The Algebra of Anomaly: Dubs “turn over” victory to the Pistons
Alas, the Kerr Krew’s accuracy with the ball was hardly as impressive when the target was not the goal, but a teammate’s hands – they concluded 26 of their 94 possessions with a turnover.
So, despite outshooting and outrebounding (40-37) the surprising Detroit Pistons (not to mention catching them on the second night of a back-to-back), the reigning-and-defendings managed to drop a 115-107 decision.
The rebounding edge is deceiving in this case, though, as the Van Gundy Gang owned a 17-10 advantage on the offensive glass.
The weary Pistons, who would earn but two FTA’s in the first half, began the game with four Empty Possessions while the Warriors were hitting seven of their first nine shots on their way to a 35-point quarter.
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| "This is NOT how we catch the ball!" |
The return to play resembled the game’s opening – the Pistons missed six of their first seven shots while GSW again hit seven of their first nine. But on the strength of eight-for-eight FT shooting and seven more follow-up points, SVG’s Road Warriors entered the final 12 minutes with a one -point lead.
Detroit never relinquished that lead, converting six of their first seven Q4 possessions. When they strung together six stops, the advantage had grown to double-digits. From that point, seven of the desperate Dubs FGA’s were treys … but the magic had worn off and the last four of them were errant.
Game, set and Match.
The Algebra of the Game
1st Quarter
FG: Det – 11-27, .407 / GS – 15-25, .625
3FG: Det – 4-8, .500 / GS – 4-6, .667
FT: Det – 1-1, 1.000 [0] / GS – 1-1, 1.000 [0]
TO: Det – 2 / GS – 4
OR: Det – 5 + 1 (team) / GS – 4 + 1 (team)
Poss: Det – 23 / GS – 23
CV%: Det – 11 / 23, .478 / GS – 15 / 23, .652
2nd Quarter
FG: Det – 10-25, .400 / GS – 9-16, .563
3FG: Det – 4-10, .333 / GS – 1-5, .200
FT: Det – 1-1, .750 [0] / GS – 3-5, .600 [1]
TO: Det – 1 / GS – 7
OR: Det – 3 + 0 (team) / GS – 1 + 0 (team)
Poss: Det – 23 / GS – 23
CV%: Det – 10 / 23, .435 / GS – 10 / 23, .435
3rd Quarter
FG: Det – 10-22, .455 / GS – 11-17, .647
3FG: Det – 2-4, .500 / GS – 2-6, .333
FT: Det – 8-8, 1.000 [3] / GS – 0-1, .000 [0]
TO: Det – 4 / GS – 7
OR: Det – 6 + 0 (team) / GS – 1 + 0 (team)
Poss: Det – 23 / GS – 23
CV%: Det – 13 / 23, .565 / GS – 11 / 23, .478
4th Quarter
FG: Det – 12-19, .632 / GS – 9-20, .450
3FG: Det – 2-4, .500 / GS – 3-10, .300
FT: Det – 7-7, 1.000 [3] / GS – 5-5, 1.000 [2]
TO: Det – 7 / GS – 8
OR: Det – 3 + 1 (team) / GS – 4 + 1 (team)
Poss: Det – 25 / GS – 25
CV%: Det – 15 / 25, .600 / GS – 11 / 25, .440
Full Game
FG: Det – 43-93, .462 / GS – 44-77, .571
3FG: Det – 12-27, .444 / GS – 10-27, .370
FT: Det – 17-17, 1.000 [6] / GS – 9-12, .750 [3]
TO: Det – 14 / GS – 26
OR: Det – 17 + 2 (team) / GS – 10 + 2 (team)
Poss: Det – 94 / GS – 94
CV%: Det – 49 / 94, .521 / GS – 47 / 94, .500
Note re Calculations:
The number of “possessions” is an accurate count, not a formula-based estimated value.
For purposes of clarity, the bracketed digit following the FT% is the exact count of “conversions” represented by those FTA’s.
“Possessions” calculation: FGA’s + FT conversions + TO’s – OR’s (including Team OR’s)
“Conversions” calculation: FG’s + FT conversions
Abacus Revelation for the Road
And did you happen to hear of the half-hour from hell that the Portland Trail Blazers forced a home crowd to endure Halloween Eve?
Old friend Evan Turner finally scored the team’s first FG – on a put-back, naturally – on the subsequent possession ... and just five seconds before halftime.
Here are the gory details:
2nd Quarter
FG: Tor – 10-23, .435 / Port – 1-17, .059
3FG: Tor – 2-8, .250 / Port – 0-5, .000
FT: Tor – 3-4, .750 [2] / Port – 4-7, .571 [3]
TO: Tor – 0 / Port – 3
OR: Tor – 2 + 2 (team) / Port – 2 + 1 (team)
Poss: Tor – 21 / Port – 20
CV%: Tor – 12 / 21, .571 / Port – 4 / 20, .200
