Scoring Options Across the League

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Josh
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Scoring Options Across the League

Post by Josh »

Hello hello

I've been having a (text) conversation with Tong over the past few weeks where I suggest he changes his third scoring option to someone he actually wants to shoot. Tong is certain that his strategy is his best option, given that it worked out pretty well last year.

Hard to argue with that, but in order to determine out how out of the ordinary his strategy is, I created a table detailing the scoring options choices across the league. This is based on the latest available DCs
1. The Pacers are the only team with a scoring option under 10 points (excluding Kuzma who has played very few minutes so far this year)
2. Among competing teams, it is rare for a scoring option to play off the bench (I am trying out something new this sim, the only other exceptions are the wolves, pacers and spurs)
3. The most common #1 option position is SG with 12 occurrences, next is SF with 6 and then PG with 5
4. 23 teams have the starting SG as a scoring option, 20 have their starting PG, and 18 having their starting SF
5. The knicks scoring options are generating 82 ppg

Option 1Option 2Option 3
TeamWLWin %NamePositionStringPPGNamePositionStringPPGNamePositionStringPPGTotal PPG
Knicks371275.5%CarmeloSG136.0Joel EmbiidC124.6Myles TurnerSF121.482.0
Mavericks341372.3%Kyrie IrvingPG133.9Jimmy ButlerSG120.8Blake GriffinPF120.675.3
76ers182442.9%Lamarcus AldridgePF120.0Chris PaulSG121.3Lebron JamesPG132.073.3
Kings242054.5%Monta EllisSG124.8RynoSF127.3Eric BledsoePG120.572.6
Nets251956.8%Lou WilliamsSG129.4Kemba WalkerPG122.8Anthony DavisPF120.372.5
Heat212347.7%Dame LillardPG125.1Dwyane WadeSF123.0Klay ThompsonSG124.372.4
Timberwolves261760.5%James HardenPG126.8THJPG, SG, SF2, 321.0GiannisPF123.671.4
Raptors301271.4%Demarcus CousinsPF126.1YaroslavSG124.9Aaron GordonSF119.270.2
Hawks321765.3%Kevin DurantSF132.7Tyreke EvansSG123.0ValanciunasPF114.269.9
Grizzlies331076.7%ZingerSF124.2CJ MilesPG, SG, SF225.3Mike ConleyPG119.969.4
Celtics251858.1%Jamal CrawfordPG125.2BeasleySF125.1Paul GeorgeSG118.668.9
Jazz281171.8%Marvin WilliamsSF131.3Greg OdenC121.1Jameer NelsonPG115.768.1
Rockets112927.5%Rudy FernandezSG129.5GasolPF, C214.5Brandon RoySF120.464.4
Magic351372.9%Devin BookerSG122.5Eddy CurryC114.3Steph CurryPG126.663.4
Suns311468.9%BobanC129.6Shaun LivingstonPG117.9Dwight HowardPF115.663.1
Spurs221756.4%Kevin LovePF124.2Tyus JonesPG120.4Dahntay JonesPG, SG217.762.3
Trail Blazers103124.4%McCantsSG125.6MarkkanenPF114.5OJ MayoPG, SG, SF119.859.9
Cavaliers202841.7%LavineSG130.2CrowderPG, SG, SF213.2DloPG115.158.5
Lakers122730.8%CJ McCollumSG118.1RubioPG121.9WigginsSF116.956.9
Clippers222052.4%Eddie GriffinC117.3Derrick RoseSG126.6Markelle FultzPG112.456.3
Hornets163134.0%Jamal MurraySG120.5Jonathan IsaacPF114.4YaoC121.256.1
Bucks63714.0%Bradley BealSG120.2Spida MitchellSF121.5Patty MillsPG114.155.8
Pacers292059.2%Chris BoshC122.2Jrue HolidayPG122.8Damion JamesPG, SF29.754.7
Pistons202544.4%Otto Porter JrSF117.9Harrison BarnesSG117.6Dejounte MurrayPG119.154.6
Warriors182640.9%Jabari ParkerSF119.1SabonisPF113.8DipoSG118.551.4
Bulls113424.4%John WallPG120.8Derrick WhiteSG112.9Dillon BrooksSF114.648.3
SuperSonics182740.0%Norman PowellSG114.8GreenPG115.1TLCSF114.544.4
Bullets83717.8%WarrenSG112.9WoodSF215.9SiakamSF111.940.7
Nuggets182839.1%KuzmaSF14.6Alex CarusoSG110.7VucevicPF111.827.1
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Merv
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Scoring Options Across the League

Post by Merv »

Would be interesting how many non-options are 15+ PPG. I know Tong is a believer that options are where you want the ball not where you want the points.

Think it is a fun topic to dive into with Ashes and Jesse on a pod at some point
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pacers
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Scoring Options Across the League

Post by pacers »

This is a dope article!

To expand upon my scoring option philosophy (based on the data I've seen):
- Most players show worse possession efficiency when set as an option. Few players perform at the same efficiency when set as option, and VERY few show improved efficiency.
- Volume generally increases when a player is set as the top option, but I have yet to see consistent evidence of volume increasing for the second and third options.
- My general theory is that scorers are better as either "off ball" (better as a non-option) or "on ball" (better as an option). This might be semantic, but on ashes' depth chart guide the description for option doesn't say "who you want to shoot" - it says "who you want to have the ball".
- To unify the above - my approach is that options should be set as players who 1/ at a minimum don't see significant drops in efficiency when set as an option, and 2/ ideally show increased volume when set as an option. If you have 3 players that fit this bill, that's ideal - if not, the remaining option slots are better set as lower-utilization players who are less turnover-prone.

As always, I'd love alternate perspectives to the above!
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Tyler
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Scoring Options Across the League

Post by Tyler »

I think handles/turnovers need to be included in any discourse surrounding options to get a full picture.

A lot of times, I’m just trying to mitigate damages/TOs when setting options
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Kipke
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Scoring Options Across the League

Post by Kipke »

425 RP

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