Random Stat: Goaltending "Leaders"
Q: I suggest that blocks and goaltending be compared. Guys like Samuel Dalembert get plenty of blocks and seem to have great timing, but they also give plenty of easy goaltending points to the opposition. A simple ranking of blocks/goaltending/48 minutes might be good, especially if one can differentiate blocks from 2pt attempts and 3pt attempts. -- Cisco Costa (in Brazil!)
A: we haven't posted goaltending stats on player pages since they are frankly rare (there's a goaltending called once for roughly every 20 blocks...actually 5.5% of the time this season a block is nailed for goaltending), but it's an easy enough thing to do a leaderboard glance. Perfect for a random stat look!
Most Goaltending calls (on defense)
| Team |
Player |
Goal-
Tends |
Blocks |
GT% |
| PHI |
Dalembert |
24 |
120 |
17% |
| POR |
Przybilla |
15 |
106 |
12% |
| ATL |
J.Smith |
13 |
101 |
11% |
| MIA |
Mourning |
13 |
141 |
8% |
| POR |
Ratliff |
10 |
61 |
14% |
| IND |
O'Neal |
9 |
76 |
11% |
| NYK |
Curry |
7 |
34 |
17% |
| TOR |
Bosh |
7 |
49 |
13% |
| ORL |
Howard |
7 |
73 |
9% |
| UTA |
Kirilenko |
7 |
106 |
6% |
| HOU |
Swift |
6 |
27 |
18% |
| HOU |
Ming |
6 |
41 |
13% |
| DEN |
Martin |
6 |
46 |
12% |
| MIA |
O'Neal |
6 |
47 |
11% |
| BOS |
Perkins |
6 |
65 |
8% |
| CHA |
Wallace |
6 |
69 |
8% |
| DEN |
Camby |
6 |
95 |
6% |
| NYK |
Frye |
5 |
36 |
12% |
| NOK |
Andersen |
5 |
40 |
11% |
| CHA |
Okafor |
5 |
48 |
9% |
| DET |
R.Wallace |
5 |
77 |
6% |
|
Our friend in Brazil guessed right: Samuel Dalembert is the runaway leader in being called for goaltending, and also among the highest players in goaltend % -- of the players with five or more goaltends, only Stromile Swift and Eddy Curry have worse percentages.
Even with the high goaltends though, it's pretty hard to argue that Samuel should just "step aside" and let the shots go passed...he's obviously saving points, albeit perhaps with some better judgement he could be a little more efficient in his shot swatting.
Furthermore, there could be some level of reputation at work here we would guess, and a look at the lowest goaltending %'s may confirm that.
|
Lowest Goaltending % (Min: 40 blocks)
| Team |
Player |
Goal-
Tends |
Blocks |
GT% |
| LAC |
Brand |
0 |
118 |
0% |
| SAS |
Duncan |
0 |
95 |
0% |
| CLE |
Ilgauskas |
0 |
86 |
0% |
| SAS |
Nesterovic |
0 |
59 |
0% |
| PHO |
Diaw |
0 |
53 |
0% |
| PHO |
Thomas |
0 |
48 |
0% |
| BOS |
Jefferson |
0 |
41 |
0% |
| MEM |
Gasol |
1 |
94 |
1% |
| WAS |
Haywood |
1 |
68 |
1% |
| MEM |
Battier |
1 |
64 |
2% |
| DAL |
Dampier |
1 |
60 |
2% |
| MIL |
Bogut |
1 |
55 |
2% |
| UTA |
Ostertag |
1 |
55 |
2% |
| NOK |
West |
1 |
43 |
2% |
| BOS |
LaFrentz |
1 |
42 |
2% |
| CLE |
James |
1 |
42 |
2% |
| LAC |
Kaman |
2 |
76 |
3% |
| DET |
B.Wallace |
3 |
108 |
3% |
|
Is Elton Brand really perfect in this regard -- has he blocked almost as many shots as Dalembert without once committing the faux pas?
Probably not.
Most likely there's a little more leeway given to the Duncan, LeBron, and Ben Wallace's of the world than is given to the Przybilla, Ratliff and Josh Smith's of the world.
Still we wouldn't disagree that some players could do a better job of backing off on blocking shots which are clearly liable for getting a goaltending whistle.
|
Do you have an idea for a cool "random stat" you would like to see? If so, drop us a line
Random Stat Archive
Shot Clock Studs (2/09)
Team Starter/Bench stats (2/07)
Free Throw shooting home versus away (2/04)
Who gets their shot blocked the most? (2/03)
Plus/Minus stats over the last 30 days (2/02)
What percentage of the time has each team been leading? (2/01)
|
