I'm already done enjoying it

Our self imposed ban during the playoffs is over. Let's get back to making fun of stuff.

Bill Conlin is a sap

TWENTY-EIGHT years vanished in the heartbeat it took for Brad Lidge to deliver one final, unhittable slider to Phillies catcher Carlos Ruiz. Then, 1980 was suddenly 2008 and it was Lidge, not Tug McGraw, leaping joyously into the gelid South Philly air, and waiting for an avalanche of whooping teammates to engulf him. Brad sank to his knees in a spread-eagle prayer, beckoning toward Ruiz, who leaped into his arms.

I realize that times are tough for newspapers, but seriously Bill, this is no way to advertise your services to romance novel publishers. Send them a manuscript and they will get back to you. That is how it has always been done.

In what could be his final at-bat of the Phillies career he resuscitated with solid 2007-8 seasons, Pat Burrell began the eighth with a double to deep center that just missed leaving the Bank.

Pat Burrell's splits:
'05: .281/.389/.504
'06: .258/.388/.502
'07: .255/.400/.502
'08: .250/.367/.507

THESE ARE PRACTICALLY THE SAME. I don't understand this notion that Burrell became a different hitter the last two years.

History will record that Pedro Feliz, brilliant on defense all year but an offensive disappointment, drove in the winning run with a single to center off soft-tossing submariner Chad Bradford.

What was Conlin expecting of Pedro Feliz? That at age 33 he would suddenly turn into a different hitter, one that was patient at the plate? He did exactly as he was expected to. I expected something along the lines of .250/.300/.420 and he ended up a little short in the SLG department. Players don't suddenly get better at age 33, at least not in the post steroids era.

Lidge did not have his best stuff.

then

His drop-dead slider has had nastier bite. His fastball has had more late life.

Maybe Conlin was delirious when he sent his column in, which explains the obvious contradiction. And we know that the Inquirer and Daily News does not spend money on a sports editor.

Oh and congratulations to the Phillies. But I don't congratulate fans because you didn't do anything. Now don't burn the city down. Just Willie Green's house.

A Formula For Success

The Sixers currently have two guys in their starting lineup, Andre Miller and Guess Who, averaging less than a point per shot attempt. And people wonder why this team is in the bottom 5 of team offensive efficiency.

To The Dummies Who Don't Get It

First, if you think Willie Green is a good player, this is not the blog for you. Yes, I understand he works hard and is a "sparkplug" and all that bullshit. But he has no place starting for ANY NBA team.

Second, there is a difference between scoring points and scoring points efficiently. If someone on average needs 20 shots to score 20 points, as Green would based on his career points per shot numbers, they're actually not doing a good job of scoring efficiently. Points per shot takes into account more than FG%- it's simply the total points scored (from FG's and FT's) divided by the field goals a player attempted.

For example, Andre Iguodala, an actual good player, scored 1.4 points per shot (18.2 PPG on 13 SPG) he that took last season. That is someone you want taking shots. So is Dwight Howard- he put up a monster 1.65 PPS last year. Willie Green averaged less than one point per shot he took- that is AWFUL. When Willie Green is firing away, it costs the Sixers wins because there are other players on the team can score more points on fewer shots. It's about maximizing each offensive possession. Having Willie Green out there makes that difficult.

If the simple math we're pulling out here is too complex or seems stupid to you, you're not going to enjoy what we write. Feel free to bash us, but you will not change our opinions. We're not the rah-rah, intangibles and hustle matter more than ability and skill types here. We don't say they don't matter, but they also don't make up for lack of talent.

You Crack Me Up Phil Jasner

From his article today previewing the Sixers' season:

In order to find enjoyment and fascination in the season, it will help to focus on:

* The return to form of scoring guard Willie Green, a full year removed from knee surgery.

My question is, wh-wh-what? When has Willie Green ever shown any form to actually return to?

Per Basketball Reference, here are Willie Green's Per 40 Minute numbers on a yearly basis:

      FG  FGA   3P  3PA   FT  FTA  TRB  AST STL  TO  PTS
03-04 7.5 18.6 1.0  3.2  3.1  4.2  3.4  2.8 1.4 3.1 19.0
04-05 5.8 15.9 1.1  3.9  3.6  4.7  5.0  3.8 1.3 2.8 16.4
05-06 7.3 17.3 2.6  5.0  1.0  1.3  3.9  1.3 0.5 3.1 18.3
06-07 7.8 18.8 1.1  3.4  1.6  2.4  3.4  2.4 1.2 2.3 18.2

Pssst, Phil....Willie Green has always been the same lousy player. In order to score 20 points, he needs to take 20 shots. He doesn't go to the free throw line. And he doesn't pass the ball.

Willie Green Stat of the Day

Willie Green has played four seasons in the NBA for a total of 194 games. In those 194 games, he has attempted 1714 shots. And scored 1710 points.

I wonder if there is anyone closer to exactly a 1.0 points per shot ratio than Willie Green.