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- 🔍 Coaches' Impact on Lineups, Best 3+D Players, Salary Cap vs. Wins, Hawks Without Murray, and More!
🔍 Coaches' Impact on Lineups, Best 3+D Players, Salary Cap vs. Wins, Hawks Without Murray, and More!
Vikram Dimba
September 26, 2024
Welcome to the NBA Librarian Weekly, where we curate and summarize the best NBA content each week.
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In Today's Edition
The Best 3+D Players in the League
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D-LEBRON is a metric that measures a player's defensive impact on the game, specifically how they contribute to their team's defense over 100 possessions. It combines box score stats (like rebounds, steals, blocks) with advanced on/off calculations that adjust for the players around them and luck factors (like how well their teammates shoot when they are on the court).
3-and-D players have always been crucial, but their role has evolved—now requiring more positional versatility and high-volume three-point shooting. Bucknell Sports Analytics uses D-LeBron and adjusted 3PT Z% to define who qualifies as these players.
Here’s what stands out:
The “3” in forwards leans heavily toward defense—guys like Draymond Green and Jonathan Isaac aren’t typically considered stretch players but appear at the top of this list.
Dean Wade is flying under the radar. His defensive metrics are solid, and he’s versatile enough to defend on the perimeter.
Keep an eye on Keon Ellis—it’ll be interesting to see if he can maintain his 3PT% for the Kings.
Also, check out this fun video by halfpast*noon on the evolution of 3-and-D players—from Michael Cooper to Herb Jones.
Suggs’ Next Offensive Step
For Jalen Suggs, it’s time to level up.
He had a breakout season, especially with his three-point shooting, but now with Fultz gone, he’s going to have an even bigger role. Mike had some great visuals to break down where Suggs needs to improve offensively. Here are the key stats:
In pick-and-rolls, Suggs struggled, with the team averaging just 0.90 points per possession (37th percentile).
His weaknesses include limited advanced dribbling and difficulty with pocket passes, leading to a high turnover rate of 14.7% in pick-and-rolls.
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