Power rankings system devised and compiled weekly by Stemshul. “Expert” analysis by paradroid.
The Jazz are dropping fast (down 10 slots to #11 after a 1-3 week) and the Clippers are surging (up 14 slots to #7 due to 6 wins in a row, 4 of them last week). L.A. is still missing Kawhi Leonard as he recovers from a torn ACL, so the team is really just Paul George and a bunch of role players. George’s usage rate is currently 3rd in the league at 33.5%, whereas last year it was 17th at 29.6%, so he has clearly taken the reins for the Clippers early this year, not surprising with Leonard not playing (usage rate is the frequency at which a player finishes possessions, via field goal attempt, free throw attempt, or turnover). While George’s traditional stats are at or near his career highs (26.7 PPG, 7.8 RPG, 5.4 APG), his shooting percentages have suffered. His splits are currently 45.6%/36.1%/86.7%, and although all three are down from last year, the three point percentage suffered the biggest drop, sinking from 41.1% to 36.1%. That’s still an acceptable rate, but combining that with a jump to 4.5 turnovers per game, easily a career high and well above his career average (2.6 TPG coming into this year) means a drop in efficiency. Of course, even slightly more inefficient Paul George is better than letting the role players take up more of the slack from Leonard’s absence (Kawhi’s usage rate last year was 28.2%). All players become less efficient as their usage rate increases, but the best players minimize the drop while taking on a bigger load. George has been pretty darn good considering, which is good, because nobody has any idea when his fellow star will be returning.
The Pistons had a strangely light week, only playing Friday and Wednesday. They did manage to win Wednesday against the Rockets (#29) and stormed back from 16 down after 3 quarters to get within 1 late against the Nets (#4) before losing by 6, so it was a pretty good week. Cade Cunningham scored 17 against Brooklyn, albeit on 6-17 shooting. He was, however, a solid 3-7 from three, and bumped that up to 8-18 from the field and 4-8 from three for 20 points against Houston. It looks like he is making adjustments and improving every game, which should make Pistons fans excited (if you are curious, his usage rate is 28.8%, which is 20th). Detroit is still bottom of the barrel on offense, only managing 96.6 PPG on 39.8% from the field and 28.5% from the three point line, all dead last in the league. The defense has been decent, ranking 14th at 106.9 points allowed per game. They manage this despite allowing the best shooting from the floor in the NBA (47.9% from the field and 41.7 from three). This is accomplished by a combination of the best offensive rebounding differential (+3.8) in the league and also allowing the fewest threes per game (29.5 per game). Although opponents are shooting better from beyond the arc against Detroit than every other team, they’re only making the 13th most per game against the Pistons. Silver lining there, and that 41.7% is bound to decrease as the season progresses (last year they allowed 36.2%, 10th best). Another dark cloud for that lining is the injury suffered by center Kelly Olynyk, the Pistons’ biggest signing this off-season and best option off the bench. Olynyk had been playing very well, averaging 12.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 2.3 assists on 45.9% from the field and 34.1% from deep in 23.0 minutes per game. He is likely out for at least 6 weeks.
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