SportVU Data: Identifying the League's Best... Catch and Shoot Players

With the release of SportVU camera tracking data to the general public via NBA.com, there's a whole new world of information available to try and figure out what's happening on an NBA court, and who's doing it well (or poorly). Really, an ideal application should be to identify the best players filling certain roles on a team, because good role players can swing a playoff series. While understanding all this data has to be in its infant stages, here's a quick look at a few things that seem useful right off the bat. The data is pulled from here, and some summary rules for how I cut the stats are included at the bottom of each post.

CATCH AND SHOOT: THREES

In a league with increasingly zone-based defensive principles, spacing is at a premium. As a result, so are players that stretch a defense with the threat of catching and shooting the ball from deep. Through the season to date, the following players stand out in executing this role.

Gerald Green, Suns (5.6 attempts per game in 27.8 minutes, 38.4%) 

Tim Hardaway Jr., Knicks (3.1 attempts per game in 16.1 minutes, 42.3%)

Ryan Anderson, Pelicans (6.6 attempts per game in 35.7 minutes, 51.5%)

Cartier Martin, Hawks (3.4 attempts per game in 19.5 minutes, 40.8%)

Martell Webster, Wizards (5.6 attempts per game in 32.7 minutes, 41.1%)
Channing Frye, Suns (4.3 attempts per game in 26.9 minutes, 41.2%)

Klay Thompson, Warriors (5.9 attempts per game in 37.7 minutes, 47.8%)

JR Smith, Knicks (4.8 attempts per game in 31.1 minutes, 41.3%)

Randy Foye, Nuggets (3.9 attempts per game in 25.6 minutes, 40.5%)

Trevor Ariza, Wizards (5.3 attempts per game in 36.1 minutes, 48.6%)

Looking at that list, a few things jump out. First, I'm surprised that the Knicks and Wizards haven't been better offensive teams to date, since both Wall and Anthony seem to have decent safety valve options on the wing. Second, Ryan Anderson and Klay Thompson are off the charts efficient, to the point where they must warp a defensive scheme whenever they're in a game (or should). Third, if anyone wonders why 38% was the cutoff for this list, it's because I wasn't going to omit Gerald Green, who's shooting more catch and shoot threes per minute than anyone in the league, and hitting a respectable amount of them.

CATCH AND SHOOT: TWOS

The two point catch and shoot specialists are purposely attempting the most inefficient shot in basketball, and attempting to do so at a high level. While it's easy to say that midrange jumpers should never be attempted, at the end of a shot clock, or against a good defense (or both), sometimes a player on the floor has to be able to hit this shot when it's conceded. Through the season to date, the following players stand out in executing this role.

Darrell Arthur, Nuggets (4.1 attempts per game in 18.1 minutes, 46.3%)

Jason Smith, Pelicans (6.2 attempts per game in 28 minutes, 48.4%)

Luis Scola, Pacers (3.3 attempts per game in 18.5 minutes, 54.6%)

LaMarcus Aldridge, Blazers (5.5 attempts per game in 37.1 minutes, 50.9%)

Al Horford, Hawks (4.5 attempts per game in 32.8 minutes, 51.1%)

Andrea Bargnani, Knicks (3.9 attempts per game in 31.2 minutes, 59.0%)

Dirk Nowitzki, Mavericks (4.0 attempts per game in 32.5 minutes, 55.0%)

Serge Ibaka, Thunder (4.1 attempts per game in 34.6 minutes, 46.3%)

David West, Pacers (3.5 attempts per game in 30.4 minutes, 57.1%)

Chris Bosh, Heat (3.1 attempts per game in 28.7 minutes, 45.2%)

A few thoughts here. First, it's interesting how many good teams (Heat, Pacers, Thunder, Blazers) seem to have someone who's very good at hitting these shots. Second, for all the heat he's taken for his entire career, at the very least Andrea Bargnani has been a lethal pick and pop guy this year, as long as he's inside the arc. Finally, is there anything Al Horford can't do? If the Hawks aren't trying to contend this year, and are planning on pulling the plug in February, he has to be the hottest commodity at the trade deadline for a contender (e.g. Clippers, Thunder).

3 Point Catch and Shoot Eligibility Rules:

 - Top 100 in total Catch and Shoot Attempts

 - At least 10 games played

 - Volume Shooters (ranked by attempts per minute)

 - 38+% on attempts

2 Point Catch and Shoot Eligibility Rules:

 - Top 100 in total Catch and Shoot Attempts

 - At least 10 games played

 - Volume Shooters (ranked by attempts per minute)

 - 45+%  on attempts