Sunday Beat is a weekly post featuring the most remarkable performances of the week, z-points-wise.
NEW ORLEANS @ PHILADELPHIA 92-96
Samuel Dalembert (PHI)
6 pts, 0.60 2PT%
14 z-pts (0.41), 0.86 z2PT%
With 25 seconds remaining Andre Iguodala assisted Dalembert, who scored the go-ahead basket for the Sixers. Iguodala gets credit for the clutch assist (8 assists vs. 13.83 z-assists).
Chris Paul (NOR)
13 pts, 0.30 2PT%, 0.67 3PT%, 100% FT%
21 z-pts (0.61), 0.46 z2PT%, 0.87 z3PT%, 100% zFT%
Paul scored 5 of the last 7 points of his team in the last 3:14, but that wasn’t enough to keep up with Philly at the end of the game.
Peja Stojakovic (NOR)
9 pts, 0.50 2PT%, 0.14 3PT%, 100% FT%
6 z-pts (0.18), 0.52 z2PT%, 0.05 z3PT%, 100% zFT%
Stojakovic missed a go-ahead 3 with 17 seconds to go (see how his already awful 3PT% -1 of 7- gets even more awful in terms of z3PT%, clearly showing that he missed from beyond the arc down the stretch). “It’s my shot,” Stojakovic said. “I thought I had a good look, but Iguodala came flying at me.”
Jamal Crawford (ATL)
8 pts, 0.50 2PT%, 0.00 3PT%, 100% FT%
19 z-pts (0.50), 0.52 z2PT%, 0.00 z3PT%, 100% zFT%
Crawford was on fire late in the 4th, scoring the last 6 points of his team to lead Atlanta to another victory over the Celtics.
Glen Davis (BOS)
13 pts, 0.67 2PT%, 0.83 FT%
19 z-pts (0.51), 0.65 z2PT%, 0.93 zFT%
Big Baby scored 9 of his 13 points in the 4th, including Boston’s last three points of the game. But the Celtics didn’t score in the last 2:33.
Steve Nash (PHO)
30 pts, 0.71 2PT%, 0.50 3PT%, 100% FT%
40 z-pts (0.94), 0.84 z2PT%, 0.45 z3PT%, 100% zFT%
Steve Nash was perfect in the 4th, making his four shots (all of them from 2-point range) and hitting the two free throws that he attempted. See how his z2PT% shows his clutchness.
Stephen Jackson (CHA)
43 pts, 0.71 2PT%, 0.60 3PT%, 0.91 FT%
53 z-pts (1.27), 0.61 z2PT%, 0.69 z3PT%, 0.92 zFT%
S-Jax was all over the place in this game, including crunch time. He scored 16 of his 43 points in the 4th quarter on 6-of-8 shooting. As Bobcats coach Larry Brown said, “He’s about as bright as anybody I’ve ever coached. He’s in that difficult category, but he loves his teammates and he loves to play. And he’s made everybody better.” Sounds pretty good.
Danny Granger (IND)
33 pts, 0.46 2PT%, 0.56 3PT%, 0.75 FT%
44 z-pts (1.03), 0.60 z2PT%, 0.63 z3PT%, 0.81 zFT%
Granger was key for the Pacers, hitting 4-of-5 for 11 points out of his 33 points in the 4th quarter.
Steve Nash (PHO)
20 pts, 0.70 2PT%, 0.25 3PT%, 100% FT%
30 z-pts (0.70), 0.71 z2PT%, 0.34 z3PT%, 100% zFT%
Great 4th quarter by Nash, who scored 14 of his 20 points in the 4th quarter alone on an astounding 6-of-7 shooting.
David Lee (NYK)
24 pts, 0.50 2PT%, 0.67 FT%
38 z-pts (1.27), 0.71 z2PT%, 0.66 zFT%
Lee was clutch against the Sixers as he made the go-ahead basket twice in the last minute. The last one won the game for the Knicks with 14 seconds remaining.
Marreese Speights (PHI)
10 pts, 100% 2PT%, 0.50 FT%
24 z-pts (0.80), 100% z2PT%, 0.50 zFT%
Speights scored all of his 10 points in the last 8:40 (his only playing time in the game).
Devin Harris (NJN)
15 pts, 0.42 2PT%, 0.00 3PT%, 0.83 FT%
6 z-pts (0.04), 0.16 z2PT%, 0.00 z3PT%, 0.63 zFT%
The Celtics crushed the Nets, as we can see for the low z-points scored (Pierce, who was Boston’s leading scorer, only had 0.23 z-points). Harris scored 15 points but they are good for only 6 adjusted z-points (0.04 z-points), as he got most of them in garbage time.
SAN ANTONIO @ OKLAHOMA CITY 109-108
Richard Jefferson (SAS)
13 pts, 0.40 2PT%, 0.33 3PT%, 0.50 FT%
24 z-pts (0.81), 0.69 z2PT%, 0.49 z3PT%, 0.50 zFT%
With 9 seconds left in overtime, Jefferson scored the winning basket for the Spurs. The merit of the play goes -in no small part- to Ginobili, who dived for a loose ball in the last possession, making possible Jefferson’s last shot.
Kobe Bryant (LAL)
10 pts, 0.56 2PT%, 0.00 3PT%
20 z-pts (0.55), 0.60 z2PT%, 0.00 z3PT%
Playing through injuries, Kobe somehow found his groove to deliver in crunch time- as usual. Bryant made the go-ahead jumper with 28 seconds left to give the Lakers a hard-fought win. “In the second half I said, ‘Are you OK?’ and he said, ‘Yeah, I’m good now,’” teammate Ron Artest said. “But Dallas didn’t know that, so they played him one-on-one and he hit that big shot.” Watch it here.
