From watching the games, I knew Lou Williams was off to a very good start on the offensive end. None of my fears coming into the season about handing him the reins as a starting PG have come true, not in the slightest. Today, I took at look at individual stats and I think I need to point out exactly how unbelievably good Lou has been.
This post has a big "if you don't write it now, you'll never get the chance again," feel to it, but I just wanted to share the numbers and some perspective with you guys.
First, look at Lou's shooting percentages (career numbers in parens):
- FG%: 63.6% (41.9%)
- 3P%: 50% (31.8%)
- FT%: 84.2% (77.5%)
I started with the percentages because they're startling, but obviously impossible to sustain. All they really tell us is that he's shooting the lights out, and hopefully he's worked hard on his jumper. The shooting percentages are impressive, but the numbers that I find the most meaningful have more to do with how he's changed his game completely in his new role.
Williams has gone from a gunner to a smart player. A guy who's careless with the ball, to a guy who makes the right decisions. A guy who only cares about getting his own, to a guy who makes everyone on the floor with him better.
Earlier today I provided a primer on advanced stats, and in that primer I laid out what offensive rating is for a team (points per 100 possessions). Well, offensive rating is also a stat that's applied to players, points per 100 possessions with the player on the floor. Lou Williams is leading the league through the first three games in this stat with an unfathomable 154 OFR. Again, unsustainable, but the important part is that he's doing this is a supplementary player.
Three stats encourage me that Lou has completely changed his game, again last year's numbers in parens:
- FGA per 36 minutes: 11.2 (14.4)
- Assists per turnover: 7.5 (1.97)
- Usage rate: 18.7% (24.9%)
- Rebounds per 36 minutes: 5.1 (2.6)
Less dribbling, smarter decisions, efficient scoring, contributions on the boards. Williams is doing exactly what he said he was going to do all summer long. Whatever it takes to help this team win.
Lou won't be able to keep these numbers up, but if he can continue the trend from an "instant offense" volume shooter to a team player who picks and chooses his moments, and contributes across the board, we could be talking about a monumental leap forward for the 23 year-old. We could also be talking about one of the most dynamic back courts in the league, with two grotesque mismatches on the offensive side of the ball. Continue down this path, and that long contract they signed him to last season is going to look like a bargain (or an insanely valuable trade chip.)
You will notice, however, that I didn't type the "d" word once in this post, mainly because today is going to be a positive Monday.
Thoughts in the comments.
Count me in the surprised camp. I had said on here back at the end of the summer that I felt Lou would be better just because being out there with other better players would calm him down some. I had no idea it would be to this degree though, but it has only been three games. With EJ being a former guard himself, he seems to have reigned Lou in some, but Lou's apparent offseason work shouldn't go unmentioned either. Kudos to Lou for the, so far, transformation.
One favorite of mine about Lou is I haven't seen him attempt to jump in the air and then pass, as he was notorious for this last year. But sadly, Dala did try and get away with this once against the Knicks Sat. night.
I really want to see big things from Lou on slowing down Rondo's penetration and breaking down of the defense on Tues. night. Oops, I tried not to say the 'd' word. At least it was used in the team sense and not individually. :)
Lou has performed admirably thus far and I did not expect this at all. I hope he keeps this kind of performance up (the numbers thus far are ridiculous and would be good even if you drop it 20%.)
I'd be more than happy to say I was wrong about Lou never being a point guard.
I honestly am not surprised as I have stated over and over for the past year. Lou wants to succeed and LISTENS to people (see his tweets today, guys). He still is young and sure he will not always keep us happy. But, I believe Lou can be a great guard IF he has coaching. Time will tell.