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For whole season after every matchday I count games that end with score difference 5 points or less. It there is OT and the end score is +6, I don't count it as close game. Close game count as for now after 06/04/2022 games:

Pacers, 76ers, Cavaliers - 26
Raptors, Thunder - 25
Spurs, Lakers - 24
Wizards, Kings - 23
Pistons, Clippers - 22
Suns, Bulls, Celtics, Warriors - 21
Nets, Trail Blazers - 20
Hornets - 19
Nuggets, Magic - 18
Mavericks, Pelicans, Heat - 17
Knicks, Rockets - 16
Timberwolves, Grizzlies, Jazz - 15
Hawks - 14
Bucks - 13

Some observations:
- Pacers are mediocre but they keep games close
- Thunder are bad but somehow they have 25 close games
- Bucks have the least amount of close games, will it bite them in the play-offs

I will update the count till the end of RS.

This tells us all you need to know about the Knicks Szn. Lack a true closer at the end of games

Be curious to the average win percentage of the opposing teams?

A team like the Raptors, it could sway your thoughts on them? Either they're consistently in close games with good team or they're consistently in close games with terrible teams.

DaGawd wrote:This tells us all you need to know about the Knicks Szn. Lack a true closer at the end of games

This year's Knicks were the ultimate moral victory team. Valiant efforts from the youngsters, consistently squandered by Randle and Thibs.

DaGawd wrote:This tells us all you need to know about the Knicks Szn. Lack a true closer at the end of games

No, its the opposite, they have few close games relative to others indicating they get blown out. Its not a closing issue.

joeschmo wrote:

DaGawd wrote:This tells us all you need to know about the Knicks Szn. Lack a true closer at the end of games

No, its the opposite, they have few close games relative to others indicating they get blown out. Its not a closing issue.

16 is a decent enough amount. If they win most of those their record is closer to .500. The Knicks are around middle of the pact in point differential with a -0.5. So no they aren’t blown out often

Did you track the record of the teams in those close games by any chance?

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prelude00 wrote:Did you track the record of the teams in those close games by any chance?

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No, that would have been too much of a hassle.

Final standings:

76ers, Raptors - 27
Pacers, Cavaliers - 26
Thunder, Lakers - 25
Spurs - 24
Wizards, Kings - 23
Pistons, Clippers, Bulls - 22
Suns, Celtics, Warriors - 21
Nets, Trail Blazers - 20
Hornets, Nuggets - 19
Magic, Heat - 18
Mavericks, Pelicans, Rockets - 17
Knicks, Timberwolves - 16
Grizzlies, Jazz, Hawks - 15
Bucks - 13

First round between 76ers and Raptors should be epic with close games.

prelude00 wrote:Did you track the record of the teams in those close games by any chance?

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The NBA does that for you (you can adjust the filters as you please).

https://www.nba.com/stats/teams/clutch-advanced/?sort=W&dir=-1&Season=2021-22&SeasonType=Regular%20Season&ClutchTime=Last%2010%20Seconds

Johnny Tomala wrote:Final standings:

76ers, Raptors - 27
Pacers, Cavaliers - 26
Thunder, Lakers - 25
Spurs - 24
Wizards, Kings - 23
Pistons, Clippers, Bulls - 22
Suns, Celtics, Warriors - 21
Nets, Trail Blazers - 20
Hornets, Nuggets - 19
Magic, Heat - 18
Mavericks, Pelicans, Rockets - 17
Knicks, Timberwolves - 16
Grizzlies, Jazz, Hawks - 15
Bucks - 13

First round between 76ers and Raptors should be epic with close games.

To add to this, all 4 Sixers/Raptors games were decided by 5 or 6 points. They were all extremely close games.

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Every OT game should be a close game, it's weird you didn't include some

BadWolf wrote:Every OT game should be a close game, it's weird you didn't include some

My criteria was result after OT. NBA site counts OT that ended with more than 5 points differential as close game, I don't.

