Mickael Pietrus Helps Orlando Magic's Title Chances with Improved Shooting in Postseason
by Evan Dunlap on Apr 27, 2010 12:01 PM EDT
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As Mickael Pietrus drained his second consecutive backbreaking triple in the fourth quarter of the Orlando Magic's series-clinching 99-90 win over the Charlotte Bobcats last night, I shook my head in mild amusement. Pietrus has drilled plenty of three-pointers in his 28-game Magic postseason career, and often at opportune times, as when he made one over Charlotte's Gerald Wallace in Game 1 which gave the Magic an 8-point lead with 1:24 to go. He just seems to be better when the games mean more, which is why I investigated further.
The Magic signed Pietrus in the summer of 2008 for defense and, to a lesser extent, three-point shooting. He's delivered on both promises since then, but moreso in the playoffs; the regular season is a warmup to him, apparently. Here's how his shooting breaks down in the regular season and the playoffs during his Magic career, with the stats of an average NBA swingman (culled from Hoopdata) included for comparison:
| Pts | Mins | FG% | 3FG% | FT% | eFG% | TS% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Regular | 9.0 | 23.4 | 42.4% | 37.1% | 67.1% | 52.5% | 54.7% |
| Post | 10.3 | 24.8 | 47.6% | 40.5% | 71.2% | 59.9% | 63.1% |
| AVG Swing | 13.3 | 30.0 | 44.8% | 36.0% | 79.1% | 50.2% | 54.8% |
For whatever reason, Pietrus really dials himself in after the 82nd game. Consider that, in terms of True Shooting, the best evaluation of shooting efficiency, Pietrus' 63.1% mark in the last two postseasons combined exceeds any other NBA swingman's regular-season marks in each of the last two seasons. Boston Celtics All-Star Ray Allen came the closest to matching Pietrus, with a 62.4% clip last season. Now, Allen scores more than Pietrus because he's a bigger part of Boston's offense. The takeaway is that, in the postseason, Pietrus is slightly more efficient than one of the game's purest shooters has been, despite his own goofy, fading away release off his back foot, while bringing his hands back to his chest.
Often, certain talking points get bandied about and catch on without anyone bothering to really see if they're true. Perhaps due to his 9 straight double-figure scoring games off the bench in the Magic's NBA Finals run last season, the idea that Pietrus steps it up in the playoffs has indeed caught on; the difference here is that there's no way to dispute that.
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That pump fake, step-back was so smooth.
"One thing about knowing that you're dying is that it keeps reminding you you're alive so it's no time to pass up a party."
- Warren Zevon
by Wally Balls 407 on Apr 27, 2010 12:09 PM EDT reply actions
Definitely. It reminded me of Reggie Miller actually.
The intensity has to go up, up! Not down...UP! -Stan Van Gundy
I was thinking the same thing!
I hate Pau Gasol!
Playoff Karma
I made the comment last night that Pietrus is impervious to playoff karma, which is a fancy way of saying he gets better in high pressure situations (e.g. close playoff game). Without him we would have been in big trouble in this series.
Ridiculous
I was starting to think he may be expendable after the season but his last month has been crazy. Really feelin the 3 to the eye thing he is doing too.
"It's all part of the plan." Jeff Moorad and The Joker in the Dark Knight.
"Just because you went to the Finals last year, you can’t go out on the floor and expect teams to lay down. We got no heart. You can only make so many excuses. Everybody has to come and play hard, not just one or two guys."-Matt Barnes
Good job guys
You taught our newbie offensively inept team how to play real ball in the playoffs.
Serious question though… Are you worried that the Bobcats have revealed to the league how to defend you guys? If a team with a better offense does the same hack-a-Howard trick (knowing that him on the free-throw line is a much better alternative to any of your other player’s shots), then it might make things really tough. So if Atlanta or Cleveland beat you, then you can thank us later ;).
