Crunching The Numbers: Pierce is shooting over 50% from 3 & other eyeopening stats

Posted by Brian Robb on Nov 11, 2009 41486 commentshttp%3A%2F%2Fcelticshub.com%2F2009%2F11%2F11%2Fcrunching-the-numbers-pierce-is-shooting-over-50-from-3-other-eyeopening-stats%2FCrunching+The+Numbers%3A+Pierce+is+shooting+over+50%25+from+3+%26+other+eyeopening+stats2009-11-11+16%3A30%3A04Brian+Robbhttp%3A%2F%2Fcelticshub.com%2F%3Fp%3D4148

With the Celtics finishing off a 4 day layoff, it seems to be the right time to introduce a fun new little  feature here as Celtics Hub, we’ll call Crunching The Numbers. In it, I will go through some statistics for both the team and individual players and make note of interesting numbers I see and speculate on what they could mean for this squad.

Whether it be an absurd FG percentage from downtown or a disturbing look at exactly how many 3′s Rasheed Wallace has had the propensity to throw up this year, it will make for a brief and entertaining look at this team. Without further ado, let’s take a look at some numbers through the teams’ first 8 games:

1. Paul Pierce is shooting 51.6 % from 3 point range, better than his 51% overall percentage from the field.

Now before you go seeing this is an complete aberration, let me point out nearly a third of  Pierce’s shots have been 3 point attempts (31 of 93). Many Celtics fans have pointed out that Pierce looks reenergized this year. These numbers would tend to agree with that assessment.

2. Rasheed Wallace leads the team in 3 point attempts by with 50, averaging 6.3 attempts in just 21 minutes a game.

Those 50 attempts are good enough to rank Sheed as 3rd in the league for 3 point attempts, behind Dario Gallinari and Danny Granger. Number 30 also leads the Celtics in attempts by a comfortable margin as sharpshooter Ray Allen comes in next with 34 tries from downtown. This will be a constant point of emphasis for Sheed detractors, perhaps very rightfully so.

The guy may spread the floor but there is no way he should be leading this team in 3 point attempts, not by that margin, and not with the supporting cast he has around him. Much more to come on Sheed’s shooting ways at Celtics Hub later this week.

3. Shelden Williams is 2nd on the team in free throw attempts, behind Paul Pierce.

This is kind of a good news/bad news situation when you look at this stat. First the good news: As Brendan Jackson pointed out earlier this week, the returns on Shelden have been much better than expected through 8 games. He has been providing some toughness and offensive rebounding down low, along with a decent jumper much to our surprise here at Celtics Hub.

Williams has also taken 29 attempts from the line so far, helping to fill Powe’s propensity to get to the line off the bench. He also has made 26 of those attempts, giving him a terrific 86.2 shooting percentage from the charity stripe, also good enough for 2nd on the team, just behind Ray Allen at 87%. For some bad news about all of this, check out some more numbers, after the jump.

4. Shelden Williams has shot more free throws than Kevin Garnett and Rasheed Wallace COMBINED through 8 games (29 to 23)

I don’t care who you are, that is just flatout disturbing. Even more concerning when you consider that Garnett and Sheed have been on the floor more than three times as many minutes combined as Williams has (417 to 129). The C’s may be able to spread the floor, but they definitely lack a post presence that can get to the line consistently with The Big Ticket and Sheed in there. If I’m Doc, I make an attempt to try to establish these guys in the post more, to give the team more scoring options when they go cold from the outside.

5. Rajon Rondo leads the league in steals per game (3.1) and Kendrick Perkins is 2nd in the league with 19 blocks.

Both of these guys, under the radar just keep improving at their strengths. Their offensive efficiency has also improved with both players posting 59 and 62 percent shooting percentages respectively in 8 games. With those numbers, I wonder if it’d be better to see Perk’s defense on the floor down the stretch in games, as opposed to Wallace’s lack of a conscience shooting from deep, on the offensive end.

That’s it for this week. Take a look at these numbers. Which ones surprised you the most? Which ones are an aberration through 8 games as opposed to a trend? Curious to hear everyone’s take on this.