Kevin Seraphin

[Ed Wood]

Both Booker and Seraphin (and McGee actually) are kind of cool examples of the relative nature of advanced basketball statistics (talking about PER in particular). PER is meant to compare every player in the league to a Platonic average which is set at 15.

Booker last year scored at just about the same rate and with roughly the same efficiency (his eFG% is higher because he's finishing better but his TS% isn't really very different because he's drawing fewer fouls and hasn't been as good from the line).

He's been a little better as a rebounder, and is doing more defensive rebounding and less offensive rebounding (if that's a conscious choice that's kind of cool) and his steal, block and turnover rates are all a little up. His assist rate is basically identical. Overall his ORtg (offensive rating, points scored per 100 possessions with him on the floor) is down, which is bad (but it's down across the league) and his DRtg is also down, which is good, by about the same amount.

All in all you'd expect about the same PER because he doesn't look like he's very different as a player. A little better at rebounding, not much different in terms of scoring or anything else really. But his PER is up from 15.3, about average, to 17.3, above average. I can only assume this is a result of not getting worse as the entire league has been a little worse this year.

Anyway Seraphin has just been better, like at everything. Finishing better (up .28% in eFG, .45% in TS) passing better (up 2.8% in assist %, still not good) rebounding better (1.7% in rebounding percentage, and notably 8.4% in defensive rebounding rate) block rate up, steal rate... well not up actually but it's pretty close to the same, offensive rating up, defensive rating down, usage up, turnover rate down. All this and he looks like he's actually sort of in shape. As has been said he shouldn't be viewed as an irreplaceable commodity but in a year we've been very discouraged by lack of progress from a lot of players it's cool to see a guy who's just a better player across the board*.

*Note these results obtained in a small sample size and heavily influenced by a few strong performances, actual results may vary.

[tontoz]

Kevins current PER of 15.2 would rank him 27th among centers if he had enough minutes to qualify for the list.

Small sample size is definitely an issue, but to me he really passes the eye test. How many bigs have the strength to stand their ground against Howard while also having the mobility to stay in front of him? Not many

We also have to keep in mind that he didn't start playing bball until he was 15 which probably explains some of his turnover problems.

[nate33]

Ed Wood is giving me hope.

Seraphin looks like he might actually become a productive NBA player. Booker already is productive. Singleton has taken a step back, but I'm pretty confident he'll figure things out. Mack looks like he might be a productive NBA backup. The team looks fairly deep in role players who Whitman has playing "the right way".

Wall has a world of talent despite a sophomore slump. McGee continues to gradually increase that PER each season, and he is ever so slowly is cutting back on his mistakes. If we can add a star-caliber player in the draft and a star-caliber player in free agency, (and Wall figures things out,) the team might suddenly be pretty good next year.

Somebody hit me over the head before I start actually feeling good about this team.

[Illuminaire]

Somebody hit me over the head before I start actually feeling good about this team.

Nate! This is Future Illuminaire, coming back from 2014 to warn you. I don't have much time before the quantum field collapses. But there are things you need to know. The lottery is rigged - don't put your hopes in it. We got our new starting PF, Perry Jones III, and he will be everything everyone feared - Tim Thomas 2.0 without the 3-point shot. No top tier agents are willing to come here - some out right laughed at the idea - but we do manage to sign some a limited roleplayer coming off a big playoff run to a four year, 25 million dollar contract.

Wall never learned to shoot. Reports say he spent his last two summers doing the Dougie and popping jello shots with 'Dray.

McGee actually turned the corner and started getting down to business. Burned his X-box and shut down his twitter, started putting in six hour skill sessions at the gym. Looked like the third best center in the league at the start of 2014... up until he lost his left hand trying to jump over a circular saw at the dunk contest. He made the dunk, btw, but Blake (@^*!&!^ Griffin still won by kissing a puppy perched on the rim.

DO. NOT. HOOOOOOPE. *vanish*

[JAR69]

Somebody hit me over the head before I start actually feeling good about this team.

Nate! This is Future Illuminaire, coming back from 2014 to warn you. I don't have much time before the quantum field collapses. But there are things you need to know. The lottery is rigged - don't put your hopes in it. We got our new starting PF, Perry Jones III, and he will be everything everyone feared - Tim Thomas 2.0 without the 3-point shot. No top tier agents are willing to come here - some out right laughed at the idea - but we do manage to sign some a limited roleplayer coming off a big playoff run to a four year, 25 million dollar contract.

Wall never learned to shoot. Reports say he spent his last two summers doing the Dougie and popping jello shots with 'Dray.

McGee actually turned the corner and started getting down to business. Burned his X-box and shut down his twitter, started putting in six hour skill sessions at the gym. Looked like the third best center in the league at the start of 2014... up until he lost his left hand trying to jump over a circular saw at the dunk contest. He made the dunk, btw, but Blake (@^*!&!^ Griffin still won by kissing a puppy perched on the rim.

DO. NOT. HOOOOOOPE. *vanish*

I'll nominate for HOF post.

[tontoz]

Actually i found it a little disturbing.