On the other hand, figure that one out and you’ll probably win a Championship. Good luck, and thanks for letting me annoy you for a couple weeks.
Otherwise known as SouthTunnel. Change is inevitable - except from a vending machine.
go cry in your corner while we finish with our brooms.
Time to get that finger bling-bling
Don't mind my spelling. I'm a Typo Master.
He used the word "newbie"
Is that really a serious question on whether the pussycats have revealed to the league how to defend the Magic?
"One thing about knowing that you're dying is that it keeps reminding you you're alive so it's no time to pass up a party."
- Warren Zevon
by Wally Balls 407 on Apr 27, 2010 1:05 PM EDT up reply actions
You think you can win a Championship never scoring over 100 points?
If they are "pussycats" then you guys are really not very good offensively. I don’t think that, but its what you are implying.
Otherwise known as SouthTunnel. Change is inevitable - except from a vending machine.
I don't think we would win a championship never scoring over 100 pts
But the Bobcats are a good defensive team. One of the best. And I fully expect Orlando to break triple digits in each of their next matchups.
by BlueSkyOneCloud on Apr 27, 2010 4:48 PM EDT up reply actions
Most definitely
Cleveland and LA are playing pretty good defense to however.
Otherwise known as SouthTunnel. Change is inevitable - except from a vending machine.
They are not close to being as good defensive teams
As the magic and the Bobcats. Plus the Cavs are playing Chicago, a team that has struggled all year to score. I believe (correct me if I am wrong) that the Bulls have been worse then the Bobcats all year offensively. And the Lakers have been struggling against the Thunder, at times defensively and offensively. hopefully the Hawks will allow Dwight to regain his composure, since they have no answer for Dwight.
by Shocked into Silence on Apr 27, 2010 5:57 PM EDT up reply actions
You make a good point!
I’m a LeBron fan, but picking up Shaq soured them a bit for me. So I won’t be too upset if you beat them. At least it’ll make me feel better about getting swept.
Otherwise known as SouthTunnel. Change is inevitable - except from a vending machine.
That is not what I was implying
"One thing about knowing that you're dying is that it keeps reminding you you're alive so it's no time to pass up a party."
- Warren Zevon
by Wally Balls 407 on Apr 27, 2010 8:06 PM EDT up reply actions
The slow pace masked how good the Magic's offense was in this series. They averaged 111.14 points/100 possessions against the Bobcats' D, which led the league in the regular season
They lit it up, basically. That’s why we use pace-adjusted stats here.
by Evan Dunlap on Apr 27, 2010 10:34 PM EDT up reply actions
The "Secret"
is to not give a damn if 3 player foul out. Charlotte could do that since all three were immaterial to the offense and trivial to the defense.
Atlanta wants Horford on the floor and Zaza as the back up. It would be surprising if they would give up Horfords 14/10 by fouling excessively.
Cleveland has Shaq, Z, and Varejao, but they will not give them up just to foul Dwight.
No, the “Secret” is to have three useless centers that add nothing to your offense except to hack Dwight while racking up almost as many fouls as points.
"There are two ways to argue with a woman, and neither of them work."; Carlos Boozer
I'll tell ya about the Magic It'll free your soul but it's like trying to tell a stranger 'bout rock n roll
The only way to stop LeBron is Smith and Wesson, but even that's a double team.
by NC Magic Fan on Apr 27, 2010 1:24 PM EDT up reply actions
Clone?
I have been saying literally word for word the exact same thing. I don’t think analyts actually watch team play sometimes. It seems that most everyone at ESPN, except for Colin Cowherd, just in such blind love with LeBron that it clouds their judgement. They always complain about “teams” should win, well the Orlando Magic are a “team” who rely on everyone to win.
Actually it was guards as well
Everybody got physical and annoyed him enough that he committed stupid fouls. I would bet he’ll collect himself for the next series and this will be less of an issue.
Otherwise known as SouthTunnel. Change is inevitable - except from a vending machine.
