NBA Offense: See How they run – and maybe Why!
Through 136 games, the best hoopsters on earth have already tallied a whopping 29,276 total points (111.7 per game per team), of which 3,524 (13.0 per game per team) are categorized as “Fast Break Points” – essentially 12 percent of NBA scoring this season.
Under FB conditions, Commissioner Silver’s workforce has attempted 2,296 FG’s, connecting on 1,370 of them – a none-too-shabby .597 shooting percentage. (Overall, the league is currently shooting .461.)
Our Celtics, who stand No. 8 in FG% at .480, have “run up” 126 points (11.2 percent of their scoring) on the Fast Break, shooting 52-for-77 (.675) during 79 FB opportunities (out of 996 total “possessions”). 57 of those FB’s resulted in points, a conversion rate of .722. [The C’s 517 converted possessions give them an overall CV% of .519.]
Opponents’ overall FG% of .468 ranks Boston at No. 10 at this point. The “bad guys” have scored 138 FB points (12.4 percent) on 59-for-88 (.670) shooting for 92 “run-outs” (out of 998 offensive opportunities). 62 of their FB’s resulted in points, a conversion rate of .674. [The opposition's 504 converted possessions give them an overall CV% of .505.]
Fast Break 101
Just what is it that precipitates a Fast Break?
There are only three possibilities – a made shot, a rebounded missed shot, or a “credited” Steal. [Sidenote: any other type of Turnover creates a stoppage in play and subsequent side-out.]
Only seven of those 171 FB’s have followed an opponent’s score; five of them were successful (.714).
66 breakouts were ignited by a Steal, of which 46 “paid off” (.697).
The other 98 required a D-board, and 68 proved point-worthy (.694). [There were 18 times that the errant FG that triggered the FB had been blocked, resulting in 13 conversions (.722).]
Graduate Students (?)
Through the season’s first 14 playing dates, Mike Budenholzer’s Milwaukee Bucks were out-scoring their opponents in FB points by 9.29 PER GAME – that’s almost as many as the No. 2 and No. 3 teams combined (Indiana, +5.43 & Brooklyn, +4.50).
Though they could never re-acquire their Mojo in last summer’s bubble, the Greek Freak and Crew were on the verge of making history when play was interrupted in March.
