Βy Nikos Varlas/ varlas@eurohoops.net
Once more Dimitris Diamantidis is the center of discussion in Panathinaikos. When the team loses badly or wins with ease, 3D is still the man responsible for that. And he will probably continue to be, as long as Panathinaikos doesn’t try to help him and learn to play without him being almost constantly on the court, influencing every aspect of the game, something that doesn’t let Diamantidis rest and take care of his body in order to endure the season and be ready when it counts.
Diamantidis should be at 100% when, under normal conditions, the goals of the season will be decided, the spring of 2014. That’s why Eurohoops is analyzing his tendencies on the court, which have changed specially this season using the Euroleague advanced statistics, courtesy of friend Jacas who is the creator of the impressive in-the-game.org and best by far database in Europe.
Before we let the numbers speak, we have to point two important conclusions. Diamantidis, being already 33 years old, is not in his peak of his athletic ability and energy. No athlete has beaten time in the history of sports and here we speak about one of the most battered players – considering his role and his minutes on his team – in the last nine Euroleague speak.
The second conclusion about Diamantidis, which is evident from his amazing assist/turnovers ratio this season, is the fact that he is still mentally one of the most cerebral players of the game. See the numbers that will help you understand what we are talking about.
Who are the recipients of his 8.2 asp? 39% goes to centers, 17,1% to shooting guard, 19.5% to small forwards and 24,4% to power forwards.
He passes more than he scores. In total he has registered so far 41 assists and 38 points. The most impressive number about his points however is that his 38 points are almost exclusively product of personal effort. Only four time he was assisted by his teammates and he has made so far only one two pointer, which is a mid range shot and not a lay up.
Center(16 assists | 39.0% of tot assists)
| PLAYER (shared min) | Tot | CR | MR | 3FG | FT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LASME, STEPHANE(87) | 10 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| BATISTE, MIKE(33) | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| GIST, JAMES(33) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Power Forward(10 assists | 24.4% of tot assists)
| PLAYER (shared min) | Tot | CR | MR | 3FG | FT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GIST, JAMES(56) | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| MAVROKEFALIDES, LOUKAS(26) | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| MACIULIS, JONAS(27) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| FOTSIS, ANTONIS(47) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Small Forward(8 assists | 19.5% of tot assists)
| PLAYER (shared min) | Tot | CR | MR | 3FG | FT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BRAMOS, MICHAEL(70) | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| MACIULIS, JONAS(72) | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| FOTSIS, ANTONIS(4) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Shooting Guard(7 assists | 17.1% of tot assists)
| PLAYER (shared min) | Tot | CR | MR | 3FG | FT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PAPPAS, NIKOS(67) | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| CURRY, RAMEL(34) | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| UKIC, ROKO(56) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
The proof
This table is the proof that 3D creates for others, but he has also to create his own shots. His shooting percentage is lower than expected, but there is a solid explanation for them.
He attempts only one two point shot every 20 minutes he is on the court and only 40% of his made shots is produced via an assist by one of his teammates. On the contrary 60% of his made shots are produced by himself.
His choice at 82% of his attempts is α three pointer!
That’s what happens when no one creates for him easy baskets and he doesn’t have fresh legs. He shoots three pointers. Back in 2011-12 65% of his attempts were three point shots. In 2012-13 the percentage rise to 71%. This year the number is mindboggling, but so far 82% of his attempted shots are made outside the 6.75 m. line.
Shot making and selection
| At Rim | % | ASD | Rest Two | % | ASD | Three | % | 3eFG% | ASD | Total | eFG% | ASD | FT | % | TS% | PPP | AST | PTB | |
| Totals | 0–0 | 0.0 | 0 | 1–8 | 12.5 | 0 | 9–37 | 24.3 | 36.5 | 4 | 10–45 | 32.2 | 4 | 9–14 | 64.3 | 36.8 | 0.684 | 41 | 0 |
| PG avrg. | 57.3 | 38.9 | 34.9 | 52.4 | 49.3 | 77.7 | 52.7 | ||||||||||||
| Expected | 0-0 | 57.3 | 3-8 | 38.9 | 13-37 | 34.9 | 52.4 | 16-45 | 50.0 | 11-14 | 77.7 | 54.2 |
Adaptive
One other key number is his game is the very important for any point guard assists/turnover ratio. In the previews two season, his ratio was 2/1. For every two assists he made one turnover. This year the numbers are unreal as he had 41 assist and just 4 turnovers, leading to a 10/1 ratio, the best ever in Euroleague and probably one of the bests in the history of basketball. That’s one more proof that Diamantidis is adapting his game to his current state and uses his mind more than ever.
The final table is the stats of Panathinaikos in every aspect of the game WITH and WITHOUT Diamantidis. The difference is shocking. Just take a look at Pyth% (chances of winning or losing based on his offensive and defending statistics multiplied by 100 possessions) which is 83.7% with 3D on the court and 4.3% without him!!!
There is no area of the game in which Panathinaikos is better without Diamantidis. Offensive production per possession, defensive efficiency per possession, shooting percentages and creations, everything is better when Diamantidis plays. You can see every number in the table, but just to get an idea with Diamantidis Panathinaikos scores 113.6 points (per 100 possessions), without him 94.1. With him the team gives 101 points, without him 117.6. With him shots in total 55.9%, without him 38.8%.
Oncourt/offcourt statistics
Advanced
| On/off | Ortg | Drtg | Pyth% | At Rim% | R.Two% | 3FG% | eFG% | FTR | ASD% | PTB% | ORB% | DRB% | TOV% |
| On court | 113.6 | 101.0 | 83.7 | 66.2 | 43.1 | 37.5 | 55.9 | 33.6 | 66.1 | 6.2 | 25 | 71.7 | 15.7 |
| Off court | 94.1 | 117.6 | 4.3 | 50.0 | 28.6 | 28.1 | 38.8 | 34.2 | 72.0 | 4.2 | 35 | 81.8 | 16.5 |
The rest…
Even in the numbers of his teammates, Diamantidis is the key for their production. Specially players that need to get the ball in the right spot like Lasme and Gists, when they play without Diamantidis they see their scoring diminished by 50%.
Only Roko Ukic and Nikos Pappas have better offensive numbers without Diamantidis on the court, but the sample is too small in order to be safe. Both of them have played without Diamantidis in just 16 possessions, which translates to approximately 10 game minutes in total during the five Euroleague games already played…