Ron Artest has been routinely taken to task for his low shooting percentage this season. Bring Back Novak of The Dream Shake discovered a surprising anomoly in Artest’s shot chart. Artest is shooting 37% (39-of-104) from close-range. According to Artest’s shot selection breakdown at 82games.com, Ron is actually shooting better from mid-range (42.8%), than close-range (37.3%).
There are two reasons for this:
1. Artest gets zero lift when he attempts to finish at the basket.
2. Artest forces shots when he gets in the lane.
The first reason is probably reaching a bit too far. Paul Pierce is anything but a high-flyer, and yet Pierce is shooting 49% from close-range — 59.9% according to 82games.com.
As always, it boils down to shot selection with Artest. A bad shot is a bad shot, it doesn’t matter how close he is to the basket.
December 11th, 2008 at 3:07 pm
Ha, ha…Artest’s 3-pt % is higher than his FG %.
I’m trying to figure out how it’s possible that he leads the team in Field Goal attempts. Someone should send him a memo or something.
December 11th, 2008 at 5:16 pm
Artest’s field goal percentage is pretty surprising. He’s always taken his fair share of bad shots, but we’re talkin’ about layups. Not jumpers, not jumpers, we talkin’ bout layups.
Lol.
Ron-Ron’s per game shot average has a lot to do with McGrady and Barry’s absence. Houston really needs a facilitator to distribute shots. Yao is getting touches but he just hasn’t been aggressive enough.
December 12th, 2008 at 7:53 am
I am SO glad Artest didn’t go to the Lakers. I never thought they needed him.
December 15th, 2008 at 2:23 pm
[...] is just a late-night snack. – Truth About It – Eddie Jordan may not be unemployed much longer. – Ballerblogger – Ron Artest as model of inefficiency for the Houston Rockets. – Yahoo! Sports – After 20 years, [...]
December 15th, 2008 at 2:58 pm
Ron’s has been playing on a bum ankle most of the season so far and that’s why he’s getting no lift near the basket. He’s been able to stand and shoot from the outside.
Ron will be fine.