2014 NBA PLAYOFFS: MOST IMPRESSIVE STATISTICS IN THE CONFERENCE FINALS.

Most impressive "ATTACK / EFFICIENCY / DEFENSE" players’ statistics in the 2014 NBA PLAYOFFS: Conference Finals.

A. ATTACK/EFFICIENCY.

The most exciting part of the year in “planet basket” has begun with the playoffs in NBA. Over the last month, we looked at the most impressive statistics in the first round (link to the article) and the second round (link to the article). Today, we screened data for the conference finals.

As usual, I began with my benchmark of "all around/versatile player" (a similar benchmark to the one used to determine my G.O.A.T/per decade, while less focused on defense and efficiency; see my article: What do the statistics say about who should be the Greatest Of All Time(G.O.A.T)? PART 1.).

A special mention must be made to 3 players in these conference finals.

Firstly, Russell Westbrook became only the second player in history of NBA playoffs (since 1985) to play a game (a) with at least 40  Pts, 10 Ast, 5 Rbs and 5 steals.

a. From 1985 to 2014, in the playoffs, requiring Points >= 40 and Assists >= 10 and Total Rebounds >= 5 and Steals >= 5, sorted by most games matching criteria.

Rk	Player	From	To	Count
1	Michael Jordan	1989	1989	1
2	Russell Westbrook	2014	2014	1

Secondly, Tim Duncan, as usual, continued to amass records while going older. Thus, he is now the only player in history of playoffs (since 1985) to play a game with at least 19 Pts, 15 Rbs, 2 Ast, 2 steals and 1 Block (age above 38).

Furthermore, he is one of the only 3 players to reach (b) 22 Pts, 12 Rbs, 2 Ast and 1 Block during a game in playoffs (age above 38). He also consolidated his first place (all age) as the leader of this statistic in the history of NBA playoffs (link to the full data).

b. In multiple seasons, from 1985 to 2014, age 38 or older, in the playoffs, requiring Points >= 22 and Total Rebounds >= 12 and Assists >= 2 and Blocks >= 1, sorted by most games matching criteria.

Rk	Player	From	To	Count
1	Kareem Abdul-Jabbar	1985	1986	5
2	Tim Duncan	2014	2014	1
3	Robert Parish	1992	1992	1

 

Finally, Lebron James was the only player to reach the following statistics: (c) at least 30 Pts, 10 Rbs, 5 Ast and a field goal % above 50%. While doing it for the second time in the 2014 playoffs, he is now third in the list of players reaching this statistic in the history of NBA playoffs (link to the full data).

c. From 1985 to 2014, in the playoffs, requiring Points >= 30 and Total Rebounds >= 10 and Assists >= 5 and Field Goal Pct >= 0.5, sorted by most games matching criteria.

Rk	Player	From	To	Count
1	Charles Barkley	1986	1999	10
2	Shaquille O'Neal	1995	2006	10
3	LeBron James	2009	2014	9
4	Larry Bird	1985	1987	8
5	Tim Duncan	2002	2008	8
6	Michael Jordan	1989	1997	8
7	Hakeem Olajuwon	1987	1997	7
8	Karl Malone	1994	1998	6
9	Kevin Durant	2012	2014	4
10	Patrick Ewing	1990	1993	4

I then screened (d) the most efficient shooters in the conference finals (see my article on the best efficient shooters ever in NBA history in the regular season). 

d. In 2014, in the playoffs, round is Conference Finals, requiring 2-PT Field Goal Pct >= 0.5 and 3-Pt Field Goal Pct >= 0.4 and Free Throw Pct >= 0.9 and Minutes Played >= 24, sorted by most games matching criteria.

Rk	Player	Count
1	Manu Ginobili	2
2	Mario Chalmers	1
3	Norris Cole	1
4	Kevin Durant	1
5	Reggie Jackson	1
6	LeBron James	1
7	Kawhi Leonard	1
8	Russell Westbrook	1

B. DEFENSE.

On defense, I focused on 2 different sets of data. The first one (a) looks at player impact on opponents points (a global view of the impact of the defense), defensive player impact on opponents’ offensive rebounds (the fewer offensive rebounds, the less second chance points by opponents) and opponents' field goal % (a good defense imply a lower field goal %). Finally, I screened (b) individual statistics specific to defense (defensive rebounds, steals and blocks).

In the conference finals, I found players only in my second screening with mainly the usual players recognized for the value of their defense.

a. Per 48 minutes, in 2013-14, in the playoffs, round is Conference Finals, requiring Opponent Offensive Rebounds <= 10 and Opponent Field Goal Pct <= 0.35 and Opponent Points <= 80 and Minutes Played >= 30, sorted by most games in season matching criteria.

No players.

b. In 2014, in the playoffs, round is Conference Finals, requiring Defensive Rebounds >= 6 and Blocks >= 1 and Steals >= 1, sorted by most games matching criteria.

Rk	Player	Count
1	Chris Bosh	2
2	Kevin Durant	2
3	Tim Duncan	1
4	Paul George	1
5	Serge Ibaka	1
6	LeBron James	1
7	Kawhi Leonard	1
8	David West	1

 

Source: www.basketball-reference.com. 

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