Catatan Playoff Keep It NBA:
First Round Preview | Los Angeles Clippers vs. Memphis Grizzlies

By Ichank Nasution, KeepItNBA contributor

Los Angeles Clippers

Overall W/L Record: 40 – 26
Rank #2 Pacific Division
Rank #4 Western Conference

Home W/L Record: 24 – 9
Away W/L Record: 16 – 17



Regular Season Team Stats

• Points Per Game: 97.6 (Rank #14)
• Field Goal Percentage: 0.455 (Rank #10)
• 3-Point Made Per Game: 7.8 (Rank #4)
• 3-Point Field Goal Percentage: 0.357 (Rank #12)
• Free Throws Made Per Game: 18.2 (Rank #8)
• Free Throws Percentage: 0.680 (Rank #29)
• Opponents Points Per Game: 95.0 (Rank #13)
• Opponents Field Goal Percentage: 0.447 (Rank #14)
• Opponents 3-Point Made Per Game: 7.0 (Rank #26)
• Opponents 3-Point Field Goal Percentage: 0.365 (Rank #27)
• Opponents Free Throw Made Per Game: 19.0 (Rank #27)

Regular Season Team Leaders

• Minutes Per Game: Chris Paul - 36.2 minutes
• Points Per Game: Blake Griffin - 20.7 points
• Rebounds Per Game: Blake Griffin - 10.9 rebounds
• Assists Per Game: Chris Paul  - 9.1 assists
• Blocks Per Game: DeAndre Jordan - 2.1 blocks
• Steals Per Game: Chris Paul - 2.5 steals
• Field Goal Percentage: Blake Griffin - 0.549
• 3-Point Percentage: Mo Williams - 0.389

Notable Strength:

Los Angeles Clippers adalah tim yang mengandalkan tembakan jarak jauh terlihat dari jumlah tembakan 3-angka yang di-attempt (#5, 21.8 3-point field goal attempts), maupun yang berhasil dimasukkan (#5, 7.8 3-point field goal makes).  Diatur oleh point guard superstar Chris Paul, serangan Clippers terkontrol dan baik dalam mengendalikan turnover (#2 terkecil, 12.4 turnovers per game).  Dengan mengambil offensive rebound yang cukup banyak (#8, 12.1 offensive rebounds per game), Clippers banyak mendapatkan kesempatan mencetak angka melalui 2nd chance points.

Dalam pertahanan, Clippers mahir mencuri bola lawan (#5, 8.4 steals per game), dan jarang memberikan kesempatan lawan mengambil tembakan di lapangan (#1 terendah, 77.2 field goal attempts per game) dan memasukkan tembakan-tembakan tersebut (#5, 34.5 field goals made per game).

Notable Weakness:

Kelemahan utama Clippers adalah persentase tembakan free throw (#1 terburuk, .680 free throw percentage).  Lemahnya Blake Griffin dalam mengkonversi tembakan free throw (.521 free throw percentage) adalah faktor utama rendahnya persentase free throw Clippers.

Dari sisi bertahan, Clippers banyak memiliki kelemahan. Clippers banyak melakukan pelanggaran (#6 terbanyak, 21.2 fouls per game), yang mengakibatkan banyaknya jumlah free throw attempt untuk lawan (#4, 25.4 free throw attempts per game).  Clippers juga lemah dalam menjaga garis three point terlihat dari jumlah tembakan yang dilemparkan oleh lawan (#8, 19.1 three point attempts per game) dan dikonversikan (#5, 7.0 free throw attempts per game).

Memphis Grizzlies

Overall W/L Record: 41 – 25
Rank #2 Southwest Division
Rank #4 Western Conference

Home W/L Record: 26 – 7
Away W/L Record: 15 – 18



Regular Season Team Stats

• Points Per Game: 95.0 (Rank #20)
• Field Goal Percentage: 0.447 (Rank #16)
• 3-Point Made Per Game: 4.2 (Rank #27)
• 3-Point Field Goal Percentage: 0.326 (Rank #26)
• Free Throw Made Per Game: 17.3 (Rank #10)
• Free Throw Percentage: 0.759 (Rank #13)
• Opponents Points Per Game: 93.0 (Rank #5)
• Opponents Field Goal Percentage: 0.444 (Rank #11)
• Opponents 3-Point Made Per Game: 6.3 (Rank #12)
• Opponents 3-Point Field Goal Percentage: 0.345 (Rank #11)
• Opponents Free Throw Made Per Game: 17.6 (Rank #21)

Regular Season Team Leaders

• Minutes Per Game: Rudy Gay - 37.1 minutes
• Points Per Game: Rudy Gay - 19.0 points
• Rebounds Per Game: Marc Gasol - 8.9 rebounds
• Assists Per Game: Mike Conley - 6.5 assists
• Blocks Per Game: Marc Gasol - 1.9 blocks
• Steals Per Game: Mike Conley - 2.2 steals
• Field Goal Percentage: Marc Gasol - 0.482
• 3-Point Percentage: Mike Conley - 0.377

Notable Strength:

Dalam segi bertahan, Grizzlies adalah tim yang paling berhasil memaksa tim lawan melakukan turnover (#1, 16.3 turnovers per game), salah satu alasannya adalah karena Grizzlies mahir mencuri bola lawan (#1, 9.6 steals per game). Selain itu, tim Grizzlies yang defensive minded ini banyak memblok tembakan lawan (#9, 5.2 blocks per game)

Grizzlies tidak punya banyak kelebihan yang menonjol dari sisi offense, namun melalui kemampuan merebut offensive rebound yang banyak (#6, 12.6 offensive rebounds per game) banyak mendapatkan kesempatan untuk second chance points.

