Sports leagues run on narratives because of the media’s need to remain relevant at all points in time. The average NBA fan’s pick for MVP, opinion on LeBron, and idolization of Michael Jordan is shaped this way. This is not to blame the fan, however, as fandom in any sport begins from the bottom up. The fan first learns the sport, drawing from the media or friends. This is the only way to reach a level of engagement with the sport that then inspires personal investigation.
The amount of data available on the NBA is constantly rising. While I am not here to discuss every statistic, I want to point out an example of a recent advance that allows for even more understanding and the development of a personal conclusion. While no data is perfect, and some is more flawed than other, my goal is to present the argument that any research is preferable to only following the news.
Basketball Reference has recently added a feature that allows you to name a player and see his teammates as well as opponents throughout his career through certain basic statistics.
This particular feature by no means can establish something like the true GOAT, but it can provide tangible insight on a players career that carries more meaning than simply being told the fact. In the time I have spent tinkering with this feature, I got the sense that there are two levels of insight that can come out of the results; interesting tidbits and fundamental knowledge. It’s important to not enter seeking a conclusion, and instead take what the data gives.
An interesting tidbit is something that may challenge an implicit notion you had, but the realization is by no means groundbreaking or essential to the NBA. It may involve a relatively fringe player. For example, DeMar DeRozan is known for his time spent with Kyle Lowry as a duo. It may be surprising to know that DeRozan’s longest tenured teammate is Jonas Valanciunas.
More significantly, fundamental insight can lead to some more important conceptual understanding of NBA timeframes. Kevin Durant played more career games with James Harden than with anyone on the Golden State Warriors (259 with Harden, 247 with Klay Thompson). For a 20 year old fan today, this is a tangible way to understand that Oklahoma City held its big three together for about the same time the superteam Golden State Warriors did. Jeff Green played even more games with Durant than James Harden, but his 40.8 win percentage with Durant correctly indicates that their partnership was in Durant’s early years.
Shifting gears, LeBron James is sometimes discredited for reaching the NBA finals by virtue of having played in the easier eastern conference. Instead of writing off the entire conference, we can look at what teams gave him relatively more trouble. Holding a barely above .500 record against Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, and Rajon Rondo, we can see that the Boston Celtics of that era were a worthy competitor. These three players are also in LeBron’s top seven most commonly faced opponents, showing their longevity in competition. LeBron holds a roughly 60-65% win rate against players like Derrick Rose, Kirk Hinrich, Luol Deng, and Taj Gibson, while facing them less often than the Celtic players. This suggests the Chicago Bulls of that time possessed less longevity, while also being less competitive against LeBron. The notable high volume players who LeBron most frequently beats are Al Horford and DeMar DeRozan, both of which lose to James about 80% of the time. It should come as no surprise, then, that the Atlanta Hawks and Toronto Raptors were swept out of the playoffs by LeBron at various points.
Looking at his matchups against the Western Conference, LeBron wins about 40% of games against Manu Ginobili, Tony Parker, and Tim Duncan. He performs even worse against the likes of Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green. These particular dynasties out of the west have given LeBron the most trouble throughout his career, so it could be reasonable to say LeBron would have been more pressed to make the finals if operating out of the west. Interestingly enough, over a large span of games, Kevin Durant performs significantly better against the members of the dynastic Spurs, yet has a losing record against LeBron. This demonstrates the rock-paper-scissors dynamic that exists within the league.
-
Ep 38: Tyreek Hill Traded To The Dolphins
by Full Press Coverage on March 24, 2022 at 12:10 am
Historical insights are intriguing because they uncover information that has been lost in the collective conscience, as history is naturally more fuzzy the further you go back. If talking history, the natural place to begin is Michael Jordan. Jordan played 859 games with Scottie Pippen, with distant second place John Paxson teaming up for 657. In fact, only six players exceeded 400 games played with Jordan, which suggests there was great roster turmoil despite the dynastic Bulls winning six titles in eight years.
