How good is Von Wafer at scoring? (Interesting Stats)

[ADRajX]

The question that I seemed to conjure up after tonight's game was, "what's with this guy?" He scored 9pts in 9min. He looked better than J-Rich (who played atrociously). In the NBA Von Wafer is a career 167gms, 5.1ppg, 0.7apg, 1.1rpg player. In the D-League he is a career 50gms, 19.0ppg, 2.8rpg, 2.9apg player. So something just didn't seem right, or didn't seem to match-up with what I was seeing on the court with him. The guy is obviously/observantly talented, quick, and athletic with a good basketball IQ (source: http://www.basketball-reference.com/pla ... rvo01.html)...

...So I went ahead and searched through all of the NBA games Von Wafer played in ESPN's Game Log. I specifically sought after games where he took AT LEAST 10 or more shot attempts (FGA) and I copy/pasted those individual stat-lines in order from oldest to most recent into MS Paint. I then uploaded the saved image onto ImageShack (it's posted here in the OP, click on it to view the overall numbers). I averaged the total numbers for each statistical category. Check out the results. I was quite pleased with them.

I believe with AT LEAST 10 shots it gives me better indication of what kind of a "prolific scorer/player" Von Wafer is (or potentially can become) when given starter minutes and starter shot attempts going at the basket. So far I have been impressed with his ability to drive/attack at the basket with his extremely quick first step. Defensively he seems to be okay. One of our biggest needs is some scoring off the dribble/at the basket from our back-court. So take a look for yourself (click the image). Do the numbers lie? You be the judge. He's still young (26yo), and this team doesn't have many players that can attack the basket except for Nelson (and possibly Liggins, but that's still up for debate). He has shown the knack to get to the hoop thus far, even though we've only played 2 preseason games, and 1 regular season game. Does Von Wafer start at SG and/or get more minutes coming off the bench? I say "Yes."

Click image to view full stats. There was only 29 games total where Von Wafer took AT LEAST 10 shots (FGA). The averages are at the bottom of the image in bold.


Key Game Logs :
http://espn.go.com/nba/player/gamelog/_ ... /von-wafer
http://espn.go.com/nba/player/gamelog/_ ... /von-wafer
http://espn.go.com/nba/player/gamelog/_ ... /von-wafer

EDIT* I forgot to do his FT averages... they are 46/62ft (FTM/FTA), 74.19%ft

[thelead]

Proves that he deserves at least a look to be the starting 2. Skeptics will say that he obviously only takes a high volume of shots when he's hot (or at least, his coach only gave him the opportunity to take that many shots because he was on)...

[ADRajX]

Proves that he deserves at least a look to be the starting 2. Skeptics will say that he obviously only takes a high volume of shots when he's hot (or at least, his coach only gave him the opportunity to take that many shots because he was on)...

Out of 167 games, he has only taken 10 or more shots in 29 games... I have noticed some nice games from him where he took 7-9 shots (check out his 2008-2009 game log)... but yes, I think our coaching staff should at least give him a second look and opportunity the next several games; and re-think their rotations at PG and SG. (for ex: Hughes as back-up PG, instead of Duhon)

[Mule Tears]

Yet he only got 9 minutes against OKC. I am starting to question Stan now. We need someone explosive who can cut, attack, and drive, and this guy cannot find minutes in the rotation.

[ADRajX]

Yet he only got 9 minutes against OKC. I am starting to question Stan now. We need someone explosive who can cut, attack, and drive, and this guy cannot find minutes in the rotation.

Well in Stan's defense, he didn't have much of a training camp to really iron out these rotations... I think a lot of them were done on the fly a week before the season began. I think the next week or two of the season will hopefully help SVG figure out his rotations at PG, SG, and SF. I would have guessed that if SVG had 6-8 weeks of proper training camp and full preseason games, he would have named Hughes the back-up at PG, and he would have given Von Wafer more minutes and attempts at SG.

I bet SVG is just as surprised as us when it comes to Von Wafer and his ability to cut, drive, attack, and push the ball towards the hoop... any time a player can collapse the defense, it's a good thing imo.

[thelead]

Yet he only got 9 minutes against OKC. I am starting to question Stan now. We need someone explosive who can cut, attack, and drive, and this guy cannot find minutes in the rotation.

Well in Stan's defense, he didn't have much of a training camp to really iron out these rotations... I think a lot of them were done on the fly a week before the season began. I think the next week or two of the season will hopefully help SVG figure out his rotations at PG, SG, and SF.

I bet SVG is just as surprised as us when it comes to Von Wafer and his ability to cut, drive, attack, and push the ball towards the hoop... any time a player can collapse the defense, it's a good thing imo.

I've always supported Stan, but I'm losing my patience with him... I don't know how much more I can support when we continue to lose the SAME EXACT way.

