Crawford and Pressey...Undefeated. Why?

http://www.celticsblog.com/2013/11/10/5088774/crawford-and-pressey-undefeated-why


Crawford and Pressey ...undefeated. Why?
By tstorey1 on Nov 10 2013, 9:03p 2



The first four games of the season were losses. They featured a hodge podge of point guard play with Bradley handling the lions share. I searched for key stats that would help understand how Jordan Crawford and Phil Pressey have been the "difference" in these last three wins.

Some times you can't see the forest for the trees, so, that's what I'll start with.

The three wins:

Crawford/Pressey - 45 MPG - 36.8 FG% - 4 RPG - 7 AST/gm - 15 PPG

in the last 3 games C's have avg - 12.3 TOPG

The four losses:

Avery Bradley - 33 MPG - 37.8 PPG% - 2.5 RPG - 3 AST/gm - 10.75 PPG

in the four losses C's avg - 19.5 TOPG

The minutes are out of balance and, there are a host of other factors in the first four losses, but, our whining about the point guard situation was justified and Brad Stevens decision to heed our recommendations really shows you we have a keeper.

With this break down complete, I realized I had missed the point, or in this case, the "points." Stat breakdowns often overlook the obvious and that is just scoring more points than the other team:

In the four losses:

Opponents PPG 95.0

Celtics PPG 89.5

In the last three wins:

Opponents PPG 95.3

Celtics PPG 99.6

Crawford and Pressey's playing styles are polar opposites, but, both possess similar effective floor generalship. Bradley, who looks less than stellar in this post, was not responsible for being miscast in the first four games. In the last three his shooting percentage and PPG have improved markedly with him ensconced in his natural position. This fact combined with the above explains a great deal of his team's statistical improvement.

Crawford, regardless of recent boffo performances, is still a shooting guard, but, has adapted well enough while entertaining all of us with his madcap dribbling and no look over the shoulder three point attempts. His idiosyncrasies aside, our man Jordan Crawford is one, if not the Celtics' team leader. Effort, commitment and presence of mind are what men look for in their leaders and Crawford has it in all areas.

Phil Pressey, the son of coach and NBA defensive standout Paul Pressey, is not in any way intimidated by the bright lights in Miami or elsewhere. He has shown Mizou's 23-11 record last year was no fluke. While starting at point guard for the Tigers he had numerous big performances in "big" games and the last three nights have been no exception. The development process is underway with so far, solid results. Unlike his team mate Crawford, Phil Pressey is a "natural" point guard.

The point guard play has improved dramatically and so have the Celtic's fortunes. The margin for error is small, but, this team should continue to be fully engaged in games until the last second, or fraction thereof, for the rest of the season.

On a note separate from this post, I would like to ask the big time media to refrain from labeling the Celtic's a "young team." Three rookies (one of whom has played pro ball for 7 years) are getting minutes in a ten man rotation. We are watching the development of a solid veteran team with a coach who has built a very competitive defense.

Championship contenders already know that a defensive minded, veteran team with nothing to lose, is a dangerous team indeed.




bob
MY NOTE:  Active, pro-active point guard play elevates the offense and results in more victories.  What a shock.  Not a knock on Doc, but it took him a lot longer to figure out that Bradley isn't a point guard, and re-assigning him to do what he does best, than it has taken Stevens.


.

Doc thinks he's the smartest guy in the room.

In a lot of cases, Stevens actually might be.


KJ

Who was the perpetual bench-warmer who said something like , "(the star on the team) and I are averagine 30 PPG. He has 29 and I have 1?"

It's nearly that funny to combing Pressey's and Crawford's stats. Yes, they have averaged 36.8% from the floor, but Crawford's at 50.7% and Pressey's at 28.0%. Yes, they have averaged 7 assists per game, but Crawford has 4.3 and Pressey has 2.0. Yes, they have averaged 15 PPG, but Crawford 11.3 and Pressey has 3.4. To be fair to Pressey, he has played fewer minutes than Crawford. The only stat in which that really matters is assists, where Crawford has 6.3 per 36 minutes while Pressey is not far behind at 5.0.

I submit that the biggest difference between them is that Pressey's more proficient at pushing the pace (although Crawford's no slouch), while Crawford's better as part of a balanced attack and down the stretch.

Sam

sam wrote:Who was the perpetual bench-warmer who said something like , "(the star on the team) and I are averagine 30 PPG.  He has 29 and I have 1?"

Here's the one I know like that:

"My biggest thrill came the night Elgin Baylor and I combined for 73 points in Madison Square Garden. Elgin had 71 of them."

-- Hot Rod Hundley

Hi,
As for Crawford vs Pressey, besides all other things, JC has better feel for a game: when to run, when to slow down, when to go himself, when to involve others. Probably because he has more experience. IMO.

AK

Crawford's experience helps him. Pressey has the better PG instincts as to how to the defense in fast break mode.



KJ

Outside

Thanks. That's the one. I always got a big kick out of that.

Sam