How Important is Ron-Ron?

by Ziller on Dec 14, 2006 8:13 AM PST in Commentary Comment 16 comments

A lot of us have grumbled about the performance of the starters, and rightly so. They've sucked. The Kings have only lead after the first quarter in one of the past eight games, and that was a two-point margin over Joe Johnson-less Atlanta.

Martin has been off and on lately, especially in the first half (Tuesday aside). Bibby has been off for six weeks now. Miller had two good games, and that's all. Kenny Thomas has been between awful and god-awful. And Ron-Ron's offense - let's just say it hasn't been a marvel of consistency.

Make no mistake, though: Ron-Ron is probably the most valuable King.

82games.com released their first set of player pair numbers today. I love player pair numbers, because they give a glimpse at who makes their teammates better. A week ago, I made the case for Brad Miller by looking at last season's player pair figures.

Miller is still helping his teammates this season, with everyone but Garcia and Corliss playing better when Miller is also on the floor. But another King has marvelous plus-minus numbers, with every single teammate performing better when he is on the floor: Ron Artest.

Artest has the team's best raw plus-minus by far, at a +95. (Miller is second at +47.) What does plus-minus tell us? Well, it helps define things that are hard to define by the boxscore: defense, and "the little things" like screens, boxing out, the pass before the assist, etc.

It's not the end-all, be-all stat; it's influenced greatly by the quality of teammates. Tayshaun Prince has long been near the top of the rankings thanks to his Pistons partners, even though nearly everyone would surmise Billups, Hamilton, and Ben Wallace were more valuable. But it is valuable in analysis, in that you don't win without a positive plus-minus.

(Artest is also helped because he didn't play a lot in the blowout at Dallas and sat out versus Phoenix.)

Anyways, look at the player pair matrix on 82games. See the vertical Artest column? The green boxes mean that player's plus-minus when Artest is on the floor is better than that player's overall plus-minus. See how every player's box in the Artest column is green? That's big.

It's no small margin either. Bibby has a net increase of +8 per 48 with Artest in the game. Martin's goes up +7. Salmons' goes up a ridiculous +20 (though there's a relatively small sample size). Miller's goes up +6. Shareef's goes up +7. KT's is +8. Garcia is +14. Every single player benefits greatly from having Ron-Ron on the floor with him, even if he is tossing up bricks.

Martin is this team's best offensive weapon and by far it's best producer night in and night out. He's the team's future, or at least a big part of it.

But Artest is beyond important. Every minute he's out there, he's helping this team. If he can pick his production up to average standards, he's the team's most valuable player.

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Just out of curiousity

What do Iverson's numbers look like?

by evanmeagan on Dec 14, 2006 8:23 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Re: Just out of curiousity

Six players perform better with AI on the floor, four perform worse. AI's biggest help is for Dalembert.

by Ziller on Dec 14, 2006 12:35 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: How Important is Ron-Ron?

Artest & Martin are the only players I consider untouchable on the Kings. And I'm a bigger fan of Bibby than I am Martin.

This is off topic, but I have a theory as to why a) the Kings pulled out of talks with the Sixers and b) why we still have a chance of getting Iverson.

Simply put, the Kings have put the best offer out on the table. The Sixers are just too greedy and want (understandably) Kevin Martin. The Kings, wisely are not going to give up Kevin Martin.

But look at the other offers on the table. Baron Davis has a history of being hurt. While he can put up AWESOME numbers at times, he's already sat out many games this year and Monta Ellis has proven (in my eyes) that if Baron were sent packing for a legit big man, Monta could be the starter easily.

Other than that, the pickings are slim for Philadelphia. Sure, they can get some young talent, but they know the Sixers will crap on that team unless they're assured they're going to get Greg Oden. They could still get Oden even if they acquire Bibby, but they'll be closer to being competitive again with Bibby than they would if they were to get Sebastian Telfair or another young point guard.

That's why I think the Sixers are going to realize that Bibby, Garcia, some expiring contracts (combo of Corliss/Hart/Vitaly) and a future draft pick are the best deal they're going to get for Iverson right now. They're going to take this deal. You don't trade a future hall of famer for just expiring contracts. You get a good to great player, a young talent, some expiring contracts and a draft pick. The two best deals on the table are either ours or the Warriors. And one of us is going to end up with AI. I hope it's us.

by bballblog on Dec 14, 2006 10:59 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Re: How Important is Ron-Ron?