History also tends to forget certain player matchups. Jordan faced Reggie Miller 56 times, which is the 14th most out of any opponent. However, it is less known than his matchups against the bad boy Pistons, Cleveland Cavaliers, or New York Knicks. This can be attributed to their lack of playoff matchups, having played only seven games (one series). This playoff total ranks last out of the top twenty opponents by total games played, with most others having faced Jordan over 20 times. Jordan’s lowest win rate against high volume opponents is against members of the Pistons, hovering around 45% for most members. This confirms that, by combination of challenge and longevity, the Pistons were the single largest roadblock to Jordan’s success.
Going back to LeBron, we can now see how having your main competitor be within your conference instead of the other conference can influence your finals record. LeBron, with chronic struggle against particular opponents in the other conference, sees it reflected in his finals record. Jordan, by virtue of losing earlier in the playoffs against his nemesis, escapes with a 6-0 finals record. This happenstance alone drives the greatest of all time debate heavily, and will continue to do so as LeBron’s career progresses.
This large master list of player opponents is also a way to measure sustained dominance. As opponents differ by quantities of games played as well as team and portion of career in which they match up, a higher blanket win rate vs all of them suggests career longevity. This is different from a successful peak. Jordan and Stephen Curry each have a peak of many years that set countless standards. Yet, each player has a losing record against some of their frequently faced opponents, suggesting noteworthy struggles at some point.
One player who amazingly does not have this is Magic Johnson. Magic faced 122 distinct opponents at least 28 times. He has a winning record against all of them. Only at 123rd place does Bobby Jones have a 14-13 record against Magic. By seeing that Bobby Jones played for the Philadelphia 76ers in the first half of the 1980’s, we can see that the 76ers of that particular time were the biggest challenge to Magic in his career.
The closest modern-day version of this setup is Tony Parker. Like Magic Johnson, he was added to the team a few years after a dominant front court player, meaning the team was good upon his arrival. Like the Lakers, the Spurs made the playoffs every season and won titles in a spread-out manner instead of consecutively. Finally, like Magic, Parker retired from a team that was still a playoff contender. Out of his top 100 opponents by total matchups, Parker has a winning record against all except Kevin Durant, Kendrick Perkins, and Serge Ibaka. One can intuitively imagine that a streak like Magic’s or Parker’s will never happen again (if looking at big name players). The NBA has reached the pinnacle of player movement, meaning dissatisfied players who are consistently losing against others will look to team up in superteams (or dynamic duos in this past season), which then cyclically inflicts head to head losses on the next round of dissatisfied stars. As a result, the landscape now churns too often to generate dynasties with permanent blanket winning records against absolutely everyone else. 57% of minutes played in 2019 were by players who were on that same team in 2018. That number a decade ago was 70%, and has been, in fact, declining since the 1960’s. For context, Magic Johnson played when the minute retention rate was oscillating between 75%-85%.
This was just a small example of a journey you could take in the sea of data that is available. If you were surprised or intrigued by anything I said, your own discoveries and revelations could be a website away.
-
Ep 110: New Playoff Teams In 2022; Best Matchups On NFL Scehduleby Full Press Coverage on May 20, 2022 at 3:42 am
Clark, Ira, and Ian give their four teams that didn't make the NFL […]
-
Ep 109: Hall of Fame Voter Ed Bouchette Joins The Showby Full Press Coverage on May 12, 2022 at 6:28 pm
Long time Steelers writer and current Hall of Fame voter, Ed Bouchette […]
-
Ep 108: Hall of Famer Bryant Young Returns To The Showby Full Press Coverage on May 6, 2022 at 1:45 am
Pro Football Hall of Famer Bryant Young returns to the show to talk with […]
-
