coastalmarker99
04-25-2021, 08:35 PM
I've seen many people criticize Wilt for his drop in scoring average, but fail to add the proper context that is needed. In this thread, I will dive a little deeper into Wilt's playoff scoring.
As highlighted in my previous thread about the Celtics defensive scheme, Wilt faced a large amount of double and triple teams due to the refs allowing illegal defence to be played. This made it difficult to get shots in a half-court setting leading to fewer shots in the playoffs.
It's also important to remember Wilt was going up against some of the greatest defensive teams in NBA history each playoff run.
Wilt Regular Season TS%: '62-'68: 54.8%
Wilt Playoffs TS%: '62-'68: 52.8%
That is a 2-percentage drop off versus all-time level defence each year.
A dip in efficiency is expected, but couple that with a decrease in FGA from lack of playmakers--being denied the ball and that explains his drop in points.
It's hardly a drop off at all--but just for the hell of it let's compare him to other greats vs top defences sorted:
Jordan:
1993: vs. Knicks:
32.2 ppg on .522 TS% (-1.4 rTS)
(-8.3 rDRtg, 1st ranked defense)
1997: vs. Heat:
30.2 ppg on .475 TS%(-6.1 rTS)
(-6.1 rDRtg, 1st ranked defense)
1996: vs. Sonics:
27.3 ppg on .538 TS% (-0.4 rTS)
(-5.5 rDRtg, 2nd ranked defense)
1989: vs. Cavaliers:
39.8 ppg on .598 %TS (+6.1 rTS)
(-4.9 rDRtg, 2nd ranked defense)
1986: vs. Celtics:
47.3 ppg on .584 %TS (+4.3 rTS)
(-4.6 rDRtg, 1st ranked defense)
LeBron:
2008: vs. Celtics:
26.7 ppg on .480 TS% (-6.0 rTS)
(-8.6 rDRtg, 1st ranked defense)
2014: vs. Pacers:
22.8 ppg on .637 TS% (+9.6 rTS)
(-7.4 rDRtg, 1st ranked defense)
2011: vs. Celtics:
28.0 ppg on .553 TS% (+1.2 rTS)
(-7.0 rDRtg, 1st ranked defense)
2011: vs. Bulls:
25.8 ppg on .569 %TS (+2.8 rTS)
(-7.0 rDRtg, 2nd ranked defense)
2007: vs. Spurs:
22 ppg on .428 %TS (-11.3 rTS)
(-6.6 rDRtg, 2nd ranked defense)
Kareem:
1970: vs. Knicks:
34.2 ppg on .585 TS% (+7.4 rTS)
(-6.6 rDRtg, 1st ranked defense)
1972: vs. Lakers:
33.7 ppg on .432 %TS (-2.2 rTS)
(-5.3 rDRtg, 2nd ranked defense)
1980: vs. 76ers:
33.4 ppg on .578 %TS (+4.7 rTS)
(-5.3 rDRtg, 2nd ranked defense)
1980: vs. Sonics:
30.6 ppg on .599 %TS (+6.8 rTS)
(-5.1 rDRtg, 3rd ranked defense)
1982: vs. Suns:
31.8 ppg on .663 %TS (+13.2 rTS)
(-4.5 rDRtg, 4th ranked defense)
Wilt:
1964: vs. Celtics
29.2 ppg on .509 TS% (+2.4 rTS)
(-10.8 rDRtg, 1st ranked defense)
1965: vs. Celtics
30.1 ppg on .575 TS% (+9.6 rTS)
(-7.4 rDRtg, 1st ranked defense)
1962: vs. Celtics
33.6 ppg on .515 TS% (+3.6 rTS)
(-8.5 rDRtg, 1st ranked defense)
1966: vs. Celtics:
28.0 ppg on .500 %TS (+1.3 rTS)
(-6.6 rDRtg, 1st ranked defense)
1960: vs. Celtics:
30.5 ppg on .510 %TS (+4.7 rTS)
(-6.2 rDRtg, 1st ranked defense)
Toughest competition. Still efficient--just less shots.
A big reason he wasn't dropping 40+ points anymore is because he went from playing against awful-to-average defences for most of the reg season to all-time goat level defenses for an entire series in the 1st-2nd rounds.