I dunno, as long as AI doesnt go minny, isn't Garnett automatically traded at that point? Wouldnt that be a much better sweepstakes to enter?

by Deleran on Dec 14, 2006 11:12 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: How Important is Ron-Ron?

What makes Artest even more valuable is that he is so humble.

by Observer on Dec 14, 2006 11:08 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Re: How Important is Ron-Ron?

LOL

by Kusian on Dec 14, 2006 11:13 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: How Important is Ron-Ron?

giggle!

by pyro on Dec 14, 2006 2:02 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: How Important is Ron-Ron?

he can't shoot but when he's on the floor, he makes it harder for the other player to make a shot... therefore he tries to cancel out his errant (sp?) shot attempts

i hope something goes down with iverson... i'd flip him to get a shot blocker and seriously kenny thomas needs to go.

by dun on Dec 14, 2006 12:08 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Re: How Important is Ron-Ron?

i've been watching a lot of nbatv lately and since every other commercial is a basketball instructional video, let's start the "send kenny thomas better basketball fund" maybe he can watch the layup tape and learn how to finish.

by CrownUs93 on Dec 14, 2006 1:33 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

If you buy 6 - the 7th is free!

by pyro on Dec 14, 2006 2:04 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Ron-Ron is very important

It's hard to discuss Ron without discussing Mike too. I think this whole team revolves around Mike and Ron and there is something going on between them and the coaches that isn't right. Both have made off comments about the coaching decisions or their roles lately.

Meanwhile, Muss is pretending like everything is rosy. Snaps to him for a good attitude but I wonder what is really going on behind closed doors. Who complained the loudest about the offense causing them to switch back to the RA style? My guess is Ron. Mike seems like a guy who will mumble (b*tch) but Ron is not so shy.

Ron is the guy who will, when things are not working or his Bibby counterpart is in a slump, say, "Fine. I will do it myself!" That isn't working, obviously. I think this team will improve in every area once Bibby snaps out of his funk. Until then...Ron is the man.

As far as what bballblog said: yep. It isn't looking like Philly is getting the offers they thought they would. No one wants to give up guys like Monta or KMart. If GS gives up Beidris they are loopy. I honestly believe the best way to lower a price is to walk away from the table and let a new offer come to you. That seems to be what most GMs are doing. It doesn't help that the item for sale says, "I don't want this and I don't want that." when a team shows interest. Philly is looking screwed.

by pyro on Dec 14, 2006 2:34 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Re: Ron-Ron is very important

I saw Muss on something or another saying something alongs the line of, "Our team does have an identity, and that identity is that we work hard." I really hope he doesn't believe that because while playing hard is nice, its not an identity. sigh Why did they have to go and fire Adleman?

by Deleran on Dec 14, 2006 6:13 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Irony

Isn't it ironic Ruck was fired for having the very same philosophy currently being embraced by the rest of the league? Meanwhile the Maloofs have a vision of this team playing like the Pistons at the beginning of the 90's.

by Kusian on Dec 14, 2006 6:25 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Irony

Thats hitting the nail on the head.

by Chris The Greek on Dec 14, 2006 7:07 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: How Important is Ron-Ron?

Are Artest stats skewed because he wasn't around for those two drubbings we took while he was bitching about his back? It' pretty easy to look good statistically when you don't play against +.500 teams.

We are slipping into the NBA abyss.

by jjham15 on Dec 14, 2006 6:34 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Re: How Important is Ron-Ron?

This nipping and petty backbiting is pretty typical of a team going nowhere. Someone has to step up and say here is what we are going to do. It doesn't look like it is going to be the Musselman for all the talk that this guy has it together. Why not look to Petrie? He is ultimately the guy that has to say enough! You either shape up or you are out of here. Yet, you hear nothing from him. Now that could be because he is working behind the scenes but if he is, it has not worked so far.

by Observer on Dec 14, 2006 7:21 PM PST reply actions 0 recs