Ep 107: Pro Football HOF President Jim Porter Returns To The Showby Full Press Coverage on April 27, 2022 at 6:58 pm
Clark and Ira are once again joined by the Pro Football Hall of Fame's […]
-
Ep 106: Remembering Pat Tillman w/ Former Cardinals Coach Dave McGinnisby Full Press Coverage on April 21, 2022 at 12:43 pm
Former Cardinals head coach Dave McGinnis joins Clark and Ira to remember […]
-
Ep 105: Who Are The Top 5 Quarterbacks of All Time?by Full Press Coverage on April 15, 2022 at 12:46 am
Who is the most underrated quarterback of all time? The most overrated? […]
-
Ep 104: John McClain Joins The Show To Talk Retirement and Houston Sportsby Full Press Coverage on April 8, 2022 at 2:50 am
Former Texans beat reporter for the Houston Chronicle, John McClain, joins […]
-
Ep 103: Discussing The New NFL OT Rules With Upton Bellby Full Press Coverage on March 31, 2022 at 10:11 pm
Former NFL executive Upton Bell joins Clark and Ian to discuss the latest […]
-
Ep 110: New Playoff Teams In 2022; Best Matchups On NFL Scehduleby Full Press Coverage on May 20, 2022 at 3:42 am
Clark, Ira, and Ian give their four teams that didn't make the NFL […]
-
Ep 109: Hall of Fame Voter Ed Bouchette Joins The Showby Full Press Coverage on May 12, 2022 at 6:28 pm
Long time Steelers writer and current Hall of Fame voter, Ed Bouchette […]
-
Ep 108: Hall of Famer Bryant Young Returns To The Showby Full Press Coverage on May 6, 2022 at 1:45 am
Pro Football Hall of Famer Bryant Young returns to the show to talk with […]
-
Ep 107: Pro Football HOF President Jim Porter Returns To The Showby Full Press Coverage on April 27, 2022 at 6:58 pm
Clark and Ira are once again joined by the Pro Football Hall of Fame's […]
-
Ep 106: Remembering Pat Tillman w/ Former Cardinals Coach Dave McGinnisby Full Press Coverage on April 21, 2022 at 12:43 pm
Former Cardinals head coach Dave McGinnis joins Clark and Ira to remember […]
-
Ep 105: Who Are The Top 5 Quarterbacks of All Time?by Full Press Coverage on April 15, 2022 at 12:46 am
Who is the most underrated quarterback of all time? The most overrated? […]
-
Ep 104: John McClain Joins The Show To Talk Retirement and Houston Sportsby Full Press Coverage on April 8, 2022 at 2:50 am
Former Texans beat reporter for the Houston Chronicle, John McClain, joins […]
-
Ep 103: Discussing The New NFL OT Rules With Upton Bellby Full Press Coverage on March 31, 2022 at 10:11 pm
Former NFL executive Upton Bell joins Clark and Ian to discuss the latest […]
-
Ep 231: Sons of Dynasty Draftsby Full Press Coverage on May 19, 2022 at 9:28 pm
-
Ep 230: Early Rookie Draft Seasonby Full Press Coverage on May 10, 2022 at 7:58 pm
-
Ep 229: Fantasy Fallout From the NFL Draftby Full Press Coverage on May 6, 2022 at 10:52 pm
-
Ep 228: Pre-NFL Draft Dynasty Rookie Draftby Full Press Coverage on April 27, 2022 at 2:52 am
-
5/11 - Patriots Depth Chart, Contract Issues, Smoked Meat, and Ernie Adams With Matt Chathamby Full Press Coverage on May 11, 2021 at 7:54 pm
Matt Chatham joins Steve, Murph, and Clare to talk Patriots depth chart, […]
-
5/4 - Good, Bad, and Ugly From NFL Draft With Evan Lazarby Full Press Coverage on May 4, 2021 at 7:39 pm
Evan Lazar of CLNS Media joins Steve, Murph, and Claire to recap the […]
-
Warriors Take Commanding Lead; How Can The Celtics Rebound? (5/23)by Full Press Coverage on May 23, 2022 at 3:37 pm
Ian and John discuss the Warriors commanding 3-0 series lead over the […]
-
5/23 - Red Sox; NBA Playoffs; Tom Brady Roastby Full Press Coverage on May 23, 2022 at 3:32 pm
Ian and John discuss the Red Sox recent surge, the Warriors lead over the […]
-
Celtics Rebound In Game Two; Series Heads To Bostonby Full Press Coverage on May 21, 2022 at 11:00 am
Ian and John discuss the Celtics big game two win over the Heat as the […]
-
Lightning On Way To A Three-Peat? (5/20)by Full Press Coverage on May 20, 2022 at 4:18 pm
Ian and John discuss the Tampa Bay Lightning and their 2-0 series lead […]
-
5/20 - Tampa Bay Lightning; Celtics Blow Out Heatby Full Press Coverage on May 20, 2022 at 1:41 pm
Ian and John discuss the Tampa Bay Lightning's quest for a third-straight […]
-
5/16 - Celtics Advance; Jayson Tatum; Golden State; NBA Playoffsby Full Press Coverage on May 17, 2022 at 4:35 pm
Ian and John react to the Celtics game seven win over the Bucks and Jayson […]
-
NFL Schedule Release Reaction (5/13)by Full Press Coverage on May 14, 2022 at 10:45 am
Ian and John discuss the release of the NFL schedule.
