Allen Iverson - Potential Bobcat
07/08/2009Allen Iverson averaged 19.0 points per 40 minutes last season - something only 21 other players 6'-5" and under managed. However, only 3 of those players accomplished the feat while managing a lower points per shot than Inverson's 1.193 (and one of them was Rashad McCants). As he has been known to be throughout his career, Iverson continues to be a volume scorer/shooter. One thing to note: That number was quite a drop from his previous 2 season's of work, when he nearly set a career high in 06-07 (1.302) and then did set the mark in 07-08 (1.391). The point being - maybe his situation in Detroit contributed to his declining numbers a bit and it was not entirely an erosion of ability due to advancing age. For a team in need of scoring, The Answer might still be a possible (short-term) solution.
Which brings us to the Bobcats. When it comes to shooting guards (or overall team offense - CLT was 27th in offensive efficiency last season), few teams match the Bobcats' lack of scoring punch. Of the guards who played at least some SG for the Cats last year, only D.J. Augustin surpassed A.I.'s number (D.J. at 1.369). Raja Bell managed a 1.158, Cartier Martin a 1.117, Raymond at 1.073, and the rest are no longer Bobcats (technically Raymond is not confirmed for next season, but the expectation remains the Cats resign him). So, despite an only so-so season for Iverson, he still managed to out-perform all but one of the current Bobcats in both volume and efficiency.
Though Larry Brown has said previously that he believes Iverson would be better served by joining a team that can contend for a title, the names of interested suitors that I am aware of remains Memphis, Miami, and Charlotte. With a young shooting guard on the rise in O.J. Mayo (and nearly no shot at the playoffs), I wonder what the Grizzlies' thinking is: Ticket sales? Likewise in Miami, Iverson's position is taken - Dwyane Wade can handle the role of scorer/distributor more than competently. Charlotte is the one who lacks a volume scorer (or at least is perceived to be lacking someone for that role).
The Bobcats best points per shot mark (of anyone playing more than 200 minutes) belonged to Gerald Wallace at 1.457 (15th best in the league for players above 16 points per 40 minutes), then Emeka at 1.405 (22nd), D.J. 1.369 (33rd) and Boris at 1.197. That is it - Iverson would be the fifth most efficient scorer for the Bobcats. The difference being that Iverson was scoring more frequently - for the season, he scored 24.9 points per 100 team possessions, Gerald and D.J. were both about 2 points per less, 22.7 and 22.9 respectively. Important note: Those are pace independent stats, as we are looking at points per 100 possessions - I just want to make sure no one assumes the discrepancy comes from the Bobcats slow pace.
Are those 2 points per 100 possessions worth the financial and chemistry risks the Bobcats would be taking? Tough to answer - but Iverson does represent an interesting option for the Bobcats to consider. Another consideration: Defense. Known as a gambler (for steals - not the poker kind like MJ), would AI be a detriment to the Bobcats' significantly improved defense from this past season? I have got Iverson's numbers for your consideration.
Click to enlarge:
Iverson has some interesting numbers - his opponents' per minutes stats are all down, but their PER against him was significantly better than (over 1 point difference) expected. That improvement was due almost entirely to their improved shooting percentages when facing The Answer. 4.2% better from the field with a 2.8% increase in true shooting percentage. On top of that, it seemed teams were going after Iverson, as opponents averaged a half point more per 100 team possessions than expected, with most of that increase coming in his brief time at SG. Does Iverson need to have a bigger guard on the court beside him, to handle some of the defensive burden? Maybe, but considering the job Raymond did at the 2 this year, that may be possible for the Bobcats to handle (see Ray's Season Review for a refresher).
With all that said, I still do not have a firm answer to the question, "Do you want the Answer on the Bobcats?" At the very least, I am intrigued. With that I will close, and below are the rest of the standard numbers I provide when looking at a player's performance. Look them over and then let me know if you want to see Iverson in Bobcats blue and orange next season.
Click to enlarge:
Click here to comment/view comments for this post.
