Tyreke Needs Shooters

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Combining these two data sets (Tyreke with Anderson or Babbitt) creates a sample size of 478 minutes. During this time, Evans has shot 93/219 (42.4%). Without either of those shooters Tyreke's FG% plunges to 119/309 (38.5%). Specifically, Evans goes from shooting 52.2% (80/153) within three feet of the basket to 47% (80/170). In addition, Tyreke gets to the basket more frequently with shooters where 153/219 or 69.8% of his shot attempts are within three feet. Without Babbitt or Anderson on the floor, that percentage of attempts within three feet drops to 170/309 - 55%.

This gets worse for the team, as seen here. Lacking the spacing required for him to operate the offense stagnates to a pathetic .995 PPP, while giving up 1.133; that's an average of being outscored 13.8 points per 100 possessions. Even Philadelphia's league worst negative 10.4 net rating is hopeless to compete with such ineptitude. With shooters, the defense is more or less unchanged, allowing 1.132 PPP. However, the offense explodes to 1.199 PPP. A positive 6.7 points per 100 possessions sits smack dab in between Oklahoma City's ridiculous +7.2 and San Antonio's +6.1.

The key ingredient to allowing Tyreke Evans to maximize his strengths is clear. He needs to be on the floor with a stretch four who opens the lane for his various forays into the paint. Unfortunately that was the plan all along but a series of injuries to Ryan Anderson temporarily derailed that concept. With the late season (and nearly free) acquisition of Luke Babbitt, the Pelicans seem to have a "poor-man's Ryan Anderson" available to pair with Tyreke. Sadly, Monty Williams felt the best plan of attack last night was to glue Mr. Babbitt to the bench, playing him only seven minutes and twenty-one seconds.

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