Statistical Trivia

[Mike G]

Best 7-game cumulative GameScores since 1984:

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GmSc   first 7   yr    TS%    Pts   Reb   Ast   Stl  Blk   TO
29.2   Curry    2016  .733   33.9   5.4   6.0   2.3   .3   2.6
29.2   Jordan   1989  .604   35.9   4.6   5.7   4.3  1.4   3.3
28.6   Giannis  2018  .689   33.7  10.3   5.1   1.7   .9   3.3
28.6   Jordan   1990  .618   34.4   7.6   5.6   2.9   .4   3.0
28.4   Dantley  1984  .659   31.1   7.9   6.0   1.0   .0   1.7

28.3   Jordan   1992  .676   32.7   4.7   5.0   2.9   .7   2.0
27.9   Shaq     1995  .617   32.0  12.9   3.3   1.0  2.7   2.3
27.5   Mullin   1991  .695   30.1   6.6   4.6   2.6  1.7   2.7
27.4   LeBron   2012  .651   29.9   7.7   7.4   2.0   .9   2.9
27.3   Harden   2017  .665   31.6   6.9  12.7   1.3   .0   5.4

http://bkref.com/tiny/VzzCp
This is Dantley bouncing back from missing 60 games in '83. And Mullin leading the league in minutes.
Giannis hasn't had a bad game yet; his weakest/latest registered 21.8, while his median last season was 21.

Among rookies, Ben Simmons ranks 6th after 7 games, behind Shaq, Jordan, Robinson, Hill, and B Jennings.
Simmons has the 20th best GmSc among all players this year, 17.1

[rlee]

In the history of the Pacers, 3 players have had perfect FG shooting nights with at least 7 makes in the careers (total). Sabonis did in it one month.

On 10/20, Vucevic scored 41 points while attempting only 2 FTs. First center to have that many points w/ that few FTAs since 2000. Only 8 players have done that in that time span, regardless of position.

[rlee]

Tobias Harris is averaging 20.5 ppg while attempting 1.6 FTs per game. For a full season, no one has ever averaged 15+ ppg while shooting fewer than 2 FTs


Thanks to Mike G, we know this should say 17+, rather than 15+

[Mike G]

A few have:
http://bkref.com/tiny/sfbkJ

[rlee]

Thanks for the correction Mike. I ignored a lesson I learned a long time ago re: not verifying something I read, seemingly from a reliable source.

[Mike G]

Well it looks like nobody has gone a whole season at >17 Pts/G and <2 FTA/G
There are 4 in the running this year, most notably Klay Thompson at 21.7 and 0.7

[rlee]

Correcting the original post now


Thanks

[Mike G]

In the 34 seasons that it's available, we find the top cumulative GameScores through 12, 13, 14 games:
http://bkref.com/tiny/Rb4af
For a top 100, that's an average of just about 3 per season. This year, there are 5 among the top 68.

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GmSc   rk    per G:   TS%   Pts   Reb   Ast   Stl   Blk
24.9   18   A Davis .647   27.2  12.1   2.8   1.3   2.1
24.5   24   Giannis .641   30.0   9.4   4.5   1.3   1.7
24.1   28   LeBron  .671   27.5   7.0   8.3   1.3   1.1
22.8   59   Harden  .615   29.3   4.8   9.6   1.7    .4
22.0   68   Cousins .584   28.7  13.8   5.6   1.5   1.7

The first 2 have played 12 games, the others 13.
Finding 2 from one team on such a list would be rare. But from 2015-16 we have Westbrook/Durant (2 of the 3 for that year); Bird and McHale in 1986-87 (2 of 6); and that may be all, before this season.

[Mike G]

Here's everyone to post a season ORtg/DRtg > 1.15, with a Usg% > 33

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xy2     player   yr    Usg%   ORt   DRt
51.3   LeBron   2009   33.8   122    99
51.2   Jordan   1996   33.3   124   100
50.6   Jordan   1988   34.1   123   101
49.5   Harden   2018   36.0   122   104

47.2   Jordan   1993   34.7   119   102
47.1   LeBron   2010   33.5   121   102
46.7   Jordan   1997   33.2   121   102
46.2   Durant   2014   33.0   123   104
45.4   Jordan   1990   33.7   123   106

Ranking is by Usg*(ORt/DRt)^2
http://bkref.com/tiny/jinIy
Harden is in somewhat uncharted territory with that Usg% at such an elite efficiency. With Paul now in the lineup, the Usg is likely to drop anyway.
In this group, he currently has the 2nd best TS% (.630), the top WS/48 (.319), and middling BPM (11.3) and PER (30.6)

[Mike G]

Player-seasons with at least 17.5 Win Shares and 9.5 VORP:

