Here's How a Coach Looks at a Box Score
While the rest of us no doubt always zoom directly to the points column in a basketball box score, coach Jim Boylen says that's not a category he even considers.
"Who was our leading scorer?" against Washington last week, he asked.
For the record, it was forward Stephen Weigh, who had 21 points on 8-for-14 shooting. But the point Boylen was trying to make is that there are other statistical categories that he believes are better indicators of a team's success.
"I look at how many assists we got," he said. "I look at our defensive [shooting] percentage, and those are the things I look at. If the ball is moving around, we're playing the right way on the offensive end. If we're holding people down on the defensive end, that's what I look at."
All of which came up during a discussion about forward Shaun Green, who has scored only seven points in three games after ranking as the team's leading scorer last season -- but has thrilled Boylen with the other contributions he has made on the floor.
What's more, the Utes have four players averaging in double-figures -- they have had a different leading scorer in all three of their games so far -- which "to me, is more important than having one guy averaging 30 and three guys at seven."
"That's the way I think the game should be played," Boylen added, "and that's the good thing about this team as we get better here. We could have balance. We can have a different leading scorer every night. ... that's a hard team to prepare for, and I like a team like that."
"Who was our leading scorer?" against Washington last week, he asked.
For the record, it was forward Stephen Weigh, who had 21 points on 8-for-14 shooting. But the point Boylen was trying to make is that there are other statistical categories that he believes are better indicators of a team's success.
"I look at how many assists we got," he said. "I look at our defensive [shooting] percentage, and those are the things I look at. If the ball is moving around, we're playing the right way on the offensive end. If we're holding people down on the defensive end, that's what I look at."
All of which came up during a discussion about forward Shaun Green, who has scored only seven points in three games after ranking as the team's leading scorer last season -- but has thrilled Boylen with the other contributions he has made on the floor.
What's more, the Utes have four players averaging in double-figures -- they have had a different leading scorer in all three of their games so far -- which "to me, is more important than having one guy averaging 30 and three guys at seven."
"That's the way I think the game should be played," Boylen added, "and that's the good thing about this team as we get better here. We could have balance. We can have a different leading scorer every night. ... that's a hard team to prepare for, and I like a team like that."
posted by www.sltrib.com @ 4:44 PM |
2 Comments:
When I looked at the box score I saw 61% from the free throw line, this is how close games are won. Washington played with a smaller, quicker lineup, we made no adjustments at halftime, we stayed with same lineup and that's why we lost this game.
Funny you should mention that, Ranwithaute. I just posted an item about the Utes poor free-throw shooting so far ...
Mike
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