Notable Weakness:

Kelemahan Grizzlies adalah dalam menembak jarak jauh, dilihat dari sedikitnya jumlah tembakan 3-angka yang berhasil dicetak (#27, 4.2 three-pointers per game) dan persentase 3-angka (#25, .363). Grizzlies juga kurang baik dalam sharing bola, terlihat dari jumlah assists secara tim yang rendah (#24, 19.6 assists per game).  Meskipun Grizzlies banyak mendapatkan offensive rebound, Grizzlies lemah dalam menjaga rebound sendiri (#26, 29.5 defensive rebounds per game).

Catatan Playoff Keep It NBA:
First Round Preview | Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Dallas Mavericks

By Ichank Nasution, KeepItNBA contributor

Oklahoma City Thunder

Overall W/L Record: 47 – 19
Rank #2 Pacific Division
Rank #5 Western Conference

Home W/L Record: 26 – 7
Away W/L Record: 21 – 12



Regular Season Team Stats

• Points Per Game: 103.1 (Rank #3)
• Field Goal Percentage: 0.471 (Rank #3)
• 3-Point Made Per Game: 7.2 (Rank #10)
• 3-Point Field Goal Percentage: 0.358 (Rank #11)
• Free Throws Made Per Game: 21.3 (Rank #1)
• Free Throws Percentage: 0.806 (Rank #1)
• Opponents Points Per Game: 96.9 (Rank #17)
• Opponents Field Goal Percentage: 0.427 (Rank #3)
• Opponents 3-Point Made Per Game: 6.4 (Rank #14)
• Opponents 3-Point Field Goal Percentage: 0.342 (Rank #9)
• Opponents Free Throw Made Per Game: 17.7 (Rank #23)

Regular Season Team Leaders

• Minutes Per Game: Russell Westbrook - 38.2 minutes
• Points Per Game: Kevin Durant - 28.0 points
• Rebounds Per Game: Kevin Durant - 8.0 rebounds
• Assists Per Game: Russell Westbrook - 5.5 assists
• Blocks Per Game: Serge Ibaka - 3.7 blocks
• Steals Per Game: Russell Westbrook - 1.7 steals
• Field Goal Percentage: Serge Ibaka - 0.535
• 3-Point Percentage: James Harden - 0.390

Notable Strength:

Salah satu tim dengan rata-rata umur pemain termuda ini dapat dikatakan adalah tim paling atletis, explosive dan exciting di NBA saat ini.  Dengan memiliki dua diantara pencetak angka tertinggi di NBA, Kevin Durant dan Russell Westbrook, kemampuan mencetak angka (#3, 103.1 points per game) bukan masalah bagi Thunder, didukung oleh akurasi tembakan field goal tinggi (#3, .471 field goal percentage) serta frekuensi lemparan free throw terbanyak yang berhasil dimasukkan (#1, 21.3 free throw makes per game), di-attempt (#1, 26.4 free throw attempts per game) dan persentase tembakan free throw terbaik (#1, .806 free throw percentage).

Atletisme Thunder terlihat pula di sisi pertahanan, dengan jumlah blok terbanyak (#1, 8.2 blocks per game) dan tim yang piawai merebut rebound (#4, 43.7 total rebounds per game) dan kedua terbaik dalam defensive rebound (#2, 32.7 defensive rebounds per game).

Notable Weakness:

Meskipun Thunder adalah salah satu tim dengan offense terbaik, terdapat beberapa kelemahan crucial di sisi offense.  Salah satu kelemahan Thunder adalah kurang disiplin menjaga bola, dengan menghasilkan jumlah turnover terbanyak (#1, 16.0 turnovers per game).  Thunder juga terlalu mengandalkan scoring one-on-one, sehingga mencatat jumlah assist paling sedikit (#30, 18.6 assists per game).

Di sisi defense, Thunder tidak mengimbangi hilangnya posession karena turnover sendiri dengan mencuri bola lawan di sisi pertahanan.  Steals Thunder dibawah rata-rata (#16, 7.6 steals per game) dan Thunder kurang pandai menekan lawan untuk melakukan turnover (#19, 13.6 turnovers per game.)  Thunder juga termasuk tim yang melakukan banyak pelanggaran (#8, 20.5 fouls per game).


Dallas Mavericks

Overall W/L Record: 36 – 30
Rank #3 Southwest Division
Rank #7 Western Conference

Home W/L Record: 23 – 10
Away W/L Record: 13 – 20



Regular Season Team Stats

• Points Per Game: 95.8 (Rank #19)
• Field Goal Percentage: 0.443 (Rank #17)
• 3-Point Made Per Game: 7.5 (Rank #7)
• 3-Point Field Goal Percentage: 0.340 (Rank #20)
• Free Throw Made Per Game: 15.6 (Rank #22)
• Free Throw Percentage: 0.771 (Rank #10)
• Opponents Points Per Game: 94.8 (Rank #13)
• Opponents Field Goal Percentage: 0.435 (Rank #7)
• Opponents 3-Point Made Per Game: 7.2 (Rank #28)
• Opponents 3-Point Field Goal Percentage: 0.346 (Rank #12)
• Opponents Free Throw Made Per Game: 16.6 (Rank #12)

Regular Season Team Leaders

• Minutes Per Game: Dirk Nowitzki - 37.1 minutes
• Points Per Game: Dirk Nowitzki - 21.7 points
• Rebounds Per Game: Shawn Marion - 7.4 rebounds
• Assists Per Game: Jason Kidd - 5.5 assists
• Blocks Per Game: Brandan Wright - 1.3 blocks
• Steals Per Game: Jason Kidd - 1.7 steals
• Field Goal Percentage: Dirk Nowitzki - 0.457
• 3-Point Percentage: Jason Terry - 0.378

Notable Strength:

Meskipun akurasi tembakannya dibawah rata-rata, Mavericks merupakan tim yang mengandalkan tembakan 3-angka (#7, 7.5 three point field goals per game) dalam offense-nya, dan memiliiki akurasi tembakan free throw yang bagus, (#9, .771 free throw percentage).