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player    yr   WS/48  WS   BPM   VORP
Kareem   1977  .283  17.8  10.8   9.7
Jordan   1988  .308  21.2  12.2  11.8
Jordan   1989  .292  19.8  12.6  12.0
Jordan   1990  .285  19.0  10.6  10.1
Jordan   1991  .321  20.3  10.8   9.8
Robinson 1994  .296  20.0  10.9  10.6
Garnett  2004  .272  18.3   9.9   9.8
Paul     2009  .292  18.3  11.2  10.0
LeBron   2009  .318  20.3  13.0  11.6
LeBron   2010  .299  18.5  12.5  10.9
LeBron   2013  .322  19.3  11.6   9.8
Curry    2016  .318  17.9  12.5   9.8

LeBron   2018  .277 (17.5) 11.0 (10.1)
Harden   2018  .324 (19.0) 11.3 ( 9.5)
 (projected to 82 G)

http://bkref.com/tiny/vJyo7
Neither Harden nor LeBron has missed a game yet. Harden is playing the fewest minutes (36.0) of any season since he's been in Houston. LeBron led the league in MPG last year and is doing 37 mpg this year.
At 33, LeBron is also 4 years older than anyone else in this list.

[Mike G]

On the LeBron train, he's having a remarkable year for an old guy.
Here are the over-30 players in NBA history who have hit .200 WinShares/48 minutes and reset the record for their age (or younger).
Wanzer is so ancient I almost didn't include him; Sharman is the first entry in the shot clock era.
In those days, playing at 30+ was all borrowed time. But then Wilt came, and he owns the middle era.

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WS/48   over 30       yr  age
.218 * Bobby Wanzer  1952  30
.207   Bill Sharman  1957  30
.223   Paul Arizin   1959  30
.217   Bob Pettit    1964  31
.234   Bill Russell  1965  30
.222   Sam Jones     1966  32

.285   W Chamberlain 1967  30
.255   Wilt          1968  31
.212   Johnny Green  1971  37
.264 a Zelmo Beaty   1971  31
.219   Wilt          1972  35
.232 a Zelmo         1972  32
.268   Chet Walker   1972  31
.247   Wilt          1973  36

.317  Michael Jordan 1996  32
.283   Jordan        1997  33
.259   Karl Malone   1998  34
.252   Malone        1999  35
.222   John Stockton 2000  37
.249   Malone        2000  36
.216   Stockton      2001  38
.200   Stockton      2002  39

.276 * LeBron        2018  33

Jordan reset the bar, bumping David Robinson off the list (.290 at age 30 in '96)
LeBron is unlikely to reach Jordan-at-33, but maybe he'll outlast Malone or Stockton?
http://bkref.com/tiny/nGQD1
Minimum 1500 minutes; and you might suppose a similar VORP list would be shorter, since it starts up in 1974.
VORP at least 4.0, some of the usual suspects:

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BPM   over 30        yr  age
5.3   Rick Barry    1975  30
9.0   Kareem        1978  30
7.8   Kareem        1979  31
5.7   Wes Unseld    1979  32
6.7   Kareem        1980  32
5.3   Kareem        1981  33
4.3   Kareem        1982  34
5.9   Julius Erving 1984  33
4.9   Kareem        1985  37
4.5   Kareem        1986  38
9.2   Larry Bird    1987  30
8.8   Bird          1988  31
9.5   Magic Johnson 1990  30
6.1   Bird          1990  33
5.5   Bird          1992  35
8.6  Michael Jordan 1996  32
8.5   Karl Malone   1997  33
5.6   Clyde Drexler 1997  34
7.0   Malone        1998  34
6.8   Malone        1999  35
6.9   Malone        2000  36
5.9   Malone        2001  37
4.5   Malone        2003  39
5.5   Tim Duncan    2015  38
9.1   LeBron James  2016  31
10.8  LeBron    *   2018  33

Last season, LeBron at 32 (8.4) is just eclipsed by Jordan'96.
A total 10 players have eclipsed 10 vorp in a season (19 times, incl. Erving ABA), and the oldest is Kareem'77, age 29.

[Mike G]

James Harden is leading the league in per game points (by 2.3 over Giannis) and assists (by 0.05 over Westbrook); and he could easily sacrifice 1 FGA per game to secure the assist title.

He's also leading in both Win Shares and VORP, with only LeBron very close in either; and LeBron tends to take some games off every year.
In the last 40 NBA seasons, 1978-2017, the same player has led in both WS and VORP 25 times. You might think that player would be an easy MVP choice, and voters have gone that way 16/25 times, or 64%.
Players taking both titles and getting shafted from MVP:

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year   WS+VORP    MVP
2011   LeBron    Rose
2005   Garnett   Nash
1998   Malone    Jordan
1994   Robinson  Olajuwon
1993   Jordan    Barkley
1990   Jordan    Magic
1989   Jordan    Magic
1987   Jordan    Magic
1979   Kareem    Moses

There doesn't seem to be a sentimental favorite, overdue recognizee, or representative from a better team this year; so Harden is in the driver's seat.
He's also led the league in WS twice previously -- last year and 2015 -- so he's one of those 'overdue' guys.