Charlotte did not invent fouling poor free throw shooters
Teams have been doing this for a long time, and not just to Howard. We’re not worried because teams have tried this off and on for the past 3 years, and it hasn’t worked.
We’d beat ATL anyway, and Cleveland has poor free throw shooters of their own. Maybe the Lakers if they make it there.
by BlueSkyOneCloud on Apr 27, 2010 2:28 PM EDT up reply actions
I agree
I don’t think the Lakers are willing to sacrifice Bynum or Offense by playing Mbenga or Powell.
Dwight’s free throws will improve. The Bobcats were a tough match-up because they had the front line depth.
FEED THE BEAST!!!
Twitter Account
They didn't invent it, they just perfected it ;)
Otherwise known as SouthTunnel. Change is inevitable - except from a vending machine.
Perfect should not create a loss!
gotta call FAIL! on that one
"There are two ways to argue with a woman, and neither of them work."; Carlos Boozer
I'll tell ya about the Magic It'll free your soul but it's like trying to tell a stranger 'bout rock n roll
The only way to stop LeBron is Smith and Wesson, but even that's a double team.
by NC Magic Fan on Apr 27, 2010 4:40 PM EDT up reply actions
Actually the goal was only to make the playoffs
No one ever considered anything more until the series started. You guys reloaded after losing in the finals, and now hope to win a Championship. We’ll do the same, and hopefully win a couple series next year.
Otherwise known as SouthTunnel. Change is inevitable - except from a vending machine.
Not with MJ making player personnel decisions
Never trust a fart
by AB's triple double on Apr 27, 2010 7:51 PM EDT up reply actions
We've gotten better each year he's been here
It gained us over 10 wins this year from last year, and our 1st trip to the playoffs. He brought Stephen Jackson, Tyrus Thomas and only the most winning-est coach in NBA history. What are you referring to?
Otherwise known as SouthTunnel. Change is inevitable - except from a vending machine.
Eh.
Plenty of good GMs have made bad draft picks before — especially on HS/foreign players. There was no real way of knowing that Kwame Brown wasn’t going to be Dwight Howard. or vice versa.
Jameer Nelson is Jimmy Olsen.
Dwight’s a 60% foul shooter. So that’s actually better than a normal possession, though not by as much as one would like. We’ve seen teams foul Dwight before… in the long run, the percentages catch up.
If we’re talking about things the Bobcats have exposed in this series, I’d be more concerned about the possibility of teams repeatedly hooking Dwight’s arms in order to get cheap fouls called on him. I’m a little reassured by the fact that the Magic have a few days now to plan for that possibility, and by the fact that it’s probably not as easy as the Bobcats made it look.
(For one thing, as they said, most teams don’t have quite as many interchangeable/expendable big men… for another thing, I feel like all that focus on Dwight led to even more open three-point looks than usual.)
Good series, though — I do think the Bobcats played this about as well as they could have, and did a great job of controlling the tempo. Good luck to your team!
Jameer Nelson is Jimmy Olsen.
not really, .6 times .6 = .36 meaning only 36% chance to make both free throws. so statistically all the magic would have to do is shoot a shot with at least a 37% chance of going in on average to make a better long term expectation of points (not including the loss of efficieny by losing a start because of foul trouble)…
by comparisson, a magic team would only need to shot a three that had a 24.5% chance of going in to get a better shot of than an intentional foul on dwight (given unlimited foul possibiltiies). in other words, even contested threes are a better option offensively for the magic than dwight being intentionally fouled. and god forbid his % drops to 50%… then we are talking about really any brick by the magic being a better long term shot
by thomaswhigham on Apr 27, 2010 4:30 PM EDT up reply actions
Except that it's not a points/no points situation.
There are three possibilities when Dwight gets fouled (and doesn’t make the shot): no points, one point, and two points. As opposed to a two-point shot, which is all-or-nothing. Your hypothetical 37% field goal shooter (let’s call him “Brandon Jennings”) has a 63% chance of getting no points at all — as opposed to Dwight, who has only a 16% chance of doing that.
