Where have all the gunners gone?

[benji]

http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/post/_ ... nners-gone

Brent Barry e-mailed. He was wondering why these days so few NBA players average 20 or more points per game.

There's just nine in the whole league, at the moment, he pointed out. As recently as 2007-2008 there were 27.

Three times as many!

Remember, those are the most exciting players to watch. The human highlight reels, the putting-butts-in-seats guys, the players a million kids on a million blacktops dream of becoming.

And two-thirds of them have essentially gone missing. As if stolen.

Gone with them are a bundle of special memories, including almost all the 50-point nights.

If aliens had lured them to another planet to start a highly rated hoops league there, we'd have a massive story worthy of Hollywood.

But they have disappeared in some other way that's tougher to notice. Slipped out the back door. And ... crickets. Our scorers have gone, our scorers have gone and ... barely a whisper.

[Andrew]

Interesting observations, I noticed that myself when I glanced at the scoring leaders the other day. I don't think it's hurt the sport though, we still get to see some exciting games and big scoring performances.

[shadowgrin]

http://www.sbnation.com/2012/12/7/37393 ... oring-hook

Kobe is responsible for 24 of 143 50-point nights since 1989-90 -- that's 17 percent of them. That's more than any other player in that span, ahead of Michael Jordan (15), Allen Iverson (11) and LeBron James (nine)

G.O.A.T.

[deihatein]

Interesting observations, I noticed that myself when I glanced at the scoring leaders the other day. I don't think it's hurt the sport though, we still get to see some exciting games and big scoring performances.

All-star players joining other All-star players might also factor into that.

[shadowgrin]

All-star players joining other All-star players might also factor into that.

Not in picture: Andrew Toney






Too many to name and find pictures, the logo will do.

[NovU]

Miami Heat trio effect. People think the superstars are suddenly looking to join one another.

Once upon a time, lots of teams preferred an "isolation" offense, which meant one player dribbling alone against one defender, while as many as eight guys caught breathers. On many NBA plays these days, nobody stands around. It's common to see 10 guys flying all over the court. This is not your daddy's NBA.

Also worth quoting. Lol.

[Andrew]

All-star players joining other All-star players might also factor into that.

It probably does account for a few players averaging under 20 who might normally be scoring a little more. Dwight Howard would likely be averaging 20 or more if he were still in Orlando, same goes for Chris Bosh if he weren't sharing the ball with LeBron and Wade and still the number one option in Toronto. As it is though they're not far off, averaging around 17-18 ppg.