[cdouglas]

Serraphin always looks like he's mad at someone on the floor. I really like that in a center.

[nate33]

Somebody hit me over the head before I start actually feeling good about this team.

Nate! This is Future Illuminaire, coming back from 2014 to warn you. I don't have much time before the quantum field collapses. But there are things you need to know. The lottery is rigged - don't put your hopes in it. We got our new starting PF, Perry Jones III, and he will be everything everyone feared - Tim Thomas 2.0 without the 3-point shot. No top tier agents are willing to come here - some out right laughed at the idea - but we do manage to sign some a limited roleplayer coming off a big playoff run to a four year, 25 million dollar contract.

Wall never learned to shoot. Reports say he spent his last two summers doing the Dougie and popping jello shots with 'Dray.

McGee actually turned the corner and started getting down to business. Burned his X-box and shut down his twitter, started putting in six hour skill sessions at the gym. Looked like the third best center in the league at the start of 2014... up until he lost his left hand trying to jump over a circular saw at the dunk contest. He made the dunk, btw, but Blake (@^*!&!^ Griffin still won by kissing a puppy perched on the rim.

DO. NOT. HOOOOOOPE. *vanish*

Thanks future Illuminaire. I needed that.

[fishercob]

Illuminaire, that was fabulous.

[doclinkin]

enshrinables.

Done.

[jangles86]

I've never realized Kevin is from south America

[hands11]

Playing Seraphin alongside McGee is what CCJ orginally proposed and I am a co-signer. What would be the harm in trying it a few times?

Nice to see a few finally coming around to the KS at PF idea.

But I dont think we will see much of it until they find a viable option to back up at center. They have been juggling between Dray doing it and KS getting his feet settled which he seems to be doing.

A healthy Ronny would really mix things up. That was a really tough injury for this team to absorb.

[tontoz]

Playing Seraphin alongside McGee is what CCJ orginally proposed and I am a co-signer. What would be the harm in trying it a few times?

Nice to see a few finally coming around to the KS at PF idea.

But I dont think we will see much of it until they find a viable option to back up at center. They have been juggling between Dray doing it and KS getting his feet settled which he seems to be doing.

A healthy Ronny would really mix things up. That was a really tough injury for this team to absorb.

I am glad Turiaf is out. I hope he stays out. If he was playing then Seraphin would be glued to the bench.

[Ruzious]

Playing Seraphin alongside McGee is what CCJ orginally proposed and I am a co-signer. What would be the harm in trying it a few times?

Nice to see a few finally coming around to the KS at PF idea.

But I dont think we will see much of it until they find a viable option to back up at center. They have been juggling between Dray doing it and KS getting his feet settled which he seems to be doing.

A healthy Ronny would really mix things up. That was a really tough injury for this team to absorb.

I am glad Turiaf is out. I hope he stays out. If he was playing then Seraphin would be glued to the bench.

That I can agree with. But I would like to see more than one good game per year from Seraphin before deciding that he's got a significant future in the NBA.

[tontoz]

That I can agree with. But I would like to see more than one good game per year from Seraphin before deciding that he's got a significant future in the NBA.

Seraphin had 12/5 against Philly with 3 blocks. He had 8/7 against the Cats. He had 6/6 with 2 blocks in only 18 minutes in the second Philly game. Are you saying those weren't good games?

[Ruzious]

That I can agree with. But I would like to see more than one good game per year from Seraphin before deciding that he's got a significant future in the NBA.

Seraphin had 12/5 against Philly with 3 blocks. He had 8/7 against the Cats. He had 6/6 with 2 blocks in only 18 minutes in the second Philly game. Are you saying those weren't good games?

I don't think they were particularly significant.

[montestewart]

Seraphin's per 36 is 10/10/3.7 BS. He's had some bad games, but he didn't get those numbers without having some good ones too.

[tontoz]

That I can agree with. But I would like to see more than one good game per year from Seraphin before deciding that he's got a significant future in the NBA.

Seraphin had 12/5 against Philly with 3 blocks. He had 8/7 against the Cats. He had 6/6 with 2 blocks in only 18 minutes in the second Philly game. Are you saying those weren't good games?

I don't think they were particularly significant.

So what does that even mean? Were they good games or not?

If he plays well in garbage time it won't be "significant" since they lose big regardless. All he can be expected to do is play well when he is in the game no matter what the situation is.

[pancakes3]

sliding scale, and relative at that.

just because it wasn't a bad game doesn't mean it was a good game. also, a good game - for him - should also be taken into account. a 8/7 game against the bobcats is a miserable game for dwight but a pleasantly productive game for seraphin.

the point remains, seraphin is showing that he deserves a roster spot. however he's still got a ways to go before people are lock set on him being a major part of our future plans.

[tontoz]

a 8/7 game against the bobcats is a miserable game for dwight but a pleasantly productive game for seraphin.

First of all Howard plays a lot more than 22 minutes. Secondly you are comparing him to the best center in the game.

8/7 in 22 minutes equates to 13/11.5 per 36. In the 3 games i quoted (2 of them against Philly) Seraphin's per 36 numbers were 15/10.5 with 3 blocks shooting over 50%.