Positives with Thursday New Orleans Pelicans, Philadelphia 76ers Matchup
NOP @ PHI
Tobias Harris has converted 2.4 threes per game over the last 5 games, 1.2 more than he’s converted over the course of the season.
Tobias Harris has been on the court for 33.9 minutes per game when playing at home this year, ranking in the 91st percentile — putting him among the most-used players in the NBA.
The matchup vs. New Orleans is a strong one for shots from behind the three-point arc; when the New Orleans Pelicans are on the road, the opposition’s starting PFs have averaged the 28th-most 3-point attempts per game in the NBA this year (5.4).
The Philadelphia 76ers rank as the 3rd-best offensive rebounding offense in the league over the last 15 games as the home team (offensive rebounds maintain possession and may therefore lead to new chances for scoring and assists).
Tobias Harris will enjoy the benefit of the home court advantage in this game. Playing with the home court advantage generally boosts player production in all stat categories.
Tobias Harris has attempted 17.0 shots per game over the last 5 games, 3.5 higher than he’s attempted over the course of the season.
Relative to last season’s 1.5 clip, Tobias Harris’s free throws converted have jumped this season to 2.8 per game.
Out of all players in the league, Buddy Hield slots into the 95th percentile for shot attempts from beyond the arc, posting 7.1 per game this year.
The matchup vs. the Pelicans is a strong one for shot attempts from downtown; the other team’s starting SGs have tallied the 27th-most three attempts per game in the league this year (6.1).
Buddy Hield stands to see an increase in efficiency in all facets of the game in light of holding the home court advantage in this game.
Out of all players in the NBA, Buddy Hield lands in the 80th percentile for foul-shot performance with a a stellar 84.6% rate this year.
In comparison to last season’s 6.4 mark, Tyrese Maxey’s shot attempts from beyond the arc have increased this season to 8.1 per game.
Tyrese Maxey has played 37.4 minutes per game this year, ranking among the most used players in the league: 99th percentile.
Away from their home court, the Pelicans have allowed the 2nd-least offensive rebounds per game (9.2) in the NBA to opposing squads this year (offensive rebounds maintain possession, and a lack of them may therefore reduce additional chances for scoring and assists).
Relative to last year’s 15.6 rate, Tyrese Maxey’s shots have spiked this year to 20.2 per game.
Negatives with Thursday Matchup with the New Orleans Pelicans, Philadelphia 76ers
The 5th-least up-tempo pace-of-play team in the league over the last 5 games has been the 76ers.
The 76ers will likely see a decline in possessions in this game from competing against the 5th-least up-tempo pace-of-play away team in the league over the last 5 games (the New Orleans Pelicans).
Over the last 5 games, their opposition has brought down 13.4 offensive boards per game (highest in the league) against the Pelicans (maintaining possessions that can create bonus chances for offense).
The Philadelphia 76ers have been the 4th-lowest scoring offense in the NBA over the last 5 games playing at home.
The matchup against Zion Williamson is a tough one for shots from the field; when guarding other starting PFs this year, they have sunk a lowly 44.6% of their field goal attempts (10th percentile).
Buddy Hield has been called for 0.2 technical fouls per game over the last 5 games while at home, 0.1 more than he’s been called for in all games this season at home.
Over the last 15 games, the other team’s starting SGs have attempted 1.2 foul shots per game (13th-lowest in the NBA) vs. the New Orleans Pelicans, facing an uphill battle to get to the foul line.