Essentially, it was more of a result of Wilt's teammates and aspects of the era rather than his own lack of abilities.
As highlighted in my previous thread about the Celtics defensive scheme, Wilt faced a large amount of double and triple teams due to the refs allowing illegal defence to be played. This made it difficult to get shots in a half-court setting leading to fewer shots in the playoffs.
It's also important to remember Wilt was going up against some of the greatest defensive teams in NBA history each playoff run.
Wilt Regular Season TS%: '62-'68: 54.8%
Wilt Playoffs TS%: '62-'68: 52.8%
That is a 2-percentage drop off versus all-time level defence each year.
A dip in efficiency is expected, but couple that with a decrease in FGA from lack of playmakers--being denied the ball and that explains his drop in points.
It's hardly a drop off at all--but just for the hell of it let's compare him to other greats vs top defences sorted:
Jordan:
1993: vs. Knicks:
32.2 ppg on .522 TS% (-1.4 rTS)
(-8.3 rDRtg, 1st ranked defense)
1997: vs. Heat:
30.2 ppg on .475 TS%(-6.1 rTS)
(-6.1 rDRtg, 1st ranked defense)
1996: vs. Sonics:
27.3 ppg on .538 TS% (-0.4 rTS)
(-5.5 rDRtg, 2nd ranked defense)
1989: vs. Cavaliers:
39.8 ppg on .598 %TS (+6.1 rTS)
(-4.9 rDRtg, 2nd ranked defense)
1986: vs. Celtics:
47.3 ppg on .584 %TS (+4.3 rTS)
(-4.6 rDRtg, 1st ranked defense)
LeBron:
2008: vs. Celtics:
26.7 ppg on .480 TS% (-6.0 rTS)
(-8.6 rDRtg, 1st ranked defense)
2014: vs. Pacers:
22.8 ppg on .637 TS% (+9.6 rTS)
(-7.4 rDRtg, 1st ranked defense)
2011: vs. Celtics:
28.0 ppg on .553 TS% (+1.2 rTS)
(-7.0 rDRtg, 1st ranked defense)
2011: vs. Bulls:
25.8 ppg on .569 %TS (+2.8 rTS)
(-7.0 rDRtg, 2nd ranked defense)
2007: vs. Spurs:
22 ppg on .428 %TS (-11.3 rTS)
(-6.6 rDRtg, 2nd ranked defense)
Kareem:
1970: vs. Knicks:
34.2 ppg on .585 TS% (+7.4 rTS)
(-6.6 rDRtg, 1st ranked defense)
1972: vs. Lakers:
33.7 ppg on .432 %TS (-2.2 rTS)
(-5.3 rDRtg, 2nd ranked defense)
1980: vs. 76ers:
33.4 ppg on .578 %TS (+4.7 rTS)
(-5.3 rDRtg, 2nd ranked defense)
1980: vs. Sonics:
30.6 ppg on .599 %TS (+6.8 rTS)
(-5.1 rDRtg, 3rd ranked defense)
1982: vs. Suns:
31.8 ppg on .663 %TS (+13.2 rTS)
(-4.5 rDRtg, 4th ranked defense)
Wilt:
1964: vs. Celtics
29.2 ppg on .509 TS% (+2.4 rTS)
(-10.8 rDRtg, 1st ranked defense)
1965: vs. Celtics
30.1 ppg on .575 TS% (+9.6 rTS)
(-7.4 rDRtg, 1st ranked defense)
1962: vs. Celtics
33.6 ppg on .515 TS% (+3.6 rTS)
(-8.5 rDRtg, 1st ranked defense)
1966: vs. Celtics:
28.0 ppg on .500 %TS (+1.3 rTS)
(-6.6 rDRtg, 1st ranked defense)
1960: vs. Celtics:
30.5 ppg on .510 %TS (+4.7 rTS)
(-6.2 rDRtg, 1st ranked defense)
Toughest competition. Still efficient--just less shots.
A big reason he wasn't dropping 40+ points anymore is because he went from playing against awful-to-average defences for most of the reg season to all-time goat level defenses for an entire series in the 1st-2nd rounds.
Essentially, it was more of a result of Wilt's teammates and aspects of the era rather than his own lack of abilities.