Post by springs on Jun 14, 2014 20:51:56 GMT
Alright here's a look at some of the players who have taken the biggest jump since last season. Not in any order, just a list. This is based on stats alone, not TC or ratings or anything like that. It's still pretty early in the season so some of these players might be over-performing but the numbers usually don't lie, these guys have improved one way or another. Or their minutes went up. Or they're on a better team. I'm sure I missed a few.
Damian Lillard – Lakers
Last Year: 15.1 ppg / 3.1 rpg / 5.0 apg / .430 fg% / .350 3p%
This Year: 22.1 ppg / 3.9 rpg / 6.6 apg / .474 fg% / .443 3p%
Lillard's minutes have gone up by 5 per game but his production has gone up massively. From an average 3 point shooter last year to one of the best in the L this year. He's shooting 85%+ from the stripe after only 73% last year too so his stroke is looking much improved and the future looks bright for Dame.
John Wall – Rockets
Last Year: 16.8 ppg / 4.9 rpg / 3.8 apg / .473 fg%
This Year: 20.5 ppg / 5.9 rpg / 9.6 apg / .500 fg%
Wall's minutes did go up from 33 to about 40 per game so that accounts for his scoring increase. His assists have gone through the roof though. Looks like he was getting burn at SG last year and seems to be producing at a much better clip so far this season. He's led Houston to a top 4 record in the West up to this point.
Andre Iguodala - Bucks
Last Year: 13.5 ppg / 6.8 rpg / 2.6 apg / .447 fg%
This Year: 20.6 ppg / 5.8 rpg / 4.2 apg / .485 fg%
Iggy is enjoying his best year as a pro so far. It looks like taking on more of a distributor roll has helped his overall numbers. He's seeing the court for a career high 36.7 mpg. Rumors are starting to circulate that Iggy took steroids in the offseason and his play would certainly back up that claim. Milwaukee's 3rd in the East with Iggy being a major contributor so far.
Spencer Hawes – Cavaliers
Last Year: 6.2 ppg / 8.5 rpg / 1.0 spg / .405 fg% / .698 ft%
This Year: 7.6 ppg / 10.4 rpg / 1.6 spg / .485 fg% / .871 ft%
Minutes are about the same but he's gone from an inefficient low scorer to a low scorer on good efficiency. 49/57 from the stripe so far this year. He's been dominant on the glass this year, pulling down almost 14 boards per 36. Cleveland is 4th in the East so far with Hawes roaming the paint.
Jeff Teague – Warriors
Last Year: 8.1 ppg / 4.0 apg / 3.0 rpg / .407 fg% / .277 3p%
This Year: 13.9 ppg / 4.3 apg / 3.4 rpg / .485 fg% / .354 3p%
Jeff was on a tanking Pacers team last year so having some better teammates has probably helped boost his stats. Last year was an incredibly inefficient year so basically any decent numbers would have gotten him on the list.
The Warriors are in trouble at only 11-17 right now but it ain't Jeff's fault.
Rajon Rondo – Clippers
Last Year: 10.3 ppg / 7.3 apg / 4.6 rpg
This Year: 15.3 ppg / 8.4 apg / 5.5 rpg
A change of scenery did Rondo some good and his numbers are much better this year in only 2 more minutes per game. The Clippers are 4th worst in the league however. His percentages are similar except free throw is much higher, but that should drop back down.
Anthony Davis – Heat
Last Year: 11.8 ppg / 7.6 rpg / 2.6 bpg / .746 ft%
This Year: 12.7 ppg / 11.0 rpg / 3.3 bpg / .784 ft%
Davis' playing time has only increased by 3 mpg. He's shooting about the same percentage from the floor which is kind of concerning. Still though, a decent improvement as an all around player but of course the Heat were probably expecting more than 12-13 ppg this year.
They're stuck right around .500 right now so some increased production definitely wouldn't hurt.
DeMarcus Cousins – Timberwolves
Last Year: 10.9 ppg / 7.0 rpg / 0.8 bpg
This Year: 15.7 ppg / 9.2 rpg / 1.4 bpg
His percentages are about the same except free throws where he's been much worse this year. His minutes have gone up by 11 per game since last year which accounts for the increase in production.
Enes Kanter – Pacers
Last Year: 11.3 ppg / 9.1 rpg / .412 fg%
This Year: 14.4 ppg / 10.2 rpg / .439 fg%
Nothing crazy from Kanter but a decent increase in production and he's become a solid double double big man Playing about the same minutes as last year. His fg% is still low for a big but atleast it's slightly improved so far. All his other numbers are about the same.
Patrick Beverley – Bulls
Last Year: 5.1 ppg / 3.4 apg / 2.0 rpg / 0.7 spg
This Year: 13.8 ppg / 7.4 apg / 3.6 rpg / 1.8 spg
Beverly's minutes have doubled and most of his stats have at least doubled. He's shooting right around the same percentages.
Bulls are 18-11 so having Beverly running the show has been a nice success so far. His B+ defense should only increase as he gets older. Still only 24 years old.
Eric Bledsoe – Pistons
Last Year: 9.5 ppg / 6.5 apg / 2.9 rpg / .444 fg% / .333 3p%
This Year: 12.4 ppg / 7.7 apg / 2.9 rpg / .500 fg% / .412 3p%
Bled's been injured and only played 15 games so far but it looks like he's made a solid improvement. Unless his percentages drop right back down to where they were. He's put up 34 mpg so far after putting up 30 last season.
Michael Redd – Magic
Last Year: 18.5 ppg / 5.3 rpg / 3.3 apg
This Year: 22.9 ppg / 6.4 rpg / 2.7 apg
He's playing the same minutes but scoring at a better clip while distributing the ball a bit less. .498 from the field so far this year is about as good as it gets from the SG position with .453 from deep. Orlando's leading their division again and pretty much a lock to finish that way if Redd keeps bombing like this.
