Kobe Bryant Watch 2014/2015 (Part Two)

First edition – click here – dated November 10th.

This is an update to that post. 82.1

• Kobe Bryant just shot 8-30 FGAs for 25 points while hitting 6-6 from the FT line and turning the ball over 9 times in a 7 point loss to the Sacramento Kings.That is a total of 42 possession to net 25 points equaling 0.595 points per possession. Obviously a disgraceful number.
• The Lakers have played 27 games but have won only 8 games. They have lost 19 games.
• Kobe Bryant is now averaging 24.6ppg, 5.1rpg, 4.9apg in 35.5mpg.
• Kobe Bryant is shooting 37.1% from the field, 27% from three and is up to 81% from the FT line. Big increase in free throw shooting percentage since early in the season.
• Those 24.6ppg are coming from 22.4 FGAs per game, 8 FTAs per game and 3.5 TOs per game. A total of 29.9 possessions (FGAs + 0.5FTAs + TOs) to net 24.6ppg for an average of 0.823 points per possession.
• An average shooting guard is scoring at 0.926 points per possession this season. That is a huge difference = 0.100 points per possession.

Marcus Smart for Rookie of the Year

Rajon Rondo trade to Dallas is confirmed. Celtics getting Brandan Wright, Crowder, picks and some filler.

So this clears the way for Marcus Smart to take over as starting PG for the Boston Celtics. Back on draft day, I felt that Marcus Smart was one of the most NBA ready players in this draft class and now with Rondo out of the way, Smart will have the chance to show that.

The Competition for RoY

The early returns for Rookie of the Year are fairly weak:

• Andrew Wiggins = 12.6ppg, 3.8rpg in 30.8mpg with above average defense
• Jabari Parker = injured, out for season, played only 20 games
• Embiid = injured, out for season, 0 games
• Aaron Gordon = injured, out indefinitely, looks stuck in a 15-20mpg bench role even if/when he returns
• Dante Exum = raw and struggling most nights

Celtics Expected W-L

Boston Celtics 2014/15 schedule and expected W-L based on games against teams where I would expect Boston to win, lose or have a 50-50 shot against opponent.

Brooklyn Nets	Wednesday, October 29 2014	50-50
November
@ Houston Rockets	Saturday, November 01 2014	Loss
@ Dallas Mavericks	Monday, November 03 2014	Loss
Toronto Raptors	Wednesday, November 05 2014	50-50
Indiana Pacers	Friday, November 07 2014	Win
@ Chicago Bulls	Saturday, November 08 2014	Loss
Oklahoma City Thunder	Wednesday, November 12 2014	Loss
Cleveland Cavaliers	Friday, November 14 2014	Loss
Phoenix Suns	Monday, November 17 2014	Loss
@ Philadelphia 76ers	Wednesday, November 19 2014	Win
@ Memphis Grizzlies	Friday, November 21 2014	Loss
Portland Trail Blazers	Sunday, November 23 2014	Loss
Chicago Bulls	Friday, November 28 2014	Loss
San Antonio Spurs	Sunday, November 30 2014	Loss
December
@ Atlanta Hawks	Tuesday, December 02 2014	Loss
Detroit Pistons	Wednesday, December 03 2014	50-50
Los Angeles Lakers	Friday, December 05 2014	Win
Washington Wizards	Sunday, December 07 2014	Loss
@ Washington Wizards	Monday, December 08 2014	Loss
@ Charlotte Hornets	Wednesday, December 10 2014	50-50
New York Knicks	Friday, December 12 2014	Win
@ Philadelphia 76ers	Monday, December 15 2014	Win
Orlando Magic	Wednesday, December 17 2014	Win
Minnesota Timberwolves	Friday, December 19 2014	Win
@ Miami Heat	Sunday, December 21 2014	50-50
@ Orlando Magic	Tuesday, December 23 2014	Win
Brooklyn Nets	Friday, December 26 2014	50-50
@ Washington Wizards	Saturday, December 27 2014	Loss
Sacramento Kings	Wednesday, December 31 2014	Win
January
Dallas Mavericks	Friday, January 02 2015	Loss
@ Chicago Bulls	Saturday, January 03 2015	Loss
Charlotte Hornets	Monday, January 05 2015	50-50
@ Brooklyn Nets	Wednesday, January 07 2015	50-50
@ Indiana Pacers	Friday, January 09 2015	Win
@ Toronto Raptors	Saturday, January 10 2015	Loss
New Orleans Pelicans	Monday, January 12 2015	Loss
Atlanta Hawks	Wednesday, January 14 2015	50-50
Chicago Bulls	Friday, January 16 2015	Loss
@ Los Angeles Clippers	Monday, January 19 2015	Loss
@ Portland Trail Blazers	Thursday, January 22 2015	Loss
@ Denver Nuggets	Friday, January 23 2015	Loss
@ Golden State Warriors	Sunday, January 25 2015	Loss
@ Utah Jazz	Monday, January 26 2015	Win
@ Minnesota Timberwolves	Wednesday, January 28 2015	50-50
Houston Rockets	Friday, January 30 2015	Loss
February
Miami Heat	Sunday, February 01 2015	50-50
@ New York Knicks	Tuesday, February 03 2015	50-50
Denver Nuggets	Wednesday, February 04 2015	Loss
Philadelphia 76ers	Friday, February 06 2015	Win
@ Milwaukee Bucks	Saturday, February 07 2015	Win
Atlanta Hawks	Wednesday, February 11 2015	50-50
@ Sacramento Kings	Friday, February 20 2015	Win
@ Los Angeles Lakers	Sunday, February 22 2015	Win
@ Phoenix Suns	Monday, February 23 2015	Loss
New York Knicks	Wednesday, February 25 2015	Win
Charlotte Hornets	Friday, February 27 2015	50-50
March
Golden State Warriors	Sunday, March 01 2015	Loss
@ Cleveland Cavaliers	Tuesday, March 03 2015	Loss
Utah Jazz	Wednesday, March 04 2015	Win
@ New Orleans Pelicans	Friday, March 06 2015	Loss
@ Orlando Magic	Sunday, March 08 2015	Win
@ Miami Heat	Monday, March 09 2015	50-50
Memphis Grizzlies	Wednesday, March 11 2015	Loss
Orlando Magic	Friday, March 13 2015	Win
@ Indiana Pacers	Saturday, March 14 2015	Win
Philadelphia 76ers	Monday, March 16 2015	Win
@ Oklahoma City Thunder	Wednesday, March 18 2015	Loss
@ San Antonio Spurs	Friday, March 20 2015	Loss
Detroit Pistons	Sunday, March 22 2015	50-50
@ Brooklyn Nets	Monday, March 23 2015	50-50
Miami Heat	Wednesday, March 25 2015	50-50
@ New York Knicks	Friday, March 27 2015	50-50
Los Angeles Clippers	Sunday, March 29 2015	Loss
@ Charlotte Hornets	Monday, March 30 2015	50-50
April
Indiana Pacers	Wednesday, April 01 2015	Win
Milwaukee Bucks	Friday, April 03 2015	Win
@ Toronto Raptors	Saturday, April 04 2015	50-50
@ Detroit Pistons	Wednesday, April 08 2015	50-50
@ Cleveland Cavaliers	Friday, April 10 2015	Loss
Cleveland Cavaliers	Sunday, April 12 2015	Loss
Toronto Raptors	Tuesday, April 14 2015	50-50
@ Milwaukee Bucks	Wednesday, April 15 2015	Win