Dari sisi defense, Mavs termasuk yang mahir mencuri bola lawan (#4, 8.6 steals per game) dan menjaga defensive rebound (#3, 32.7 defensive rebounds per game).

Notable Weakness:

Selama musim reguler Dallas dapat dikatakan adalah tim dibawah rata-rata dari sisi offense, terlihat dari kemampuan mencetak angka (#19, 95.8 points per game), akurasi tembakan field goal yang rendah (#18, .443 field goal percentage) serta rendahnya frekuensi lemparan free throw yang berhasil dimasukkan (#23, 16.6 free throw makes per game) dan di-attempt (#26, 22.1 free throw attempts per game).  Kesempatan Mavs mendapatkan second chance points juga termasuk yang terburuk (#27, 11.0 offensive rebounds per game).

Dari sisi defense, kelemahan pada interior defense terlihat dari jumlah blok (#1 terburuk, 4.0 blocks per game) dan kelemahan perimeter defense terlihat dari tembakan 3-angka yang masuk (#3 terbanyak, 7.2 3-point makes per game) dan di attempt (#2 terbanyak, 20.7 3-point attempts per game) oleh lawan.

Catatan Playoff Keep It NBA:
First Round Preview | Los Angeles Lakers vs. Denver Nuggets

By Ichank Nasution, KeepItNBA contributor

Los Angeles Lakers

Overall W/L Record: 41 – 25
Rank #1 Pacific Division
Rank #3 Western Conference

Home W/L Record: 26 – 7
Away W/L Record: 15 – 18



Regular Season Team Stats

• Points Per Game: 97.2 (Rank #15)
• Field Goal Percentage: 0.457 (Rank #8)
• 3-Point Made Per Game: 5.5 (Rank #23)
• 3-Point Field Goal Percentage: 0.326 (Rank #25)
• Free Throws Made Per Game: 18.2 (Rank #8)
• Free Throws Percentage: 0.757 (Rank #16)
• Opponents Points Per Game: 95.9 (Rank #15)
• Opponents Field Goal Percentage: 0.437 (Rank #9)
• Opponents 3-Point Made Per Game: 6.7 (Rank #24)
• Opponents 3-Point Field Goal Percentage: 0.348 (Rank #14)
• Opponents Free Throw Made Per Game: 13.7 (Rank #1)

Regular Season Team Leaders

• Minutes Per Game: Kobe Bryant - 38.2 minutes
• Points Per Game: Kobe Bryant - 27.9 points
• Rebounds Per Game: Andrew Bynum - 11.8 rebounds
• Assists Per Game:  Ramon Sessions  - 6.2 assists
• Blocks Per Game: Andrew Bynum - 1.9 blocks
• Steals Per Game: Kobe Bryant - 1.2 steals
• Field Goal Percentage: Andrew Bynum - 0.558
• 3-Point Percentage: Ramon Sessions - 0.486

Notable Strength:

Selama musim reguler, baik dari sisi offense maupun defense, Lakers tidak terlalu memiliki banyak kualitas yang menonjol. Lakers adalah tim dengan kemampuan rebounding yang baik; khususnya dalam kategori defensive rebounding (#1, 34.1 defensive rebounds per game) dan total rebound (#2, 46.2 total rebounds per game). Selain itu Lakers juga memiliki kualitas diatas rata-rata dalam persentase field goal (#8, .457 field goal percentage) dan mengoper bola (#7, assists per game). Terakhir Lakers juga cukup baik dalam mencari kesempatan melakukan free throw (#8, 18.2 free throw makes per game). Rekor menang-kalah Lakers di kandang termasuk yang terbaik di NBA (26-7).

Notable Weakness:

Kelemahan utama Lakers adalah bench scoring (#30, 21.3 bench points per game). Selain itu Lakers juga tidak memiliki kemampuan menembak 3-point yang bisa diandalkan (#23, 5.5 3-pointers per game; #26, .326 3-point field goal percentage).

Dalam kemampuan bertahan, Lakers menyandang predikit terburuk dalam melakukan tekanan terhadap tim lawan, terlihat dari jumlah steal (#1 terburuk, 5.9 steals per game) dan turnover lawan (#1 terburuk, 10.9 turnovers per game). Kekurangan ini merupakan salah satu alasan mengapa pasa musim ini Lakers mengalami kesulitan untuk memenangkan pertandingan tandang (15-18).

Denver Nuggets

Overall W/L Record: 38 – 28
Rank #2 Northwest Division
Rank #6 Western Conference

Home W/L Record: 20 – 13
Away W/L Record: 18 – 15



Regular Season Team Stats

• Points Per Game: 104.1 (Rank #1)
• Field Goal Percentage: 0.476 (Rank #2)
• 3-Point Made Per Game: 6.6 (Rank #16)
• 3-Point Field Goal Percentage: 0.332 (Rank #23)
• Free Throw Made Per Game: 19.6 (Rank #3)
• Free Throw Percentage: 0.735 (Rank #25)
• Opponents Points Per Game: 101.2 (Rank #3)
• Opponents Field Goal Percentage: 0.456 (Rank #24)
• Opponents 3-Point Made Per Game: 8.7 (Rank #30)
• Opponents 3-Point Field Goal Percentage: 0.384 (Rank #30)
• Opponents Free Throw Made Per Game: 15.6 (Rank #7)

Regular Season Team Leaders

• Minutes Per Game: Ty Lawson - 34.4 minutes
• Points Per Game: Ty Lawson - 16.4 points
• Rebounds Per Game: Kenneth Faried - 7.7 rebounds
• Assists Per Game: Andre Miller - 6.7 assists
• Blocks Per Game: JaVale McGee - 1.6 blocks
• Steals Per Game: Ty Lawson - 1.3 steals
• Field Goal Percentage: Ty Lawson - 0.488
• 3-Point Percentage: Arron Afflalo - 0.398

Notable Strength:

Denver Nuggets adalah salah satu tim dengan kemampuan offense paling mantap dengan scoring average tertinggi (#1, 104.1 points per game), assist terbanyak (#1, 104.1 points per game) dan persentase field goal ke-2 tertinggi (#2, .476 field goal percentage).