Dirk Nowitzki (DAL)
30 pts, 0.48 2PT%, 100% 3PT%, 100% FT%
40 z-pts (1.12), 0.50 z2PT%, 100% z3PT%, 100% zFT%
Nowitzki was also amazing down the stretch, scoring half of his 30 points in the 4th quarter. Dirk tied the game to 95 with 42 seconds left, right before Kobe’s winning J.
Aaron Brooks (HOU)
43 pts, 0.38 2PT%, 0.67 3PT%, 0.75 FT%
51 z-pts (1.85), 0.19 z2PT%, 0.65 z3PT%, 0.89 zFT%
Brooks scored 27 of his 43 points in the 4th quarter and three overtimes combined. 14 in the 4th, and 5 pts, 2 pts and 6 pts in each of the OTs.
Wayne Ellington (MIN)
17 pts, 0.50 2PT%, 0.75 3PT%
26 z-pts (0.94), 0.32 z2PT%, 0.94 z3PT%
Ellington scored 11 of his 17 points in the extra periods. His trey with 8 seconds left in the second OT tied the game and forced the third overtime.
Sundiata Gaines (UTA)
9 pts, 100% 2PT%, 100% 3PT%, 0.67 FT%
28 z-pts (0.90), 100% z2PT%, 100% z3PT%, 0.64 zFT%
The rookie, who is on a 10-day contract, hit a game-winning 3 at the buzzer to beat LeBron and the Cavs. “I knew if I caught the ball I was going for the win. Once it left my hand it felt good. Just to beat Cleveland, this was a big game”, Gaines said.
LeBron James (CLE)
36 pts, 0.57 2PT%, 0.67 3PT%, 0.67 FT%
46 z-pts (1.46), 0.64 z2PT%, 0.84 z3PT%, 0.67 zFT%
Lebron did everything in his hand to win this ballgame. James scored 20 of his 36 points in the 4th quarter, including 9 points in the last 1:15. Quite a performance by the King.
Jamal Crawford (ATL)
21 pts, 0.50 2PT%, 0.29 3PT%, 100% FT%
37 z-pts (1.18), 0.47 z2PT%, 0.65 z3PT%, 100% zFT%
Crawford hit a 3 at the buzzer to beat the Suns. He had 9 points in the 4th quarter on 3-of-5 shooting.
Amare Stoudemire (PHO)
28 pts, 0.43 2PT%, 0.71 FT%
36 z-pts (1.15), 0.49 z2PT%, 0.61 zFT%
Stoudemire scored 11 of his 28 points in the 4th quarter. With 6 seconds left, he went to the line to shoot two free throws, missed one and made one, putting the Suns up two. Had he made both FTs, Crawford’s 3 at the buzzer wouldn’t have beat the Suns. See how his zFT% is lower than his FT%.
Derrick Rose (CHI)
37 pts, 0.48 2PT%, 0.71 FT%
51 z-pts (2.08), 0.45 z2PT%, 0.65 zFT%
Rose scored 12 points in the 4th quarter, including a bucket to tie the game with 26 seconds left, but he later missed a shot at the buzzer, sending the game to overtime. In the second overtime of the game, and with 5 seconds remaining, Rose hit the winning shot to finally beat the Wizards.
Rodney Stuckey (DET)
8 pts, 0.50 2PT%, 0.00 3PT%, 100% FT%
19 z-pts (0.50), 0.52 z2PT%, 0.00 z3PT%, 100% zFT%
Stuckey was key in the Pistons win over the Hornets, scoring 8 of Detroit’s 14 points in overtime.
Dirk Nowitzki (DAL)
32 pts, 0.53 2PT%, 0.00 3PT%, 0.93 FT%
47 z-pts (1.46), 0.63 z2PT%, 0.00 z3PT%, 0.96 zFT%
Nowitzki and teammate Jason Terry led the charge in the 4th quarter for the Mavs. Dirk scored 9 points down the stretch for Terry’s 7, including a jumper to give Dallas a 3 point lead with 6 seconds remaining. With 4 seconds left and the Mavs up by one, Terry missed a couple of free throws, giving the Thunder the chance to win the game in the final seconds (see Terry’s zFT% compared to his FT%).
Leandro Barbosa (PHO)
17 pts, 0.33 2PT%, 0.60 3PT%, 100% FT%
0.43 z-pts (0.00), 0.01 z2PT%, 0.43 z3PT%, 100% zFT%
The Bobcats trashed the Suns: 43-22 at the end of the first quarter and 74-47 at the half. Barbosa scored 17 points in this game, but since z-points adjust for garbage time he only gets 0.43 adjusted z-points.
Zach Randolph (MEM)
23 pts, 0.53 2PT%, 0.58 FT%
36 z-pts (0.87), 0.32 z2PT%, 0.87 zFT%
11 of Randolph’s 23 points came in the 4th quarter. The Grizzlies forward was clutch at the end of the game, especially from the free throw line, as he sunk 5-of-6 free throws in the last minute to help Memphis escape with the win.
Roger Mason (SAS)
17 pts, 0.50 2PT%, 0.50 3PT%
27 z-pts (0.66), 0.65 z2PT%, 0.33 z3PT%
The Spurs started the 4th quarter trailing the Grizzlies by 12 points. Then Mason fueled a run that put San Antonio one point behind with 41 seconds remaining. Overall, Mason scored 10 of his 17 points in the 4th, but he also missed a crucial three-pointer to tie the game with 18 seconds left (see how his z3PT% is lower, reflecting the fact that he missed from beyond the arc in the clutch).
NBA Photos