| Biggame James Says: | Great job. I love how you allow data to drive your arguments for and against but not to completely determine the overall decision making process when reaching your conclusion. One question? Are you concerned about the impact on DJ development given Brown's obvious trust of AI? | ||
| Thu Jul 09, 2009 12:09 pm |
| Brian Says: | Is the Answer the answer? YES!!! He is EXACTLY, what Charlotte has lacked in their 5 yrs of existence. A guy you can give the ball and say, "Score", and please don't give me any Jason Richardson non-sense. Due to his limited handle, he was the wrong guy to give the ball to with the shot clock running down. PLEASE MJ, make it happen! | ||
| Thu Jul 09, 2009 1:13 pm |
| rick Says: | numbers don't add up to a player that doesn't care sbout winning. how could any team want him after last year. he would be an awful player to put around a yong team. his skills are eroding but he still thinks he's the man.there's a reason no team making a run for the ring isn't calling ai. he's all about himself. the only teams that are interested are teams looking to put fans in the seats not w's in the win column | ||
| Thu Jul 09, 2009 3:02 pm |
| J Says: | Who says he doesn't care about winning? I don't think any judgments can be made about his skills or motivation based on his time with Detroit, which was just a mess overall last season. And yes, "there's a reason no team making a run for the ring isn't calling ai"--they already have their guard positions filled and/or they can't afford him. |
||
| Thu Jul 09, 2009 3:58 pm |
| ross Says: | while all i can say is they need someone that can handle and score in my opinion just look at raymond felton shooting percentage iclove my tarheels but in then nba ur point guard cant shoot below 40percent you be lucky to win37 games really know gaurd should ur not helping the team that way espeailly when you shoot more than ten times a game missing lay ups i like dj think he will be solid | ||
| Thu Jul 09, 2009 6:17 pm |
| Lance Osborn (Guam) Says: | The Bobcats lacked a closer and a player with a killer instinct. They lacked a leader, I'm not saying AI is the best leader, but you know what you get from a player like him. You get a player who leads by example showing that never say die attitude, emotional leader, and physical example of laying it all on the line regardless of injury or circumstance. The stat/grid is a measurement of AI's past season which happened to be his worst season of his career. The system didn't fit a player with his abilities and the coach was inexperienced not knowing how to use one of the most dynamic scorers of all time. Going back to the chart does that chart grade or measure HEART AND DETERMINATION? or when a player can ring up 40-50 points at any given time? or when times get rough and needing a basket to tie or win the ball game? That's one reason why I don't fully believe in stat charts that much. Iverson is the answer for an offensively stagnant team. Gerald Wallace is a great player but would a better second fiddle than |
||
| Thu Jul 09, 2009 7:05 pm |
| Lance Osborn(Guam) Says: | Does this grid/chart measure HEART AND DETERMINATION? or Drive? or any given time a player of Allen Iverson's abilities can erupt for 40-50 points at any given time? As for his passing and being labeled as a ball pounder, his ability to get into the paint collapse the D and create for his team mates is under appreciated and under rated. Larry Brown and Michael Jordan knows exactly what they will or are getting in Iverson. A player with a never say die attitude, a player to go to win the ball game, and a player who lead by example, hardwork, determination, and emotions. pull the trigger on this deal and you won't regret it. Iverson will make this team a playoff bound team and will make Emaka Oakafor more of a scoring threat when he gets into the lanes. |
||
| Thu Jul 09, 2009 7:19 pm |
| USC88 Says: | If he can be gotten for the right price, I think it would be a great PR move for the Bobcats. In reality what we need is a guy like Leon Powe to help the front court off the bench. |
||
| Fri Jul 10, 2009 2:04 pm |
| Lance Osborn (Guam) Says: | Mark my words in the column "Allen Iverson if signed will make this team a playoff bound team" They will make the playoffs... |
||
| Sat Jul 11, 2009 7:17 am |
| Russ Says: | I think many of you are getting ahead of yourselves with much of the allen iverson talk. the first thing you need to remember is that charlotte is still building an organization. signing iverson would do nothing but set us back for the future. he is entering is 14th year, and for a man that has had is fair share of injuries over the years, you can't help but have him for maybe a year or 2. why would you want to throw a selfish player into the mix of a young organization for an added 8 wins at most. we are already a drastically different team now than the start of last season by acquiring raja bell and boris diow. i think we need to continue what we are doing by building a defensive first team, and plan for a championship down the road rather than the hope of a playoff birth that could still happen without poisoning the locker room by bringing in a player like iverson. | ||
| Sat Jul 11, 2009 2:31 pm |
| K Sizzle Says: | I would love for this to happen. The fact of the matter is that Toronto and Washington got better and will likely leapfrog the Bobcats. No one else really got worse, with the possible exception of Philly, who could also improve if Brand is healthy. As of right now, it looks like the 'Cats are in line to finish 11th in the conference. They MUST make a move. If this doesn't pan out, they are no worse off... | ||
| Sat Jul 11, 2009 3:16 pm |
| drell Says: | dont become the nfl panthers and pass on randy moss for a second round pick, you have a chance to bring in a vetran that is still better than most of the gaurds in the league, larry and a.i can gell and this team would look similar to the philly team that made it to the finals and we have more talent here. pull the trigger bobcats | ||
| Sun Jul 12, 2009 6:45 pm |
| Tee Says: | This was my first time reading your work and it really impressed me. You did your work. Being from Hampton, VA, AI has been my favorite player since Geaorgetown (only because I came up on the Phoebus HS side of town). But I have been living in NC for the past 17yrs so I'm running with the Bobcats. I honestly think AI would be a perfect fit for the Bobcats but, we're not the perfect fit for him. All we need is scoring and he can do that but, he's getting older and he needs to try to get that championship before it's to late. The Grizz and the Heat would not be a good fit and he will not win a championship with them so, if he's just doing a one and done so he can get the leagues attention I welcome him to Charlotte. | ||
| Mon Jul 13, 2009 10:17 am |
| robbie Says: | i would love to see iverson in a bobcat uni and then a possible trade with phenoix felton and emeka for amare which would give us DJ AI G Force Diaw Amare that would be a DEF playoff team and it is def possible... even if it meant throwing in a draft pick next year i would run with it and try gettin it done |
||
| Mon Jul 13, 2009 10:49 pm |