Rick Carlisle executed a masterful tank. He lost so many of those close games without making it look like the team losing on purpose.

DaGawd wrote:

joeschmo wrote:

DaGawd wrote:This tells us all you need to know about the Knicks Szn. Lack a true closer at the end of games

No, its the opposite, they have few close games relative to others indicating they get blown out. Its not a closing issue.

16 is a decent enough amount. If they win most of those their record is closer to .500. The Knicks are around middle of the pact in point differential with a -0.5. So no they aren’t blown out often

Not only are the Knicks near the bottom of the list, but you're also not understanding that close games doesn't mean close game and a loss. the Knicks had 16 close games, they may have won all of them - this number doesn't track the record in those games

interesting to see Philly & the Raps match-up in the first round given they both lead your statistic

I think one could infer a lot about a team but it would require some further digging: do they play up/down to their competition? were these games played against good or bad teams? does close game experience help prepare for the playoffs? what was the team's record in these games?

I'd be interested in taking a look at how each of those teams performed in those close games. My assumption is Boston probably is one of the absolute worst close-game performers because most of our close games came early in the season when we were playing like garbage, and everything after that has mostly been blowouts in our favor.

Made some money on the final day Nets were -16.5 favorites to beat Pacers. I think that a bit too much spread and put some money in the pacers. First time I bet on NBA so maybe a lucky. But the spread created by the bookies weren’t too smart imo for some other games when some teams tanked and other played for pride and must win

Final number of close games in 2021-22 NBA season.

RS
76ers, Raptors - 27
Pacers, Cavaliers - 26
Thunder, Lakers - 25
Spurs - 24
Wizards, Kings - 23
Pistons, Clippers, Bulls - 22
Suns, Celtics, Warriors - 21
Nets, Trail Blazers - 20
Hornets, Nuggets - 19
Magic, Heat - 18
Mavericks, Pelicans, Rockets - 17
Knicks, Timberwolves - 16
Grizzlies, Jazz, Hawks - 15
Bucks - 13

Play-in, PO
Clippers, 76ers, Raptors, Bulls, Suns, Pelicans - 1
Nets, Hawks, Jazz, Mavericks - 2
Timberwolves, Nuggets, Bucks, Heat - 3
Grizzlies, Celtics - 5
Warriors - 6

2022-23 season so far
Heat - 30
Jazz - 21
Mavericks - 20
Raptors, Suns, Kings - 18
Nuggets - 17
Knicks, Lakers, Pacers, Nets - 16
Thunder, Trail Blazers, Warriors, Magic - 15
Hawks, Bulls, Wizards, Pelicans - 14
Hornets, Clippers, 76ers - 13
Celtics, Cavaliers, Timberwolves - 12
Spurs, Grizzlies - 11
Bucks, Pistons, Rockets - 9

Heat have already played more close games than teams with most close games in 2021-22 NBA season.

Johnny Tomala wrote:2022-23 season so far
Heat - 30
Jazz - 21
Mavericks - 20
Raptors, Suns, Kings - 18
Nuggets - 17
Knicks, Lakers, Pacers, Nets - 16
Thunder, Trail Blazers, Warriors, Magic - 15
Hawks, Bulls, Wizards, Pelicans - 14
Hornets, Clippers, 76ers - 13
Celtics, Cavaliers, Timberwolves - 12
Spurs, Grizzlies - 11
Bucks, Pistons, Rockets - 9

Heat have already played more close games than teams with most close games in 2021-22 NBA season.

just for reference, 28.3% of all games so far this season have been close games (5 points or less). 6.8% have gone to OT, 16.8% were one possession games (3 points or less) but 46.8% have been decided by 10 points or more. the average margin of victory is 10.9 points. also fun fact, 59.3% of all games have been won by the home team. there's only 7 teams above .500 on the road and only 2 that have better road records than home records.