Step Back, 8 Notes on the NBA Season: episode 5
A special episode of the new Dunkest segment: this time we’ll talk about made three-pointers, the Thunder, Chet Holmgren, Hield, Grizzlies, and LeBron James
The Step Back special dedicated to the end of the Regular Season: 8 notes from the regular season, happy reading:
Scoring has decreased – evident post All-Star Game slowdown
Overall, we’ve transitioned from 114.7 points a year ago to 114.2 on average in the just-concluded regular season: a result of a noticeable trend in the post-NBA All-Star Game phase, where the reduction in fouls called by referees dropped the average from 115.5 to 111.6 points per game. A drastic slowdown.
Three-pointers made continue to increase
For the 10th time in the last 12 years, three-pointers made in the regular season have increased – reversing the trend of the last two years: 31,579 three-pointers scored, averaging 12.8 per game. In the entire ’80s, as an overall figure for a decade, we reach 19,042. An ongoing exponential growth.
OKC achieves the youngest top seed ever
Thanks to a decisive victory against Dallas, the Thunder clinched the top spot in the West – the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference Playoff bracket. OKC boasts the youngest average age ever to achieve this feat (23.4 years), surpassing the record set by the 2004-05 Phoenix Suns, who had 25.2 years. Blessed youth.
Six players have played all 82 games, including Chet
In a league where energy management is crucial, it’s worth highlighting the effort of those who have played all 82 regular-season games, from the consistent Mikal Bridges to the dominant Domantas Sabonis. Among them is Chet Holmgren, absent for the entire previous season but present throughout this year. Rounding out the list are Jalen Green, Harrison Barnes, and Jonas Valanciunas.
Buddy Hield’s 84-game streak hasn’t been seen in 19 years
However, there are those who have outperformed the previous sextet: Buddy Hield. After the initial 52 games with the Pacers, he moved to the 76ers, adding another 32 games (due to the asymmetry of the schedule), totaling 84. No one has played more games in a single regular season in the last 19 years. Indomitable.
The Memphis Grizzlies have utilized a plethora of players
Memphis, one of the major disappointments of this regular season, fielded a whopping 33 different players – a new record in NBA history. Not only that, but this wild rotation led Coach Jenkins to deploy 51 different starting lineups; in the last 54 NBA seasons, such a thing had never been seen before.
Too many victories have surpassed double digits
Another (negative, we dare say) record in the NBA regular season is the “average margin” of victory: 12.6 points, surpassing the 12.4 set two years ago – indicating an increase in imbalance. Boston, the absolute dominator, secured a whopping 42 wins with at least a 10-point margin.
LeBron James is the greatest elder the NBA has ever seen
Not just long-lived, but also the best elder ever: LeBron James adds another record to his personal list. Averaging 25.7 points, he surpasses the record for the “oldest player” in regular season set by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who scored 23.4 points in the 1985-86 season. Eternal.”