Dari sisi bertahan, Nuggets cukup baik dalam melakukan rebounding (#8, 31.9 defensive rebounds per game dan #8, 43.1 defensive rebounds per game), dan mencuri bola (#9, 8.2 steals per game)

Notable Weakness:

Tim yang offense oriented ini tampaknya mengabaikan kualitas pertahanan jika dilihat dari jumlah poin lawan (#2 terbanyak, 101.2 points per game). Statistik juga menunjukkan 3-point defense hampir tidak diterapkan sama sekali (#1, 8.7 opponents 3-point per game; #1, 22.6 opponents 3-point attempts per game; #1, .383 opponents 3-point percentage).

Dalam melakukan serangan, kekurangan Nuggets yang paling menonjol adalah kecerobhan dalam menjaga ball possession (#6, 15.0 turnovers per game), kemampuan menembak 3-point yang kurang bagus (#24, .332 3-point percentage), kemampuan menembak free throw yang dibawah rata-rata (#25, 73.5 free-throw percentage) dan paling sering tembakannya diblok oleh lawan (#1 terbanyak, 6.7 blocks per game)

Catatan Playoff Keep It NBA:
First Round Preview | San Antonio Spurs vs. Utah Jazz

By Ichank Nasution, KeepItNBA contributor

San Antonio Spurs

Overall W/L Record: 50 – 16
Rank #1 Southwest Division
Rank #1 Western Conference

Home W/L Record: 28 – 5
Away W/L Record: 22 – 11



Regular Season Team Stats

• Points Per Game: 91.9 (Rank #26)
• Field Goal Percentage: 0.478 (Rank #1)
• 3-Point Made Per Game: 8.4 (Rank #2)
• 3-Point Field Goal Percentage: 0.393 (Rank #1)
• Free Throws Made Per Game: 16.2 (Rank #18)
• Free Throws Percentage: 0.748 (Rank #19)
• Opponents Points Per Game: 96.5 (Rank #16)
• Opponents Field Goal Percentage: 0.452 (Rank #17)
• Opponents 3-Point Made Per Game: 6.2 (Rank #9)
• Opponents 3-Point Field Goal Percentage: 0.353 (Rank #19)
• Opponents Free Throw Made Per Game: 14.1 (Rank #2)

Regular Season Team Leaders

• Minutes Per Game: Tony Parker - 32.0 minutes
• Points Per Game: Tony Parker - 18.3 points
• Rebounds Per Game: Tim Duncan - 9.0 rebounds
• Assists Per Game:  Tony Parker  - 7.7 assists
• Blocks Per Game: Tim Duncan - 1.5 blocks
• Steals Per Game: Stephen Jackson - 1.3 steals
• Field Goal Percentage: DeJuan Blair - 0.534
• 3-Point Percentage: Danny Green - 0.436

Notable Strength:

San Antonio Spurs dapat dikatakan memiliki offense yang paling mulus di NBA, dilihat dari persentase field goal (#1, .478 field goal percentage), jumlah poin (#2, 103.7 points per game), persentase 3-angka (#1, .393 3-point percentage), jumlah 3-angka (#2, 8.4 3-pointers per game), assist (#4, 23.2 assists per game) dan kedisiplinan menjaga bola (#3, 13.2 turnovers per game).

Pertahanan Spurs pandai menghindari pelanggaran (#10 terendah, 18.7 foul per game) terutama yang berakibat ke tembakan free throw (#2, 18.7 free throw attempt per game) oleh lawan.  Selain itu, lawan Spurs sulit menghasilkan assist (#5 terendah, 19.6 assists per game), steal (7.4 steals per game) dan offensive rebound (#3, 10.3 offensive rebound per game).

Baik bermain di kandang sendiri (#1 terbaik, 28-5) maupun di kandang lawan (#2 terbaik, 22-11), tidak ada kesulitan bagi tim yang mengakhiri musim reguler dengan kemenangan berturut-turut sebanyak 10 game ini.  Spurs hampir tak terkalahkan ketika leading pada halftime dengan rekor menang kalah 41-2, sebuah titik keberhasilan yang cukup crucial bila dibanding dengan rekor menang-kalah ketika trailing di halftime, yaitu 9-13.

Notable Weakness:

Kelemahan Spurs dari offense adalah di garis free throw, dengan persentase tembakan free throw yang relatif rendah (#20, .748 free throw percentage).  Tampaknya Spurs menyadari ini karena tidak terlalu banyak mencari peluang dari free throw (#17, 21.6 free throw attempts per game).

Kekurangan dari sisi atletisme tim Spurs secara keseluruhan terlihat dari minimnya jumlah offensive rebound (#27, 10.4 offensive rebounds per game), dan di dari sisi defense, kurangnya blok (#25, 4.4 blocks per game) dan steal (#20, 7.4 steals per game).

