Just checked the numbers on the players who pretty much take most of the teams shots in a game for the last 5 games, check it out:
Player - Shots Taken - FG%

Billups - 46 - 39%
Rip - 73 - 49%
Tay - 58 - 51.7%
Sheed - 52 - 44.2%
Dyess - 32 - 65.6%
Jarvis - 43 - 74.4%
Maxiel - 34 - 64.7%
Murray - 32 - 53.1%

Just looking at the numbers it seems as if :

1. Chauncey needs to concentrate more on making the basket as opposed to drawing the foul.
2. Rip who's actually shooting it pretty straight these days (49% FG) might want to share a few of his shots with Dyess-65.6% FG% WOW!!!
3. Tay, keep doing what'cha doin, but maybe get an itsy-teensie bit more selfish.
4. Sheed.....GET YO BUTT ON THE BLOCK!!!!! His 3pt% is dragging his overall FG% down.
5. Dyess, needs to find a way to get at least 3 more shots/game, 65.6%!!!!!
6. Maxiel needs the ball more.
7. Jarvis really knows how to make use of his time on the floor even when it's only garbage time.
8. FlipM is a love-hate player if there ever was one. his numbers are 53% because he's only played in 4 of the last 5 games, he didn't play in NewOrl. HIS last five game swould have included a 0-7 night against Utah dropping his #'s to 17/39(43.6%) still not AWFUL or as bad as Billups'. Like I said he is love-hate.

__________________
Play hard, Play smart, Play together, share the ball, have fun....Play the right way!!!!!!

Shots taken are influenced by so many factors that it boggles the mind and even the computer. Who could program so many variables into a computer program?

Our Shooting percentage for the 18 games is 47.5%. This is the highest it has been in years. When we won our last title our team shooting percentage was only 46.1%.

We are currently 5th in the league in shooting percentage.

The 4 teams ahead of us in order are.

Utah
Phoenix
San Antonio
Boston

We are 4th in FG% differential

The three ahead of us are

Boston
Orlando
Utah

I agree with you that we could improve are shooting percentage as a team. In fact every team can say that, ever year. I just don't think that the solutions are so simple.

One example of why it is difficult is this.

The defense and match ups by the team that you are playing against on any given night will have a strong influence on who will take the shot or shots on each possession. One would think why not give Dyess more shots? But that means that he needs to get to his sweet spots with the proper match up more often than he is now and that has to be the perceived best offensive opportunity on that possession. Plays can be designed to do this but the defense can counter this thereby preventing it.

Another example is Maxey. He is not the greatest ball handler or passer. If he gets passes in situations where he can't take his shot at the point that he receives the ball this would lead to more turnovers and a reduction in are overall offense efficiency.

I remember watching the Lakers when Cap and Magic played together and Chick Hearn was often complaining that Cap needed to get the ball more. Seems simple enough, but if Magic one of the greatest passers of all time couldn't always get the ball to Cap on Caps sweet spot it seems to me that it is not anywhere near as simple to get the ball to someone on their sweet spot as it is to say give him more shots.

That of course doesn't mean that we shouldn't try to these things, but the team we are playing against will have a big say in the outcome of our attempts.


hahttp://sports.yahoo.com/nba/stats/byteam?cat1=Total&cat2=team&sort=229



NBA - Statistics by Team - Yahoo! Sports

Hunter on WDFN: Defense is key to Pistons' recent run - Detroit Pistons Full-Court Press - MLive.com

It's all about Maxiell and Jarvis right now. They are the X-Factors to this run IMO. Max coming in and bringing those big momentum changing plays (Dunks, blocks, etc). Jarvis hitting big shots. Consistently.

Our success will depend on these guys (and Stuckey) come playoff time. Flip can't all of a sudden tighten up the leash on the bench in the post-season, or it will be another disappointing finish to the year.

BTW, I think your Jarvis numbers are a bit off. He has taken 45 shots and shot 55.5% the last 5 games.

Ooops....sorry bout that. But 'eh, 55.5% for a sf, known for being a jumpshooter is still nothing to sneeze at.

In Ref to Buddah:
Those shooting numbers reflect that we have 8 capable ball players (11 when you get AA & AJ in the mix and Stuckey healthy) that can put the ball in the hole with pretty good efficiency. I hope this team (mainly Francis and Mobley Broadway and Hollywood) understand that no one player has to get it done for this team, and realize that if their shot is off swing the rock to a player who's shot isn't off.

I just want this team to realize how good they are, this team is really 13 players deep. There are 13 (14 if you include Samb) guys on this roster capable of having a big part in helping this team win a game. But being deep is worthless unless guys are willing to move and share the ball......In short...........PLAY THE RIGHT WAY!!!!!!....

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Play hard, Play smart, Play together, share the ball, have fun....Play the right way!!!!!!

Who is Cap? Must be a west coast thing?

The team always looks a lot deeper when they are on a winning streak.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Statistics - Basketball-Reference.com