Number of close games per team in 2021-22 NBA regular season

[Johnny Tomala]

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.

[DaGawd]

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

[Duffman100]

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.

[Gorilla Monsoon]

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.

[joeschmo]

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.

[DaGawd]

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

[prelude00]

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

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[Johnny Tomala]

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

Sent from my SM-G965W using Tapatalk

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

[Johnny Tomala]

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.

[The-Power]

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

[pingpongrac]

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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[BadWolf]

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

[Johnny Tomala]

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.

[boomershadow]

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

[alevirfe]

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

[alevirfe]

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?

[KamikazeK]

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.

[dchoye]

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

[Johnny Tomala]

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.

[whitehops]

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.