Utah Jazz

Overall W/L Record: 36 – 30
Rank #2 Southeast Division
Rank #8 Western Conference

Home W/L Record: 25 – 8
Away W/L Record: 11 – 22



Regular Season Team Stats

• Points Per Game: 99.7 (Rank #4)
• Field Goal Percentage: 0.456 (Rank #9)
• 3-Point Made Per Game: 4.1 (Rank #28)
• 3-Point Field Goal Percentage: 0.323 (Rank #27)
• Free Throw Made Per Game: 19.1 (Rank #5)
• Free Throw Percentage: 0.752 (Rank #17)
• Opponents Points Per Game: 99.0 (Rank #8)
• Opponents Field Goal Percentage: 0.453 (Rank #20)
• Opponents 3-Point Made Per Game: 6.5 (Rank #18)
• Opponents 3-Point Field Goal Percentage: 0.340 (Rank #8)
• Opponents Free Throw Made Per Game: 19.7 (Rank #29)

Regular Season Team Leaders

• Minutes Per Game: Al Jefferson - 34.0 minutes
• Points Per Game: Al Jefferson - 19.2 points
• Rebounds Per Game: Al Jefferson - 9.6 rebounds
• Assists Per Game: Devin Harris - 5.0 assists
• Blocks Per Game: Al Jefferson - 1.7 blocks
• Steals Per Game: Paul Millsap - 1.8 steals
• Field Goal Percentage: Derrick Favors - 0.499
• 3-Point Percentage: Devin Harris - 0.362

Notable Strength:

Offense Utah Jazz adalah salah satu yang terbaik di NBA, dilihat dari jumlah poin (#4, 99.7 points per game), persentase field goal (#9, .456 field goal percentage), dan jumlah tembakan free throw (#5, 19.1 free throw makes per game).  Pada bulan April, offense Jazz semakin cemerlang, dimana perolehan rata-rata sebesar 103.7 points per game, menaruh Jazz pada tim pencetak angka terbaik ke-4.

Atletisme Jazz adalah salah satu yang terbaik di NBA terlihat dari jumlah offensive rebounds (#3, 13.1 offensive rebounds per game), total rebounds (#5, 44.2 total rebounds per game) dan blok (#4, 5.8 blocks per game) . Jazz juga cukup bagus dalam mencuri bola (#8, 8.3 steals per game).

Bermain di kandang, Jazz adalah salah satu tim paling dominan, dengan rekor menang-kalah 25-8.

Notable Weakness:

Kelemahan Jazz adalah kurangnya ancaman dari jarak jauh, jumlah tembakan 3-angka yang berhasil dicetak (#3 terendah, 4.1 3-angka per game) dan yang di attempt (#2 terendah, 12.8 per game) serta persentase 3-angka ke-4 terendah (.323).

Dari sisi bertahan, Jazz terlalu banyak melakukan pelanggaran (#2, 21.8 foul per game) sehingga memberikan easy points untuk lawan (#2 terbanyak, 19.7 free throw makes per game).
Jazz mengalami kesulitan ketika bermain di kandang lawan, dengan rekor menang - kalah 11-22.

Catatan Playoff Keep It NBA:
First Round Preview | Boston Celtics vs. Atlanta Hawks

By Rangga Sobiran, KeepItNBA contributor

Boston Celtics

Overall W/L Record: 39 – 27
Rank #1 Atlantic Division
Rank #4 Eastern Conference

Home W/L Record: 24 – 9
Away W/L Record: 15 – 18



Regular Season Team Stats

• Points Per Game: 91.9 (Rank #26)
• Field Goal Percentage: 0.469 (Rank #5)
• 3-Point Made Per Game: 5.5 (Rank #21)
• 3-Point Field Goal Percentage: 0.367 (Rank #7)
• Free Throws Made Per Game: 15.4 (Rank #24)
• Free Throws Percentage: 0.778 (Rank #5)
• Opponents Points Per Game: 89.3 (Rank #2)
• Opponents Field Goal Percentage: 0.419 (Rank #1)
• Opponents 3-Point Made Per Game: 5.2 (Rank #2)
• Opponents 3-Point Field Goal Percentage: 0.308 (Rank #1)
• Opponents Free Throw Made Per Game: 17.2 (Rank #18)

Regular Season Team Leaders

• Minutes Per Game: Rajon Rondo - 36.5 minutes
• Points Per Game: Paul Pierce - 19.4 points
• Rebounds Per Game: Kevin Garnett - 8.2 rebounds
• Assists Per Game:  Rajon Rondo  - 11.7 assists
• Blocks Per Game: Greg Stiemsma - 1.6 blocks
• Steals Per Game: Rajon Rondo - 1.8 steals
• Field Goal Percentage: Kevin Garnett - 0.503
• 3-Point Percentage: Ray Allen - 0.453

Notable Strength:

Kualitas yang paling menonjol dari permainan Boston Celtics adalah defense; Celtics mengakhiri musim ini dengan Opposing Team Field Goal Percentage (.421) dan Opposing Team 3PT Field Goal Percentage (.308) terendah. Kedua statistik tersebut menunjukkan bahwa Celtics adalah tim terbaik dalam melakukan pressure defense dan mampu menekan persentase tembakan lawan hingga sangat rendah baik itu tembakan dua angka maupun tiga angka.

Notable Weakness:

Celtics adalah tim paling lemah dalam hal rebounding pada playoff tahun ini; Team Rebound Per Game (39.7), terendah di NBA, jauh dibawah Opposing Team Rebound Per Game (43.1), statistik ini berarti Celtics hampir selalu kalah beradu rebound. Dengan rataan angka offensive rebound terendah di NBA (7.7), Celtics juga kesulitan menciptakan second chance points.