Damian Lillard – Lakers
Last Year: 15.1 ppg / 3.1 rpg / 5.0 apg / .430 fg% / .350 3p%
This Year: 22.1 ppg / 3.9 rpg / 6.6 apg / .474 fg% / .443 3p%
Lillard's minutes have gone up by 5 per game but his production has gone up massively. From an average 3 point shooter last year to one of the best in the L this year. He's shooting 85%+ from the stripe after only 73% last year too so his stroke is looking much improved and the future looks bright for Dame.
John Wall – Rockets
Last Year: 16.8 ppg / 4.9 rpg / 3.8 apg / .473 fg%
This Year: 20.5 ppg / 5.9 rpg / 9.6 apg / .500 fg%
Wall's minutes did go up from 33 to about 40 per game so that accounts for his scoring increase. His assists have gone through the roof though. Looks like he was getting burn at SG last year and seems to be producing at a much better clip so far this season. He's led Houston to a top 4 record in the West up to this point.
Andre Iguodala - Bucks
Last Year: 13.5 ppg / 6.8 rpg / 2.6 apg / .447 fg%
This Year: 20.6 ppg / 5.8 rpg / 4.2 apg / .485 fg%
Iggy is enjoying his best year as a pro so far. It looks like taking on more of a distributor roll has helped his overall numbers. He's seeing the court for a career high 36.7 mpg. Rumors are starting to circulate that Iggy took steroids in the offseason and his play would certainly back up that claim. Milwaukee's 3rd in the East with Iggy being a major contributor so far.
Spencer Hawes – Cavaliers
Last Year: 6.2 ppg / 8.5 rpg / 1.0 spg / .405 fg% / .698 ft%
This Year: 7.6 ppg / 10.4 rpg / 1.6 spg / .485 fg% / .871 ft%
Minutes are about the same but he's gone from an inefficient low scorer to a low scorer on good efficiency. 49/57 from the stripe so far this year. He's been dominant on the glass this year, pulling down almost 14 boards per 36. Cleveland is 4th in the East so far with Hawes roaming the paint.
Jeff Teague – Warriors
Last Year: 8.1 ppg / 4.0 apg / 3.0 rpg / .407 fg% / .277 3p%
This Year: 13.9 ppg / 4.3 apg / 3.4 rpg / .485 fg% / .354 3p%
Jeff was on a tanking Pacers team last year so having some better teammates has probably helped boost his stats. Last year was an incredibly inefficient year so basically any decent numbers would have gotten him on the list.
The Warriors are in trouble at only 11-17 right now but it ain't Jeff's fault.
Rajon Rondo – Clippers
Last Year: 10.3 ppg / 7.3 apg / 4.6 rpg
This Year: 15.3 ppg / 8.4 apg / 5.5 rpg
A change of scenery did Rondo some good and his numbers are much better this year in only 2 more minutes per game. The Clippers are 4th worst in the league however. His percentages are similar except free throw is much higher, but that should drop back down.
Anthony Davis – Heat
Last Year: 11.8 ppg / 7.6 rpg / 2.6 bpg / .746 ft%
This Year: 12.7 ppg / 11.0 rpg / 3.3 bpg / .784 ft%
Davis' playing time has only increased by 3 mpg. He's shooting about the same percentage from the floor which is kind of concerning. Still though, a decent improvement as an all around player but of course the Heat were probably expecting more than 12-13 ppg this year.
They're stuck right around .500 right now so some increased production definitely wouldn't hurt.
DeMarcus Cousins – Timberwolves
Last Year: 10.9 ppg / 7.0 rpg / 0.8 bpg
This Year: 15.7 ppg / 9.2 rpg / 1.4 bpg
His percentages are about the same except free throws where he's been much worse this year. His minutes have gone up by 11 per game since last year which accounts for the increase in production.
Enes Kanter – Pacers
Last Year: 11.3 ppg / 9.1 rpg / .412 fg%
This Year: 14.4 ppg / 10.2 rpg / .439 fg%
Nothing crazy from Kanter but a decent increase in production and he's become a solid double double big man Playing about the same minutes as last year. His fg% is still low for a big but atleast it's slightly improved so far. All his other numbers are about the same.
Patrick Beverley – Bulls
Last Year: 5.1 ppg / 3.4 apg / 2.0 rpg / 0.7 spg
This Year: 13.8 ppg / 7.4 apg / 3.6 rpg / 1.8 spg
Beverly's minutes have doubled and most of his stats have at least doubled. He's shooting right around the same percentages.
Bulls are 18-11 so having Beverly running the show has been a nice success so far. His B+ defense should only increase as he gets older. Still only 24 years old.
Eric Bledsoe – Pistons
Last Year: 9.5 ppg / 6.5 apg / 2.9 rpg / .444 fg% / .333 3p%
This Year: 12.4 ppg / 7.7 apg / 2.9 rpg / .500 fg% / .412 3p%
Bled's been injured and only played 15 games so far but it looks like he's made a solid improvement. Unless his percentages drop right back down to where they were. He's put up 34 mpg so far after putting up 30 last season.
Michael Redd – Magic
Last Year: 18.5 ppg / 5.3 rpg / 3.3 apg
This Year: 22.9 ppg / 6.4 rpg / 2.7 apg
He's playing the same minutes but scoring at a better clip while distributing the ball a bit less. .498 from the field so far this year is about as good as it gets from the SG position with .453 from deep. Orlando's leading their division again and pretty much a lock to finish that way if Redd keeps bombing like this.