[kasedafk_1]

Svg stubbornness will always affect this teams success...

[MiracleBZop]

i really do like what i see from wafer. he seems like a guy willing to protect the ball when driving and create for himself at the hoop. you're right DJ, no else on our team does that except for jameer and von.

with these "numbers" wouldn't this make jason richardson more expendable, as in we can just trade him? split the minutes at shooting guard with wafer and redick, since they are both younger and both can be more productive than jason richardson. j-rich has been an utter disappointment for us and he is not getting any younger or better.

the statistics you posted DJ are from a few seasons ago, so von wafer may have improved actually. i heard he played well overseas, and playing with the celtics is always a good way to learn how to win.

i think it's time svg makes some much needed changes. i'm tired of hedo, j-rich, and duhon stinking up the joint. i want to see more of wafer & hughes, as well as q-rich, clark, and harper at sf.

my recommendation would be to start redick, have von wafer come off the bench. trade j-rich when possible. in the meantime, play j-rich at sf to showcase him, move hedo to the bench.

[ADRajX]

i really do like what i see from wafer. he seems like a guy willing to protect the ball when driving and create for himself at the hoop. you're right DJ, no else on our team does that except for jameer and von.

with these "numbers" wouldn't this make jason richardson more expendable, as in we can just trade him? split the minutes at shooting guard with wafer and redick, since they are both younger and both can be more productive than jason richardson. j-rich has been an utter disappointment for us and he is not getting any younger or better.

the statistics you posted DJ are from a few seasons ago, so von wafer may have improved actually. i heard he played well overseas, and playing with the celtics is always a good way to learn how to win.

i think it's time svg makes some much needed changes. i'm tired of hedo, j-rich, and duhon stinking up the joint. i want to see more of wafer & hughes, as well as q-rich, clark, and harper at sf.

my recommendation would be to start redick, have von wafer come off the bench. trade j-rich when possible. in the meantime, play j-rich at sf to showcase him, move hedo to the bench.

+1

[Phantom418]

Well Wafer's time w/ the Celtics was spent playing mop up minutes and still being a somewhat bonehead on the offensive end. I like the driving he did against the Thunder, but I would like to see that if/when he's given more PT. If he can consistently attack the basket while having a bigger role in the rotation, it will totally change my perception of him.

[aleZ]

He's coming off 2 months (and a training camp) playing in the italian league with tougher rules for contact and a 20ppg average so he's in a better shape than J-Rich. That's all.

As soon as Richardson will be back 100% von will look like the role player that he is.

[Reverse_Angle]

There is a reason this guy couldn't really make it in the NBA. Anyone knows why?

[thelead]

There is a reason this guy couldn't really make it in the NBA. Anyone knows why?

He doesn't play a lick of D, but neither does JRich...

[Reverse_Angle]

There is a reason this guy couldn't really make it in the NBA. Anyone knows why?

He doesn't play a lick of D, but neither does JRich...

Can't be just that.

[Dazza]

Wafer was good when he was on the rockets, he was a good punch off the bench, I'd like to see him play more.

[RickB-Orlando]

There is a reason this guy couldn't really make it in the NBA. Anyone knows why?

He doesn't play a lick of D, but neither does JRich...

Can't be just that.

He's had a reputation of being a bit of a head case and attitude problems. From wikipedia:

During a workout with the Phoenix Suns, Wafer reportedly was frustrated by the physical play from Jan Jagla, and responded by laying an intentional elbow to Jagla's nose, then walked off the court and ended the workout at that point.

On the other hand, he also was quoted as saying he matured and learned a lot in his year playing with the veteran Celtic team in general and I think Ray Allen specificaly. Maybe he's straightened himself out, but he sounds like a talented guy that has that 'always in danger of running off the road' sort of career that end up spending bits and pieces of time with many different teams.

[Neon1]

There is a reason this guy couldn't really make it in the NBA. Anyone knows why?

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f6cVfAXxb3c&feature=related[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IGxAzZ9ERDY[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M6d_hNDH7oM&feature=related[/youtube]

[Neon1]

The missed dunk/celebration/forces teamate into turnover was ALL-TIME lulz worthy

[Student_of_Game]

Von's problems have never been physical or from lack of skills/potential ... it's always been mental for him, whether that has been a bonehead mistake, bad attitude, or lack of effort on the defensive side of the ball. If he has truly matured, which is possible (he spent almost a year out of the league before getting picked up by the Celtics), he could be an excellent contributer to this team. I'd love to see him play a Jason Terry/James Harden role. I think he can be a 15ppg scorer coming off if given 20-24 mpg. The problem, as some pointed out, is the logjam at SG.

[trebone]

I would love for us to be able to stay competitive and in march move JRich for a REAL backup C, not a pf playing out of position.