Atlanta Hawks

Overall W/L Record: 40 – 26
Rank #2 Southeast Division
Rank #5 Eastern Conference

Home W/L Record: 23 – 10
Away W/L Record: 17 – 16



Regular Season Team Stats

• Points Per Game: 96.6 (Rank #17)
• Field Goal Percentage: 0.454 (Rank #11)
• 3-Point Made Per Game: 7.5 (Rank #8)
• 3-Point Field Goal Percentage: 0.370 (Rank #5)
• Free Throw Made Per Game: 15.5 (Rank #23)
• Free Throw Percentage: 0.740 (Rank #23)
• Opponents Points Per Game: 93.2 (Rank #6)
• Opponents Field Goal Percentage: 0.444 (Rank #13)
• Opponents 3-Point Made Per Game: 5.9 (Rank #5)
• Opponents 3-Point Field Goal Percentage: 0.344 (Rank #10)
• Opponents Free Throw Made Per Game: 15.1 (Rank #4)

Regular Season Team Leaders

• Minutes Per Game: Joe Johnson - 35.2 minutes
• Points Per Game: Joe Johnson - 18.8 points
• Rebounds Per Game: Josh Smith - 9.6 rebounds
• Assists Per Game: Jeff Teague - 4.9 assists
• Blocks Per Game: Josh Smith - 1.7 blocks
• Steals Per Game: Jeff Teague - 1.6 steals
• Field Goal Percentage: Jeff Teague - 0.477
• 3-Point Percentage: Willie Green - 0.443

Notable Strength:

Atlanta Hawks banyak memenangkan pertandingan dengan small lineup yang menempatkan Joe Johnson di posisi small forward dan Josh Smith di posisi power forward dipasangkan dengan Kirk Hinrich pada posisi shooting guard dan Jeff Teague pada posisi point guard; kemampuan menembak 3-point (.371 3-point field goal percentage, peringkat 5 NBA), serta kecepatan dalam meng-convert defensive rebound menjadi fastbreak points (15 fastbreak points per game, peringkat 6 NBA) membuat small lineup yang dimainkan Atlanta Hawks sangat efektif.

Notable Weakness:

berita terakhir ada kemungkinan Al Horford akan kembali bergabung dengan tim untuk menghadapi playoff. Tetapi walaupun jadi bergabung, Horford kemungkinan belum seratus persen pulih dan hanya bisa diandalkan sekitar 20-25 menit per pertandingan. Tanpa Horford, kelemahan terbesar Hawks adalah kurangnya low post player yang mumpuni; Hawks hanya dapat menurunkan rotasi Zaza Pachulia, rookie Ivan Johnson, dan dua pemain veteran Jason Collins dan Erick Dampier. Rotasi ini tidak dapat diandalkan untuk mengungguli kebanyakan frountcourt rotation lawan saat Playoff.

Catatan Playoff Keep It NBA:
First Round Preview | Indiana Pacers vs. Orlando Magic

By Rangga Sobiran, KeepItNBA contributor

Indiana Pacers

Overall W/L Record: 46 – 24
Rank #2 Central Division
Rank #3 Eastern Conference

Home W/L Record: 23 – 10
Away W/L Record: 19 – 14



Regular Season Team Stats

• Points Per Game: 97.7 (Rank #13)
• Field Goal Percentage: 0.438 (Rank #24)
• 3-Point Made Per Game: 5.9 (Rank #19)
• 3-Point Field Goal Percentage: 0.368 (Rank #6)
• Free Throws Made Per Game: 20.4 (Rank #2)
• Free Throws Percentage: 0.783 (Rank #4)
• Opponents Points Per Game: 94.4 (Rank #10)
• Opponents Field Goal Percentage: 0.435 (Rank #6)
• Opponents 3-Point Made Per Game: 6.7 (Rank #23)
• Opponents 3-Point Field Goal Percentage: 0.351 (Rank #17)
• Opponents Free Throw Made Per Game: 17.9 (Rank #24)

Regular Season Team Leaders

• Minutes Per Game: Danny Granger - 33.1 minutes
• Points Per Game: Danny Granger - 18.7 points
• Rebounds Per Game: Roy Hibbert - 8.8 rebounds
• Assists Per Game:  Darren Collison  - 4.8 assists
• Blocks Per Game: Roy Hibbert - 2.0 blocks
• Steals Per Game: Paul George - 1.6 steals
• Field Goal Percentage: Roy Hibbert - 0.497
• 3-Point Percentage: Paul George - 0.385

Notable Strength:

Salah satu keunggulan Indiana Pacers adalah akurasi tembakan free throw (#3 terbaik, .782).  Mereka menyadari ini (#2, 20.4 free throw make per game) dan agresif mencari kesempatan free throw (#2, 26.1 free throw attempt) dan menyerang pertahanan interior lawan (#4 terbanyak, 21.6 foul per game).  Selain itu, Pacers cukup disipin menjaga bola (#7, 13.2), dan menghindari steal dari lawan (#3 terendah, 6.6 steal per game), akurat menembak dari 3-angka (#6, .368) dan mendapatkan 2nd chance points (#6, 12.5 offensive rebound per game).

Pacers juga dikenal sebagai tim yang tangguh dalam pertahanan, dilihat dari persentase field goal lawan (#6 terendah, .435), jumlah blok (#9, 5.4 per game) dan jumlah total rebound (43.9 total rebound per game),

Notable Weakness:

Kelemahan utama Pacers adalah kurangnya playmaking dan sharing bola (#2 terburuk, 18.6 assist per game). Ketika Pacers dapat melebihi jumlah assist lawannya, rekor menang-kalah mereka dominan (26-1), sehingga kelemahan ini menjadi crucial.

Kelemahan lain Pacers adalah akurasi tembakan (#7 terburuk, .438 field goal percentage), tembakan di bawah ring (#2 terburuk, .580 field goal percentage at the rim) dan jumlah blok yang dilakukan oleh lawan (#4 terbanyak, 6.0 block per game).