-
Tom Brady's New Broadcasting Deal (5/13)by Full Press Coverage on May 13, 2022 at 9:45 pm
Ian and John react to Tom Brady's post-retirement contract with Fox to […]
-
Ep 38: Tyreek Hill Traded To The Dolphinsby Full Press Coverage on March 24, 2022 at 12:10 am
Ian and Braden react to the trade of Tyreek Hill from the Chiefs to the […]
-
Ep 37: Matt Ryan Traded To The Colts; Jameis Returns To NOLA; Mariota to ATLby Full Press Coverage on March 23, 2022 at 6:00 pm
Ian and Braden react to the trade of Matt Ryan to the Indianapolis Colts […]
-
Talkamania Episode 226by Talkamania on May 16, 2022 at 11:23 pm
-
Talkamania Episode 225by Talkamania on April 2, 2022 at 3:03 pm
-
Boot 2 The Face Episode 183 "The Streets Been Waiting"by Boot 2 The Face on May 15, 2022 at 4:59 pm
Sponsored by athleticgreens.com/EMERGING
-
Boot 2 The Face Episode 182 "Mr. Toni Storm"by Boot 2 The Face on May 2, 2022 at 12:30 am
Marty and Rucker here again talking baseball, new action figures and the […]
-
Ep.1: NIL And Voidby Full Press Coverage on May 24, 2022 at 8:00 am
-
Episode 49 Criss Partee and Sava from Courtside (YouTube) run down the latest NBA newsby Full Press Coverage on May 24, 2022 at 4:50 am
-
Ep.38: Titles, Tantrums, and Assorted Clowneryby Full Press Coverage on May 23, 2022 at 7:59 pm
-
5/23 - Red Sox; NBA Playoffs; Tom Brady Roastby Full Press Coverage on May 23, 2022 at 3:32 pm
-
Ep 9: Wildly Early Predictions Of The 2022 Patriots Scheduleby Full Press Coverage on May 23, 2022 at 3:24 am
-
Ep 114: Paul Londonby Full Press Coverage on May 21, 2022 at 2:00 pm
-
Ep 131: Packers Fan Series with LosDeeMixby Full Press Coverage on May 20, 2022 at 8:49 pm
-
5/20 - Tampa Bay Lightning; Celtics Blow Out Heatby Full Press Coverage on May 20, 2022 at 1:41 pm
-
Warriors Take Commanding Lead; How Can The Celtics Rebound? (5/23)by Full Press Coverage on May 23, 2022 at 3:37 pm
-
5/23 - Red Sox; NBA Playoffs; Tom Brady Roastby Full Press Coverage on May 23, 2022 at 3:32 pm
-
Celtics Rebound In Game Two; Series Heads To Bostonby Full Press Coverage on May 21, 2022 at 11:00 am
-
Lightning On Way To A Three-Peat? (5/20)by Full Press Coverage on May 20, 2022 at 4:18 pm
-
5/20 - Tampa Bay Lightning; Celtics Blow Out Heatby Full Press Coverage on May 20, 2022 at 1:41 pm
-
5/16 - Celtics Advance; Jayson Tatum; Golden State; NBA Playoffsby Full Press Coverage on May 17, 2022 at 4:35 pm
-
NFL Schedule Release Reaction (5/13)by Full Press Coverage on May 14, 2022 at 10:45 am
-
Tom Brady's New Broadcasting Deal (5/13)by Full Press Coverage on May 13, 2022 at 9:45 pm
-
Celtics, Bucks Game Six, NBA Playoffs, Joel Embiid and James Harden (5/13)by Full Press Coverage on May 13, 2022 at 3:38 pm
-
5/13 - NBA Playoffs, Tom Brady's New Deal, NFL Schedule Releaseby Full Press Coverage on May 13, 2022 at 3:21 pm