Halfway. Centers. Notes from NBA Stat Audit

Each NBA season, after all teams have played their 41st game, I do a statistical audit of the players in the league, looking specifically at efficiency per-minute. I analyze each player that has logged at least 300 minutes (plus a select few players of note). Here are some tidbits I found interesting about the current NBA landscape at the Center position...

Cuz is out for blood

Centers

The most efficient Center per minute played is, by far, DeMarcus Cousins. Following Cousins is Tim Duncan (yes, he is more a Center, than a Power Forward), Al Horford, Brook Lopez, and Al Jefferson completes the top-five. 

Who is in the top 30 in per-minute efficiency at Center, yet is not starting or playing playing heavy minutes? There are five players that fit that description: Timofey Mosgov .603 (14th), Chris Kamen .596 (19th), Chris Andersen .553 (22nd), Kosta Koufos .545 (25th), and Miroslav Raduljica .542 (26th). 

Among those five players, Mosgov, in particular, has shown the most flashes of brilliance. His defensive rating is also good. ...Andersen plays a large role in Miami's winning ways despite logging just 18.5 minutes per game. ...Kamen is seemingly wasting away playing for the Lakers. His EFR suggests he could be helping a team as opposed to receiving DNP-CD's. ...Koufos was given a brief shot while Marc Gasol was injured but the numbers Koufos responded with were nothing to write home about. ...Raduljica is the highest rated rookie Center. At age 26, the Serbian seven footer looks like he has a chance to be heard from in the NBA in the future. 

Which Centers are outside the top 30 in per minute efficiency but are starters or play heavy minutes? There are five here as well: Jonas Valanciunas (31st), Nene (32nd), Channing Frye (37th), Andrea Bargnani (48th), and Kendrick Perkins (54th). 

Bargs is a SF in a C body

Valanciunas is only 21 years old, so I'm not too concerned with his low efficiency relative to his position. ...Nene could be called a Power Forward too. I think he's more of a Center. He would be an ideal first big-man off the bench for a good team. As it stands, Nene gets 30 minutes a game on a decent team. 

Frye and Bargnani just don't rebound the ball well enough to be efficient Centers. Basically these two deep shooting tall guys are Small Forwards in their skill set but they are too slow and big to chase the quicker wing players so they are resigned to playing the position their physical size dictates. 

And Perkins... Perkins can still defend and bang but I'm certain OKC would be better off with the NBA's Kendrick playing less. 

LINKS to analysis of other positions: 
Read Point Guards
Read Shooting Guards
Read Small Forwards
Read Power Forwards

Day Seven - NBA Las Vegas Summer League. Markieff Morris shines

Markieff is chief

Markieff Morris was the most efficient player on a winning team during play Thursday (July 18, 2013) at the Las Vegas NBA Summer League. Morris went crazy with 15 points, ten rebounds, three assists, two steals, and a blocked shot in just 23 minutes of play. His Phoenix Suns summer squad beat Portland 92-84. Morris played center, and did his damage against legitimate NBA size in the form of Meyers Leonard. 

Jerome Dyson was excellent in the Charlotte Bobcats 92-84 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies. Dyson scored 21 points (7-7 FG), with nine assists. ...Jonas Valanciunas continued his run of outstanding performances with 15 points, 12 rebounds, and two blocked shots in Toronto's 95-78 win over Denver. ...Robert Sacre posted 16 points and eight boards in the Lakers 72-68 triumph over Milwaukee. ...Brian Butch starred for the D League Select team, keeping them undefeated at 4-0 with an 18 point, eleven rebound effort. The DLS beat Minnesota 83-75. ...Golden State beat Dallas 79-76. The Warriors are also a perfect 4-0 in summer league action. ...Miami handled Chicago 68-62. ...Cleveland beat San Antonio 72-66. 

The BasslineSpin All NBA Las Vegas Summer League Team for day seven: Point guards: Dyson, Justin Dentmon. Shooting guards: Vander Blue, Ron Howard. Small forwards: P.J. Tucker, Patrick Ewing Jr. Power forwards: Mk. Morris, John Henson. Centers: Valanciunas, Meyers Leonard, Sacre, Butch. 

Las Vegas NBA Summer League Day Three

Jennings is an active BIG

The third day of the NBA Las Vegas Summer League saw Terrence Jennings (Louisville) emerge as the most efficient player on a winning team. Jennings had 16 points, eight rebounds, three steals, and two blocked shots in the summer Knicks 82-69 win over the Wizards. Jennings, a 24 year-old power forward from Sacramento, CA, played previously in Belgium and in the D-League. 

Cody Zeller rebounded from a pedestrian game one to score 21 points and grab 13 rebounds in his second Las Vegas outing. His Charlotte summer team beat Dallas 86-80. ...The Lakers summer team is much better than last year's win-less presentation. Lester Hudson led the Lakers to a decisive 81-63 triumph over Portland. Hudson had 15 points (5-8 FG), and five rebounds in 23 minutes of play. ...The NBA D League Select Team improved to 2-0 in summer action with a 83-77 win over the Clippers. Elijah Millsap was the star with 21 points, seven rebounds, and three assists. Millsap went to the free throw line 20 times, and made 15. ...Jonas Valanciunas continued his good play in the Raptors 82-76 victory over the Spurs. Valanciunas scored 19 points and snared 13 rebounds. ...Atlanta beat Miami 75-71, moving both teams to 1-1 through two games. ...Milwaukee improved to 2-0 with a 69-61 victory over New Orleans. ...Cleveland remained perfect at 2-0 by beating Memphis 69-58. 

Our day three (Sunday, July 14, 2103) All Las Vegas NBA Summer League Team: Point guards: Hudson, Brian Roberts. Shooting guards: Justin Dentmon, Millsap, Stefhon Hannah. Small forwards: DeShaun Thomas, Terrence Ross. Power forwards: Jennings, C Zeller, Darnell Jackson. Centers: Jack Cooley, Valanciunas.