Orlando Magic

Overall W/L Record: 37 – 29
Rank #3 Southeast Division
Rank #6 Eastern Conference

Home W/L Record: 21 – 12
Away W/L Record: 16 – 17



Regular Season Team Stats

• Points Per Game: 94.2 (Rank #21)
• Field Goal Percentage: 0.441 (Rank #21)
• 3-Point Made Per Game: 10.2 (Rank #1)
• 3-Point Field Goal Percentage: 0.375 (Rank #3)
• Free Throw Made Per Game: 15.1 (Rank #28)
• Free Throw Percentage: 0.660 (Rank #30)
• Opponents Points Per Game: 93.4 (Rank #8)
• Opponents Field Goal Percentage: 0.449 (Rank #15)
• Opponents 3-Point Made Per Game: 6.3 (Rank #13)
• Opponents 3-Point Field Goal Percentage: 0.347 (Rank #13)
• Opponents Free Throw Made Per Game: 15.2 (Rank #5)

Regular Season Team Leaders

• Minutes Per Game: Dwight Howard - 38.1 minutes
• Points Per Game: Dwight Howard - 20.6 points
• Rebounds Per Game: Dwight Howard - 14.5 rebounds
• Assists Per Game: Jameer Nelson - 5.7 assists
• Blocks Per Game: Dwight Howard - 2.2 blocks
• Steals Per Game: Dwight Howard - 1.5 steals
• Field Goal Percentage: Dwight Howard - 0.573
• 3-Point Percentage: J.J. Reddick - 0.418

Notable Strength:

Orlando Magic adalah tim terbaik dalam urusan menembak 3-point; tim asuhan Stan Van Gundy ini bukan sekedar terbanyak dalam menembakkan 3-point saja, tapi pemain Magic mampu melesakkan tembakan-tembak 3-point dengan akurasi yang tinggi (Rank #1 3-point made per game; Rank #3 3-point field goal percentage). Kalau dilihat dari personnel yang dimiliki Magic, enam pemain Magic melepaskan tembakan 3-point di atas dua kali di setiap pertandingan dengan akurasi di atas .350 persen (persentase yang solid untuk tembakan 3-point): Ryan Anderson (2.7 3-point per game; .393 3-point percentage), Jason Richardson (1.9 3-point per game; .368 3-point percentage); Hedo Turkoglu (1.7 3-point per game; .353 3-point percentage); J.J. Reddick (1.7 3-point per game; .418 3-point percentage); Jameer Nelson (1.5 3-point per game; .377 3-point percentage); Quentin Richardson (0.9 3-point per game; .350 3-point percentage).

Notable Weakness:

Istilah yang tepat untuk mendeskripsikan gaya permainan Magic adalah, "They Live and Die by the Jumpers". Gaya permainan Magic yang terlalu mengandalkan tembakan 3-point sering menjadi boomerang saat pemain-pemain Magic tidak dapat menemukan ritme tembakan  sepanjang pertandingan. Long rebound yang dihasilkan pantulan tembakan 3-point yang gagal sering memicu serangan fast break dari lawan; tanpa Dwight Howard, long rebound ini akan sulit di kontrol. Lawan Magic akan berusaha melakukan pressure defense di garis perimeter untuk merusak ritme tembakan.

Yang paling terasa dari absennya Dwight Howard adalah lemahnya interior defense Magic. Selama ini perimeter defender Magic tidak perlu bekerja terlalu kerasa karena memiliki Howard yang mampu menghentikan penetrasi lawan. Tanpa Howard, Magic hanya dapat mengandalkan Ryan Anderson (0.4 blocks), Glen Davis (0.3 blocks) dan rookie Daniel Orton (0.6 blocks) untuk melakukan pertahanan di bawah ring; pemain-pemain yang lemah dalam pertahanan.

Catatan Playoff Keep It NBA:
First Round Preview | Miami Heat vs. New York Knicks

By Rangga Sobiran, KeepItNBA contributor

Miami Heat

Overall W/L Record: 46 – 20
Rank #1 Southeast Division
Rank #2 Eastern Conference

Home W/L Record: 28 – 5
Away W/L Record: 18 – 15



Regular Season Team Stats

• Points Per Game: 98.5 (Rank #7)
• Field Goal Percentage: 0.469 (Rank #3)
• 3-Point Made Per Game: 5.6 (Rank #20)
• 3-Point Field Goal Percentage: 0.375 (Rank #10)
• Free Throws Made Per Game: 18.8 (Rank #6)
• Free Throws Percentage: 0.775 (Rank #7)
• Opponents Points Per Game: 92.5 (Rank #4)
• Opponents Field Goal Percentage: 0.434 (Rank #5)
• Opponents 3-Point Made Per Game: 7.3 (Rank #29)
• Opponents 3-Point Field Goal Percentage: 0.363 (Rank #25)
• Opponents Free Throw Made Per Game: 16.0 (Rank #8)

Regular Season Team Leaders

• Minutes Per Game: LeBron James - 37.3 minutes
• Points Per Game: LeBron James - 27.2 points
• Rebounds Per Game: LeBron James - 7.9 rebounds
• Assists Per Game:  LeBron James  - 6.2 assists
• Blocks Per Game: Joel Anthony - 1.3 blocks
• Steals Per Game: LeBron James - 1.9 steals
• Field Goal Percentage: LeBron James - 0.531
• 3-Point Percentage: Mike Miller - 0.453

Notable Strength:

Dengan dua atlit dan finisher di ring terbaik di NBA yaitu LeBron James dan Dwyane Wade, Miami Heat adalah tim yang sangat berbahaya di open court dan sulit dibendung ketika melakukan penyerangan fast break.  Serangan seperti ini didukung oleh akurasi memasukkan bola (#4, .469 field goal percentage), kemampuan mencuri bola (#3, 8.9 steal per game) dan menciptakan turnover lawan (#3, 15.8 turnover per game). Selain itu, Heat termasuk tim papan atas dari segi defense dilihat dari perolehan angka musuh (#4 terendah, 92.5 poin per game), persentase field goal lawan (#5 terendah, .434) dan total rebound musuh (#1 terendah, 39.8 total rebound per game).