A 60% foul shooter will average 1.2 points (offensive efficiency of 120) for every two-FT possession. The Magic’s offensive efficiency during the regular season is 109.
Jameer Nelson is Jimmy Olsen.
because of turnovers i can see your point. i’d be interested to really dig into this more considering the hypotheticals. but i appreciate you alleviating me of the burden of ignorance. well done :)
by thomaswhigham on Apr 28, 2010 1:07 AM EDT up reply actions
Thank you sir
I for one hope Jordan was taking notes on you guys… “Must sign perimeter shooters in off-season. Can’t win on defense alone.”
Otherwise known as SouthTunnel. Change is inevitable - except from a vending machine.
Well, I've been checking some of the major sports news outlets and there is not much on the Magic.
They all have the AP article and that’s it. No comment on how the Magic are the only team that was able to sweep the series, nothing on how they won despite not being able to have D12 on the court, nothing. Main Pictures this morning were for Larry Brown (wondering where he will wind up next), Kobe, Phoenix and the Bucks. It’s like the Magic’s victory didn’t even happen.
Magic Fan since the 1992-1993 Season.
by North of the South on Apr 27, 2010 2:39 PM EDT up reply actions
You all must remember Pietrus was a starter last year, and was supposed to be the starter this year.
It’s a luxury to have a high energy guy come off the bench like Pietrus. Great Defender, and when he is on, he can score 3pointers at will. In fact, they were commenting on last night’s game that he had only attempted 3 point shots during the Bobcats series. Insane.
Magic Fan since the 1992-1993 Season.
by North of the South on Apr 27, 2010 2:42 PM EDT reply actions
He had only *made* 3 pointers.
He’s attempted a few 2 pointers. But not many.
I hate Varejao.
10 for 22 from the floor; 10 for 20 from 3-point land.
"There are two ways to argue with a woman, and neither of them work."; Carlos Boozer
I'll tell ya about the Magic It'll free your soul but it's like trying to tell a stranger 'bout rock n roll
The only way to stop LeBron is Smith and Wesson, but even that's a double team.
by NC Magic Fan on Apr 27, 2010 4:00 PM EDT up reply actions
Cowherd knows what's up
“The Magic are going to beat the Cleveland Cavaliers quickly and everyone is going to have to eat it.”
"One thing about knowing that you're dying is that it keeps reminding you you're alive so it's no time to pass up a party."
- Warren Zevon
by Wally Balls 407 on Apr 27, 2010 4:08 PM EDT reply actions
No link
Saw it on SportsNation today. Gotta love Michelle Beadle.
"One thing about knowing that you're dying is that it keeps reminding you you're alive so it's no time to pass up a party."
- Warren Zevon
by Wally Balls 407 on Apr 27, 2010 7:59 PM EDT up reply actions
He'll probably get docked pay for saying that
Seems like the ESPN company policy is to kiss Lebron’s @$$ as often as possible
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nun5FZTZqis
Pietrus has swagger
and I think that’s why he thrives in the playoffs. I was in the Blue VIP lounge for Game 2 and MP came out of the locker room and shot the breeze with fans. The other players had their game faces on and weren’t interested in talking but MP looked more like Dwight used to before the Bobcats series when he used to smile a lot. ‘Meer was as cool as the other side of the pillow, Barnes was jacked up, ’Shard always looks the same (ice cold poker face), J.J., RA & Gortat all looked relaxed and Dwight probably couldn’t stop thinking about foul trouble (He wasn’t smiling).
The spotlight, pressure & challenge play right into MP’s supreme confidence because he’s the type of player who can miss 4 shots in a row and never think twice about launching the 5th, 6th & 7th shots.
"It can be done, you can just crush somebody"
Pietrus, Redick, Lewis, Carter, Nelson, J-Will to an extent Anderson and Barnes all are will to shoot regardless of the last positions. We gotta get Gortat and Howard to work on their threes!