In the 15 years when 2 different players have led in VORP and WS, the VORP leader has won MVP 6 times, vs 4 for the WS champ. And a 3rd party has taken it on 5 occasions: Walton'78, Malone'97, Iverson'01, Nash'06, Kobe'08

[Mike G]

The best opening 25 games in a season since 1983-84, in terms of GameScore:

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GmSc   Gm 1-25  yr   mpg   TS%   TRb%   Ast%   Stl%  Blk%  Usg%  ORtg  DRtg   O/D
29.9   Jordan  8889   41  .626   11.4   25.5   4.0   1.4   33.6   122   102   1.20
27.8   Jordan  8788   40  .601    7.3   30.3   4.3   2.2   33.1   120   101   1.19
27.0   Jordan  8990   38  .607   11.0   29.9   2.9   0.8   33.6   123   105   1.17
26.3   Jordan  9091   36  .612   10.0   28.2   3.8   1.5   30.1   127   102   1.25
26.3   Barkley 9091   37  .665   15.2   19.8   2.2   0.8   28.7   129   106   1.22

26.3   Jordan  8687   40  .543    7.6   20.0   2.9   2.4   39.4   116   105   1.10
25.9  Robinson 9495   40  .634   17.3   15.4   2.0   5.8   27.9   124   100   1.24
25.7   Curry   1516   35  .687    8.3   31.2   3.1   0.3   33.6   126   102   1.24
25.6   Barkley 8889   39  .607   18.5   14.4   2.1   1.5   25.3   127   107   1.19
25.5   Jordan  9293   39  .565    9.8   29.6   3.1   1.9   34.0   118   102   1.16

GmSc   Gm 1-25  yr   mpg   TS%   TRb%   Ast%   Stl%  Blk%  Usg%  ORtg  DRtg   O/D
25.3 * Harden  1718   36  .631    8.1   50.3   2.3   1.1   35.9   123   104   1.18
25.2   LeBron  1718   37  .668   11.9   42.8   1.8   2.8   30.4   124   108   1.15
25.1   Magic   8889   39  .640   11.0   52.2   2.3   0.4   25.0   124   104   1.19
24.9   Bird    8788   38  .638   13.7   26.1   2.3   0.9   29.5   122   104   1.17

* thru 22 G
In '91, Jordan had better ORtg/DRtg than Barkley AND more Usage. Similarly, Harden over LeBron in both this season.
Not only is this LeBron's best start to a season (in GmSc), he and Harden both match up well with the best of Bird and Magic.
http://bkref.com/tiny/TfSz3
LeBron's next best is #28; then 30, 32,33 ...

[rlee]

This one is for you, Mike G:

Dwight Howard is the only player in NBA history to have 20+ points and 10+ rebounds on consecutive nights against twin brothers

[Mike G]

In at least 800 minutes, best seasons since 1974, via:
xyz = ((BPM+5.25)*(WS/48)*(PER-5.75))^(1/3)

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xyz    player   yr   tm     BPM   WS/48   PER
5.32   LeBron   09   Cle   13.0   .318   31.7
5.29   Harden * 18   Hou   11.7   .337   31.6
5.26   Curry    16   GSW   12.5   .318   31.5
5.20   LeBron   13   Mia   11.6   .322   31.6
5.19   Jordan   88   Chi   12.2   .308   31.7

5.12   LeBron   10   Cle   12.5   .299   31.1
5.11   Jordan   91   Chi   10.8   .321   31.6
5.09   Jordan   89   Chi   12.6   .292   31.1
5.00   LeBron * 18   Cle   11.5   .288   31.7
4.94   LeBron   12   Mia   11.0   .298   30.7

xyz    player   yr   tm     BPM   WS/48   PER
4.92   Robinson 94   SAS   10.9   .296   30.7
4.88   Paul     09   NOH   11.2   .292   30.0
4.88  Westbrook 17   OKC   15.6   .224   30.6
4.86   Jordan   90   Chi   10.6   .285   31.2
4.72   Shaq     00   LAL    9.7   .283   30.6

4.70   Jordan   96   Chi    8.6   .317   29.4
4.64   Kareem   77   LAL   10.8   .283   27.8
4.64   Durant   14   OKC    8.8   .295   29.8
4.63   Robinson 96   SAS    9.2   .290   29.4
4.60   Garnett  04   Min    9.9   .272   29.4

xyz    player   yr   tm     BPM   WS/48   PER
4.60   Curry    15   GSW    9.9   .288   28.0
4.58   McGrady  03   Orl    9.7   .262   30.3
4.57   Jordan   93   Chi    9.5   .270   29.7
4.53   LeBron   08   Cle   11.2   .242   29.1
4.52   Paul     08   NOH    9.2   .284   28.3
4.50   Wade     09   Mia   10.7   .232   30.4

http://bkref.com/tiny/8m1MG
This year, we have 2 of the top 10 player-seasons in the last 45 years.
Westbrook last year had by far the highest BPM; this year Harden has the top WS rate, also by a good margin.