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A year ago in this post, I proposed a new metric for the box score: number of fouls drawn by a player. The idea was to look at the ratio of fouls drawn to fouls committed - an efficiency metric similar to the assist to turnover ratio, but used to measure the effectiveness of a player’s intensity. In the opening game of the Western Conference Finals, Dirk Nowitzki was unstoppable. He had 48 points, 6 boards, and 4 blocks - aggressive on both the offensive and defensive end. What is not clear from Nowitzki’s stats is that he drew 16 fouls from 7 different players (nearly 60% of the 27 fouls by the Thunder were committed on Dirk). Serge Ibaka was supposed to be the player with the best chance to slow down Nowitzki, but he committed 5 fouls throughout the game, all on Dirk, and had no impact on Dirk's performance. Nowitzki’s ability to draw fouls on multiple players caused the Thunder to adjust their defensive rotation as players were forced to sit on the bench due to foul trouble. Dirk aggressively called for the ball and took advantage of his opportunities at the free throw line, converting on all 24 attempts - an NBA Playoff record. Meanwhile, he only committed 3 fouls in his 41 minutes of play. The number of fouls drawn should be a metric used to help value a player as it indicates the pressure he places on the opposing team's defense.
The Lakers have always had difficulty with quick, penetrating point guards, turning unfamiliar bench players into household names: Aaron Brooks of the Rockets in 2009, Goran Drajic of the Suns in 2010, and most recently in the second round of the 2011 NBA Playoffs, Jose Juan Barea of the Mavericks.
Undrafted in the 2006 NBA draft, 6-0, 175 pound Barea signed with the Mavericks after playing in the NBA Summer Vegas League. While his impact on the game was apparent through the box score (22 points, 8 assists in game four), it was his ability to get under the skin of the Lakers and to disrupt them on the defensive end that proved even more valuable.Throughout the series, and particularly in game four, Barea was able to weave through the defense and easily penetrate to the basket. He made five of his nine field goals in the paint compared to Lakers big men Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum who combined for only three field goals inside. He caused miscommunication on the pick-and-roll and frustrated players - both Ron Artest and Bynum were ejected for flagrant fouls on Barea.
It will be interesting to see what happens with the Lakers roster this offseason considering Magic Johnson’s recent comments that Dr. Jerry Buss should “blow up” the team if they are swept by the Mavericks. While it is unknown what will happen to the team, one thing is clear: the Lakers have consistently been outplayed by quick point guards and need to find an answer.
