2012 NBA FINALS STATS: 'Ball Don't Lie' (Sheedisms revisited)

FROM 'OKIE' TO SOUTH BEACH

Leave it to 'Balky' Van Gundy to cite a highly recognized “Sheedism” during Game 2, i.e., “Ball Don’t Lie”. 

This timeless Rasheed Wallace quip dovetails quite well into an additional 'truism' about stats & numbers.  

I'd argue, "Numbers don’t lie", either.

Incidentally, of all one-liners Sheed dropped, my personal favorite stands alone as: “C-I-T”

During turbulent stretch of Games in Portland,

w/Wallace's shooting % & scoring down; Wallace was asked if he was bothered by ever-increasing criticism:  

“Not really. As long as they CUT-THE-CHECK on Friday's each week, I’m straight. C  - I -  T.  That’s my motto – always.”

(Wallace' ‘Both Teams Played Hard’, Press Conference was a masterpiece, also)

Honesty; often prefaced in differing ways.

Barkley was/is honest in mostly AMUSING ways.

Wallace - like him or abhor him - 

Was/is honest in mostly coldhearted ways.

Though I did respect Sheed's candid authenticity, &

Wallace illustrious 15-Year Career On-Court numbers Speak volumes about the guys' tireless, consistent & resourceful play.

Yet, Wallace didn’t do HIMSELF any favors w/press; 

Thus, it's truly difficult to feel too sorry for him.

Sheed either didn’t see &/or care how much he hurt himself by such comments.

Rasheed Wallace is clearly one of the most misunderstood people in the sports world.

Wallace did more for disadvantaged families (including his OWN), beyond that of the average person w/such resources - without most folks knowing a thing about it.

Lastly, the testimony about Sheed to throw in: 

A certain former Coach when interviewed by local talking heads the day Rasheed Wallace signed w/The Portland Trailblazers:

‘Rasheed Wallace was THE most Coachable Player I ever had at Carolina - Period" ~ DEAN SMITH

Digress – back to hoops

________

Slicing up numbers from Finals Games 1 & 2 

Many pertinent numbers rising to surface, FYI 

(as always, these may be redundant)

FACTS THAT MATTER

1st Qrtr makes all the Difference?

OKC ‘LOST’ JUST 2 of 8 FINALS QTRS; 
(THE 1ST QTR of EACH GAME)


MIA HAS WON 1ST QTRS BY COMBINED 17 PTS
OKC HAS WON 4TH QTRS BY COMBINED 17 PTS

AS WE MIGHT EXPECT FROM 1-1 SERIES, 

OKC & MIA STATS RAN 'TRUE-TO-FORM' THRU GM 2:

SIMILAR NUMBERS

POINTS-IN-PAINT
OKC: 88
MIA: 84

Paint Points:

Undoubtedly #1 Gm-to-Gm Swivel to Tie Series 
OKC DOMINATED Paint, Gm 1 (OKC 24 | MIA 4)
MIA flipped this, Gm 2 (MIA 44 | OKC 32)

FT RATE - SERIES 
(FT Att per FG Att)
OKC: 29.7% 
MIA: 29.7% 

3-POINT SHOTS MADE 
OKC: 14
MIA: 14

2ND QUARTER SCORES
2Q GAME 1: MIA 25 | OKC 25
2Q GAME 2: MIA 28 | OKC 28

TEMPO | PACE
Game 1: 89 Possessions
Game 2: 90 Possessions 

REBOUNDS
OKC: 79
MIA: 75

O-REBOUNDS
OKC: 20
MIA: 18

PERSONAL FOULS
MIA: 40
OKC: 38

STEALS 
OKC: 14
MIA: 11

ASSISTS 
OKC: 36
MIA: 33

TURNOVERS
OKC: 20
MIA: 23

SURPRISING STATS 


#1: TEAM FT% 
MIA 83.7%
OKC 73.6%

MIA FT: 36-43 
OKC FT: 39-53

MIA entered Finals shooting 72.3% 

(Good deal below MIA Regular Season Avg 77.5%)

OKC came into Finals shooting sparkling 84.4% FT’s

(Even higher than OKC’s #1 NBA Reg Avg 80.3%)

#2: DUNKS 
OKC: 10-11 
MIA: 8-8

MIA encapsulates this unusual category  

(Heat +18 Dunks Last 2 Series)

OKC’s +5 Dunks Game 1 (OKC 8 | MIA 3) 

Set early tone for Series

MIA coming back w/5 Gm 2 Dunks 

Equally noteworthy 

STATS THAT ARE NOT SO EVEN

BENCH PRODUCTION

AVERAGE BENCH MINUTES PLAYED/Gm
OKC: 62.5
MIA: 23.5

(Thunder +39 Minutes Played/Gm)

AVERAGE BENCH POINTS/Gm
OKC: 21 PPG
MIA: 10 PPG 

(Even w/Bosh off Bench in Game 1)

3-POINT ATTEMPTS
OKC: 43
MIA: 33

3-POINT PERCENTAGE
MIA: 42.4%
OKC: 32.6%

FAST-BREAK POINTS
OKC: 35
MIA: 14

POINTS OFF TURNOVERS
OKC: 30
MIA: 23

______

Gathering insight from many of these numbers

Back w/Gm 3 Play this evening on Graveyard Shift

All the best, guys 


W-O-W