Dengan membungkus rekor ke-2 terbaik di wilayah timur, Heat dapat dengan baik memanfaatkan home court advantage di playoff karena rekor menang-kalah di home (28-5) yang terbaik di NBA, dan rekor kemenangan di home yang luar biasa ketika leading setelah halftime (22-1) dan leading setelah quarter ke-3 (24-1).

Notable Weakness:

Salah satu kelemahan terbesar Heat adalah offense diluar pemain Big-3 Heat (LeBron James, Dwyane Wade dan Chris Bosh) terutama perolehan dari benchnya yang hanya mencetak 24.6 poin per game, ke-4 terburuk di NBA.

Walaupun Heat adalah tim bertahan papan atas, kelemahannya adalah perimeter defense, dilihat dari jumlah tembakan 3-angka yang berhasil dicetak (#2 terbanyak, 7.3 3-point per game) dan yang di attempt (#4 terbanyak, 20.0 per game) oleh lawan serta persentase 3-angka lawan (#5 terburuk, .363).

Sebagai tim yang susah dikalahkan ketika bermain di kandang, Heat tidak memiliki rekor sebanding bermain di away (18-15), dan kurang berhasil mengejar kekalahan di road ketika trailing setelah halftime (8-13) dan trailing setelah quarter ke-3 (6-14). Disamping itu, Heat memasuki Playoff dengan permainan dibawah standar, dengan hanya mencetak 88.1 points per game selama 10 game menjelang Playoff, yaitu peringkat ke-3 terburuk di NBA selama 10 game terakhir.


New York Knicks

Overall W/L Record: 36 – 30
Rank #2 Atlantic Division
Rank #7 Eastern Conference

Home W/L Record: 22 – 11
Away W/L Record: 14 – 19



Regular Season Team Stats

• Points Per Game: 97.9 (Rank #10)
• Field Goal Percentage: 0.443 (Rank #19)
• 3-Point Made Per Game: 7.8 (Rank #5)
• 3-Point Field Goal Percentage: 0.336 (Rank #21)
• Free Throw Made Per Game: 18.4 (Rank #7)
• Free Throw Percentage: 0.741 (Rank #22)
• Opponents Points Per Game: 89.4 (Rank #3)
• Opponents Field Goal Percentage: 0.442 (Rank #10)
• Opponents 3-Point Made Per Game: 6.7 (Rank #20)
• Opponents 3-Point Field Goal Percentage: 0.359 (Rank #23)
• Opponents Free Throw Made Per Game: 17.7 (Rank #22)

Regular Season Team Leaders

• Minutes Per Game: Carmelo Anthony - 34.0 minutes
• Points Per Game: Carmelo Anthony - 22.6 points
• Rebounds Per Game: Tyson Chandler - 9.9 rebounds
• Assists Per Game: Jeremy Lin - 6.2 assists
• Blocks Per Game: Tyson Chandler - 1.4 blocks
• Steals Per Game: Iman Shumpert - 1.7 steals
• Field Goal Percentage: Tyson Chandler - 0.679
• 3-Point Percentage: Steve Novak - 0.472

Notable Strength:

New York Knicks termasuk tim terbaik dalam menekan ballhandler lawan, sebagai tim ke-2 terbaik dalam mencuri bola (9.4 steal per game), ke-2 terbaik dalam menciptakan turnover (16.2 turnover per game) dan tidak memberikan kesempatan lawan melakukan assist (ke-2 terendah, 18.9 assist per game).

Salah satu senjata serangan terkuat Knicks adalah tembakan 3-angka, dengan mengambil sebanyak 23.3 tembakan, ke-2 terbanyak di NBA. Meskipun akurasi tembakan sepanjang musim tidak baik (#21, .336), setelah All Star Break, akurasi shooter Knicks termasuk yang terbaik (#4, .369) dan bahkan dalam 10 game menjelang playoffs, Knicks paling akurat dari 3-angka (.421). Meskipun banyak mengambil tembakan jarak jauh, Knicks juga adalah tim yang agresif menyerang pertahanan lawan (#2, 21.8 foul per game) dengan jumlah free throw make (#7, 18.4 per game) dan free throw attempt (#7, 24.8 per game) yang banyak. 

Serupa denga Heat, Knicks juga bermain cukup baik di kandangnya, Madison Square Garden, dengan rekor menang-kalah 22-11, terutama ketika leading setelah halftime (19-2) dan leading setelah quarter ke-3 (18-1).

Notable Weakness:

Salah satu kelemahan Knicks adalah kecenderungan bermain isolation offense, sehingga kurangnya ball movement.  Peringkat assist Knicks dibawah rata-rata (#18, 20.1 assist per game).  Kelemahan lain adalah kurangnya kedisiplinan menjaga bola (#2 terburuk, 15.3 turnover per game), shotblocking (#5 terburuk, 4.2 block per game), dan meskipun sering mengambil tembakan dari free throw, akurasi tembakan kurang bagus (#22, .741).

Kelemahan lain dari Knicks adalah saat bermain away, dengan rekor menang-kalah dibawah .500 (14-19) dan kurang berhasil mengejar kekalahan saat bertanding away ketika trailing setelah halftime (4-12) dan trailing setelah quarter ke-3 (3-16).