"There are two ways to argue with a woman, and neither of them work."; Carlos Boozer
I'll tell ya about the Magic It'll free your soul but it's like trying to tell a stranger 'bout rock n roll
The only way to stop LeBron is Smith and Wesson, but even that's a double team.
by NC Magic Fan on Apr 27, 2010 4:45 PM EDT up reply actions
That's way too many shooters
You guys are greedy
Otherwise known as SouthTunnel. Change is inevitable - except from a vending machine.
“Greed is good”
-Gordon Gekko
"One thing about knowing that you're dying is that it keeps reminding you you're alive so it's no time to pass up a party."
- Warren Zevon
by Wally Balls 407 on Apr 27, 2010 4:53 PM EDT up reply actions
Link failed
"One thing about knowing that you're dying is that it keeps reminding you you're alive so it's no time to pass up a party."
- Warren Zevon
by Wally Balls 407 on Apr 27, 2010 4:50 PM EDT up reply actions
When all else fails, cut and paste!
"There are two ways to argue with a woman, and neither of them work."; Carlos Boozer
I'll tell ya about the Magic It'll free your soul but it's like trying to tell a stranger 'bout rock n roll
The only way to stop LeBron is Smith and Wesson, but even that's a double team.
by NC Magic Fan on Apr 27, 2010 5:32 PM EDT up reply actions
"There are two ways to argue with a woman, and neither of them work."; Carlos Boozer
I'll tell ya about the Magic It'll free your soul but it's like trying to tell a stranger 'bout rock n roll
The only way to stop LeBron is Smith and Wesson, but even that's a double team.
by NC Magic Fan on Apr 27, 2010 5:40 PM EDT reply actions
Fail!
"There are two ways to argue with a woman, and neither of them work."; Carlos Boozer
I'll tell ya about the Magic It'll free your soul but it's like trying to tell a stranger 'bout rock n roll
The only way to stop LeBron is Smith and Wesson, but even that's a double team.
by NC Magic Fan on Apr 27, 2010 5:41 PM EDT up reply actions
AWESOME article . . . GREAT find!
I love it when writers are willing to write about what the facts support even if it goes against the popular, national media’s POV.
Sigh . . . Now I need new AVATAR!
I saw that
It is just incredible how horrible that call was. Even worse, he (the ref) probably won’t even get punished for making such a bad call.
by Shocked into Silence on Apr 27, 2010 6:04 PM EDT up reply actions
Would you stop whining at bad refereeing?
In a democratic country you just shut up and obey.
Man
It’s times like these that we need a good old fashioned dictatorship. Maybe then our complaints would be listened to.
by Shocked into Silence on Apr 27, 2010 6:27 PM EDT up reply actions
Is that really Crawford's worst call?
Duncan’s Double Techs from the bench
NBA Championship or bust in '09-10!!!! GO MAGIC!!!!
There are a lot of them
Including the foul on Billups
WOW that was AWFUL and although I don't know this for sure . . .
but I’d bet ANYTHING that @ LEAST the 2nd T was later rescinded (if not both).
Not that, that would’ve helped the Spurs any in that game!
Sigh . . . Now I need new AVATAR!
I love Pietrus
Both him and Rashard just seem to turn it up to another level during the playoffs.
by Shocked into Silence on Apr 27, 2010 6:06 PM EDT reply actions
I hate these "Told you so" scenarios b/c it's immature, but I told you so.
Every year, many ppl, Magic fans including, hate on MP but its 2 years running where his play and minutes automatically step up big. Its not done yet, and MP will have to play monster-effort D on LeBron again, but it’s safe to say MP is a huge part of the Magic playoff success.
People "hate" on Pietrus because he's inconsistent.
