13. Math2 Says:

    Wow. My thoughts about Nick Young have been confirmed.

  14. kevin Says:

    I'd love to see John Drew's and World B Free's numbers.

  15. Chris Says:

    I'm going to guess you have to cross reference this with usage to get an accurate picture right?

    If you take Nicolas Batum as an example, his touches are going to largely come in the way of spotting up on the three point line so his need to pass is greatly reduced. Rudy Gay however will spend more time with the ball in his hands without being a viable offensive threat and will therefore pass slightly more often.

    Or am I missing the point?

  16. Neil Paine Says:

    Sure -- in fact, that's what Ziller did in his original article to spark this whole discussion. You could just use touches as the other axis, especially since touches/min are highly correlated with passing (by definition in this estimate, as well as the fact that passes simply happen more frequently than shots, fouls, or turnovers).

    Between 2 guys with the same pass% (i.e., Batum/Gay), the guy with the higher touches/min is being the bigger black hole because you would expect someone with more touches to have a higher pass%.

  17. Eshan Says:

    Well this kinda puts a dent in all those Kobe-hating black hole arguments. And yeah LeBron gets mad touches even with Wade and Bosh on that team

  18. James Says:

    Where's Damarcus Cousins? He's a supermassive black hole if ever I've seen one

  19. anon x 2 Says:

    I am surprised to see Pau Gasol get the 3rd most touches pr minute. Not only that, but he shoots at the same rate as Kobe with those touches!

    Any chance we could get Bynum's numbers? Especially compared to last year. He seems to be passing more; I'd like to see if that's right.

    Thanks.

  20. Raul Says:

    Oh wow, look where Derrick Rose falls in the point guard category. He's not a point guard, he's a shooting guard masquerading as a point guard.

  21. anon x 2 Says:

    Raul, probably a good thing. Can't remember the last time a sub 17% shooter at the PG spot led his team to a title.

    Don't say Rondo, he was not a top 3 offensive player on that 2008 team and didn't play 30 mins multiple nights.

  22. Michael Says:

    i'm not really sure what it means, but half of those centers' names start with A.
    Pretty fucked.

  23. Downpuppy Says:

    It means there are only 12 centers in the league playing 30 minutes a game, including 6 born in the US.

    I guess all the athletic 7 footers are going into scuba diving.

  24. Esquire Says:

    I was not surprised at all to see Travis Outlaw's name on the list. As a Blazer fan I got to watch this guy up close for several years... it got to be funny to watch guys like Aldridge freeze him out of the offense... where most players would keep rotating the ball, I saw several Blazers are multiple occasions look over, see that the next rotation pass was to Outlaw, stop, turn and reverse the rotation.

    Outlaw's game is... catch the ball, dribble going left, stutter-step, step back, hoist up 19 foot jumper from the left elbow... miss, repeat. I'm so glad he's not in Portland anymore.

  25. Johnn19 Says:

    The top 3 passing/playmaking PG's in the NBA
    Assists per 48 mins

    Nash 16.3
    Rondo 15.5
    Calderon 13.9

    Fits in with your numbers.