2012 Team Preview: Los Angeles Lakers

Los Angeles Lakers

Starting Lineup

• PG – Steve Nash
• SG – Kobe Bryant
• SF – Ron Artest
• PF/C – Pau Gasol
• C  – Dwight Howard

One of the fiercest starting units in the league. The best center in the league in Dwight Howard. The second best two guard in Kobe Bryant behind Dwayne Wade. A borderline top five PG in Steve Nash. A top five PF or C in Pau Gasol. Four extremely talented players.

Denver Nuggets Salary Situation

Following the signing of Ty Lawson, the Nuggets now have four large multi-year contracts on the books

• Andre Iguodala – $31 million 2 years
• JaVale McGee – $44 million 4 years
• Ty Lawson – $48 million 4 years
• Danilo Gallinari – $42 million 4 years

Note: Wilson Chandler is also on the books for another $6-7 million per annum for the next three years also.

The trio of JaVale McGee, Ty Lawson and Danilo Gallinari will be earning a combined $34 million a year for the next 4 years. Andre Iguodala has another $15 million a year for two years and will be expecting a contract extension in that price range once it expires which would take the Nuggets up to $50 million in guaranteed salary for the next 4 years.

2012 Contract Extensions

Here are the players given extensions prior to the October 31st deadline

• James Harden – $78.6 million over 5 years
• Ty Lawson – $48 million over 4 years
• Steph Curry – $44 million over 4 years
• Jrue Holiday – $41 million over 4 years
• DeMar DeRozan – $40 million over 4 years
• Taj Gibson – $38 million over 4 years

Analysis

James Harden

A top 5 shooting guard (elite starter) and top 25 player (All-Star caliber player) in the league overall. A very good scorer and playmaker. Exceptionally efficient. A good defender/rebounder.

When you consider that two of the others are in their mid-thirties (Kobe, Manu) and the other two are over 30 (Wade, Joe Johnson), and that, Harden is only 23 years old and by far the best young shooting guard in the league … his value is clear.

Fully deserving of a maximum contract.

James Harden Traded To Houston

Trade Details

Houston Rockets receive: James Harden, Cole Aldrich, Daequan Cook, Lazar Hayward

Oklahoma City receive: Kevin Martin, 2013 Raptors first rounder, Jeremy Lamb, 2013 Mavericks first rounder, 2013 Bobcats second rounder

Trade Reaction

Houston Rockets

Excellent deal for Houston. They traded some scraps, two mid-first round picks and a mid-lottery pick for the best young two guard in the NBA who is already one of the top five SGs in the league (top 25 player in the league with potential for more).

2012 Team Preview: New York Knicks

New York Knicks

Starters

• PG – Raymond Felton
• SG – Iman Shumpert
• SF – Carmelo Anthony
• PF – Amare Stoudemire
• C  – Tyson Chandler

A good but unexceptional starting unit. One high level (top five) starter and two very good starters (top 10-12) in Carmelo Anthony + Tyson Chandler and Amare Stoudemire respectively. Plus two well below average starters in Felton and Shumpert.

2012 Team Preview: Houston Rockets

Houston Rockets

Starters

• PG – Jeremy Lin
• SG – Kevin Martin
• SF – Chandler Parsons
• PF – Patrick Patterson
• C  – Omer Asik

A very weak starting lineup. Probably bottom five in the league. No above average starters. Two middle of the pack starters (Asik, Kev Martin). Two firmly below average starters (Parsons, Lin). One very poor starter (Patterson).

2012 Team Preview: Dallas Mavericks

Dallas Mavericks

Starters

• PG – Darren Collison
• SG – Delonte West
• SF – Shawn Marion
• PF – Dirk Nowitzki
• C  – Chris Kaman

A decent starting lineup. An elite player in Dirk Nowitzki, an above average starter in Marion but the rest of the pack are are firmly below average.