And typically, the inconsistency doesn’t stem from normal cold shooting. He makes a lot of poor basketball decisions (i.e. stepping out of bounds before a 3-point shot every game, the pump fake three-to-fadeaway 2-point jumper combo) which make him frustrating because he can perform like this when he’s focused.
He’s the Magic’s most frustrating player to watch other than Vince, but of course most people still love Pietrus because we know he’ll be key for our success. So far in the past two postseasons, he’s been there to deliver when it matters most.
I hate Varejao.
I don't dislike Pietrus - he is just goofy
and he is consistently steping out of bound!
I really don't understand Pietrus
He has all the physical tools to be a great player. If he’d work on his ballhandling a bit and (all) the mental aspects of the game… well…
I think he's reached that part of his career where his reputation will count more than his potential
I mean it’s great if he’ll able to learn new tricks, improve his craft but you’re not gonna sign him for his potential, much in the same way we traded for RA.
He's gotten hurt driving the lane too many times.
I’m convinced that was why he was ineffective the second half of last season — he didn’t really recover from the injury until playoff time.
He’s a defender and a three-point shooter now, and a good one. I’ll accept that. I’d accept it more if he passed the ball occasionally, but oh, well.
What I don’t understand is how a guy can make two and a half threes per game, and yet shoot 63% on free throws.
Jameer Nelson is Jimmy Olsen.
It's just a completely different motion.
I wonder if he’d do better if a free throw was a jump shot.
In Gene We Trust.
by MoveThoseChains on Apr 28, 2010 7:51 AM EDT up reply actions
Mental issues
On a three pointer you have less time to think about it. On a free throw you have all the time to think about it and mess up the movement patterns.
I agree, MP was very frustrating to watch early this year, jacking up plenty of 3s that were rimming out
then there were the long 2s, and his defense seemed to be missing. but I have no doubt he knows he will deliver in the playoffs, he has the swagger about him on both ends of the court. He came up with big blocks in the 4th quarter last game
Anyone else love watching the Cavs struggle with the Bulls as much as I did?
Yeah they won 4-1, but tonight’s game could’ve gone either way the series could have easily been at 3-2 right now.
I have no doubt that we would have swept the Bulls as well, and probably with more ease than against the Bobcats
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nun5FZTZqis
lebron is 80% and still has that game its kind of nuts
by thomaswhigham on Apr 28, 2010 1:57 AM EDT up reply actions
Well, the Bulls were a lower seed, after all.
I think we probably would’ve swept them, though of course you never know…
I’m honestly not sure how the Bulls made the playoffs. Rose is a good inside scorer, but continues to be an average passer at best, and neither a defender or a shooter. (I’m telling you… he’s Steve Francis minus the attitude problems and the three-point shot.) Noah’s one of the better big men in the league these days, and I guess Deng had a bit of a resurgence this year, but that’s literally all they have. There’s been a lot of criticism directed at Del Negro, but I don’t see what more he could’ve done with that lousy lineup.
Jameer Nelson is Jimmy Olsen.
I don't know about you, but sometimes when I look at Stern's face I feel like I'm looking at the Devil
Literally. It makes me think about this. He has that suave, fake, nasty, curvy face that seems to mask your worst nightmare.
I think you're being way harsh on the Devil, man
I'm a girl.
by TheGiantSquid on Apr 28, 2010 7:59 AM EDT up reply actions
didn't sleep again
have a final today
I'm a girl.
by TheGiantSquid on Apr 28, 2010 8:09 AM EDT up reply actions
I apologize
Anyway, check this out:
Good refereeing for the Magic http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-igP_XG-kCo&feature=related
Ah, these times…
lol well it's against the Pistons so idgaf
aw I miss Keyon
I'm a girl.
by TheGiantSquid on Apr 28, 2010 8:10 AM EDT up reply actions
Talking about Stern, I got a question for GM concerning previous threads :
GM, do you happen to have mistaken Karl Marx for Joseph Stalin by an y chance ?
Time to get that finger bling-bling
Don't mind my spelling. I'm a Typo Master.
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