Picking Cherries: 7 NBA statistics that stand out so far this season

We’re two weeks into the 2023-24NBA season, which is far too early for overarching declarations,but not too early for a statistical deep dive into some numbersthat jumped out at us. Put on your wetsuits.

52

Portland Trail Blazers sophomoreShaedon Sharpe has been assisted on 52% of his made baskets this season, downconsiderably from the 67% he was assisted on last season. Thatnumber dropping, combined with Sharpe’s points per gamerising (20.1 PPG, up from 9.9 last season), allows usto infer a few things.

First, it shows that Sharpe’srole has increased significantly, which we expected. With DamianLillard gone and Anfernee Simons sidelined for a few months with aninjury, Sharpe was the obvious next man up regarding shot attempts.And the 20-year-old isn't afraid to put up shots, as he'sattempting over 15 per game.

Secondly, it shows that Sharpeis getting his own buckets. His self-creation ability is one of themain reasons he was the No. 7 overall pick in last year's draft –despite not playing any college ball – and he’s starting to turnthat creation potential into a real skill on a nightlybasis.

Shaedon Sharpe’s 26-point second half:pic.twitter.com/lyhXlJzCcg

— Brett Usher (@UsherNBA) November 2, 2023

36.9

That’s how many minutes LosAngeles Lakers big man Anthony Davis is playing per game thus far,which would be a career-high. While that number will surely comedown as the season progresses – we don’t think Darvin Ham wants torun AD into the ground during the regular season – it’s a good signnonetheless that he can play that many minutes a night.

Davis is making the most of hisminutes too. He is leading the league in blocks per game (3.3) andhas shot the ball extremely well from three-point range (42.9%).Maybe more importantly, he’s shooting just one three-pointer agame! That’s a great number!

100.7

That’s the league-leadingdefensive rating of the Minnesota Timberwolves. This would be thebest DRTG in the NBA since the 2015-16 San Antonio Spurs, whofinished the season with a simply outrageous 98.2DRTG.

Is Minnesota the best defensiveteam in almost a decade? Probably not, but theydo have the potential to be elite defensively, andthey are showing that through two weeks. Rudy Gobert is blocking2.4 shots per game – much closer to his career average (2.1) thanlast season, when he was down to 1.4 blocks pergame.

Surrounding Gobert is KyleAnderson (who is still being a pest, while averaging 1.9 steals +blocks per game), a healthy Jaden McDaniels (who solidifies anydefense), a 36-year-old Mike Conley (who has lost a step but stillprovides intelligent play on both ends), Nickeil Alexander-Walker(who is blocking shots like a madman, with a 2.7 block percentage)and budding (budded?) superstar Anthony Edwards (who is as boughtin defensively as he ever has been).

Anthony Edwards is a two-way force- hard closeout + block on defense- tough PnR euro + finish through contact on offense pic.twitter.com/G3zZJNVJKf

— Timberwolves Clips (@WolvesClips) November 5, 2023

50

That is Tyrese Haliburton’s AST%right now. Seriously. If a player on the Indiana Pacers makes ashot, there’s a coin flip chance that Haliburton assisted it.Sustainable? Maybe not. But I am confident in calling Haliburton atop-three facilitator in the league, and he could absolutely get toNo. 1 on that list if his game continues to ascend at the pace ithas in his first few seasons.

Haliburton has flash in hisgame, of course:

Haliburton with the no-look pass🙈pic.twitter.com/daZesj2sml

— BasketballNews.com (@basketbllnews) October 30, 2023

But like all the greatdistributors, some of his best passes don’t even end up as assists– like this cross-court dime against Charlotte lastSaturday:

This is a great cross court pass fromHaliburton and swing to Buddy. Pay attention to Charlotte's defenseMelo sprints over to Brown but no one else tries to make a run atHield until after he's making the catch. pic.twitter.com/A0msdX9Cih

— Mo Dakhil (@MoDakhil_NBA) November 5, 2023

10.3 and13.8

The first number is how manyassists Chris Paul records for every turnover he commits. Paul’sfacilitation is still elite, and the Golden State Warriors' secondunit is benefitting mightily because of it. Point God liveson.

Here come the Dubs 👀 pic.twitter.com/oPW29CMIgg

— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) November 6, 2023

The second number, however, isPaul’s three-point percentage this season. Paul is struggling toscore regularly right now.

Dario Saric has been a nicesurprise for Golden State off the bench, Jonathan Kuminga isscoring nearly 13 points per game and Gary Payton II is shootingthe ball well too. Everyone plays better when Paul is distributingat an elite level like this.

81.0

That’s Mark Williams’ field goalpercentage through six games. The Charlotte Hornets' second-yearbig man is looking like the big rim presence the franchise hasdesperately needed in recent years.

Williams was solid in a startingrole down the stretch of last season – and he appears to haverefined pretty much every aspect of his game in yeartwo.

As a prospect, Williams waswidely perceived as a defensive force with minimal offensiveability. But seemingly every game, Williams gets more comfortableon the offensive end, showcased by a career-high 27 points onNovember 4.