Here is a blind comparison from four different players and their stats. Rank these plates before looking at who they are. Note these stats are from a bit earlier in the year.
Player 1:
Per 100 Possessions: 26.6 points (44.4% FG, 42.2% 3P, 82.9% FT, and 58.8% TS), 9.4 assists (25.7 AST Points Created and 1.3 Secondary Assists), 3.1 turnovers, 5.8 rebounds, 2.4 steals, and 0.2 blocks
Advanced Stats: (29 games played and 29.4 MPG) 19.2 PER, 3.4 WS (2.3 OWS, 1.1 DWS), .194 WS/48, 3.9 BPM (3.4 OBPM, 0.5 DBPM), 1.3 VORP, 8.9 TOT. Overall RAPTOR (3.9 O-RAPTOR, 5 D-RAPTOR), 5.1 RAPTOR WAR, .287 RAPTOR WAR/48, 5.7 EPM (3.3 OEPM, 2.5 DEPM), 5.1 EW, .287 EW/48, 3.23 RAPM (1.51 ORAPM, 1.72 DRAPM), 2.892 Wins Added, 0.163 Wins Added/48, and 2.773 LEBRON (2.114 O-LEBRON, 0.572 D-LEBRON)
Player 2:
Per 100 Possessions: 35.4 points (42.1% FG, 38.2% 3P, 82.4% FT, and 54.9% TS), 7.7 assists (20.1 AST Points Created and 1.3 Secondary Assists), 4.2 turnovers, 6.7 rebounds, 1.4 steals, and 0.4 blocks
Advanced Stats: (34 games played and 33.9 MPG) 19 PER, 3.2 WS (1.9 OWS, 1.3 DWS), .134 WS/48, 1.7 BPM (2.7 OBPM, -1.0 DBPM), 1.1 VORP, 2.7 TOT. Overall RAPTOR (3.4 O-RAPTOR, -0.7 D-RAPTOR), 3.2 RAPTOR WAR, 0.133 RAPTOR WAR/48, 2.1 EPM (2.7 OEPM, -.06 DEPM), 4.0 EW, .166 EW/48, 1.33 RAPM (1.15 ORAPM, 0.18 DRAPM), 3.473 Wins Added, 0.144 Wins Added/48, and 2.191 LEBRON (3.189 O-LEBRON, -0.998 D-LEBRON)
Player 3:
Per 100 Possessions: 26.4 points (40.0% FG, 38.3% 3P, 89.4% FT, and 54.9% TS), 8.7 assists (23.7 AST Points Created and 0.9 Secondary Assists), 2.7 turnovers, 5.8 rebounds, 2.2 steals, and 1 block
Advanced Stats: (34 games played and 36.7 MPG) 17.7 PER, 3.3 WS (2.1 OWS, 1.3 DWS), .127 WS/48, 2.6 BPM (2.6 OBPM, 0.1 DBPM), 1.5 VORP, 6.4 TOT. Overall RAPTOR (3.6 O-RAPTOR, 2.8 D-RAPTOR), 5.8 RAPTOR WAR, .223 RAPTOR WAR/48, 3.8 EPM (2.4 OEPM, 1.5 DEPM), 5.9 EW, .227 EW/48, 2.06 RAPM (1.30 ORAPM, 0.76 DRAPM), 4.368 Wins Added, .168 Wins Added/48, and 2.936 LEBRON (2.364 O-LEBRON, 0.572 D-LEBRON)
Player 4:
Per 100 Possessions: 27.4 points (42.8% FG, 29.4% 3P, 58.3% FT, and 48.4% TS), 13.3 assists (36.1 AST Points Created and 1.4 Secondary Assists), 6.5 turnovers, 13.2 rebounds, 1.6 steals, and 0.5 blocks
Advanced Stats: (27 games played and 34.2 MPG), 16.1 PER, 0.0 WS (-0.9 OWS, 0.9 DWS), .001 WS/48, -0.2 BPM (0.6 OBPM, -.08 DBPM), 0.4 VORP, -5.1 TOT. Overall RAPTOR (-2.3 O-RAPTOR, -2.8 D-RAPTOR), -1.1 RAPTOR WAR, -.057 RAPTOR WAR/48, -1.2 EPM (-0.7 OEPM, -0.4 DEPM), 1.2 EW, 0.062 EW/48, -2.06 RAPM (-1.84 ORAPM, -0.21 DRAPM), 2.161 Wins Added, 0.112 Wins Added/48, and 1.190 LEBRON (0.656 O-LEBRON, 0.534 D-LEBRON)
In this comparison we have four different players. Player 1 has the ball in his hands a fair amount, but is efficient on relatively mid volume. Also, a complete advanced stats darling. Overall one of the best advanced stats profiles. Player 2 is a higher volume scorer on less efficiency, and a fairly solid playmaker. Looking at the advanced numbers it looks like Player 2 could become a better defender. Player 3 is an all round pretty decent player, but nothing special. Solid scorer, solid efficiency, and good passer. Above average overall. Player 4 is inefficient as a scorer, although his AST Points created and assists are fairly high. 13.2 rebounds per 100 is a nice number for a guard. Advanced numbers don’t back him up at all. Inefficient scorer, turnovers, and bad defense does not make for a good combo.
After looking at the numbers, player 4 probably comes across as the worst on the list. Depending what you are looking for players 1 and 2 probably rank 1 and 2. Player 3 is most likely the third best. Player 4 is probably last.
Player 1 (Mike Conley)
Player 2 (Donovan Mitchell)
Player 3 (Fred VanVleet)
Player 4 (Russell Westbrook)
After knowing everything, I’m going to say Westbrook isn’t as good as some people think he is. Westbrook is a floor raiser. If the singular goal is to make the playoffs then Westbrook is a solid option. Conley is nowhere near the floor raiser Westbrook is, but as a role player on a competing team Conley might be a better option. Mitchell is a solid volume scorer (his numbers have improved since the stats were recorded). VanVleet is a solid scorer and a solid playmaker.
Photo Credit: CBS Sports
