Ilyasova continues promising play
His first tour of duty in the NBA was an unmitigated disaster, but in America you always get a second chance. Bucks F Ersan Ilyasova wants to make the most of his.
Through three games in the FIBA European Championships (playing for Team Turkey) Ilyasova has produced much better and more efficiently than any of the other NBA level combo forwards who are participating in the tournament. Below are the comparative numbers.
(Sidebar: I could not calculate Marginal Win Score because I could not follow the match-ups on the FIBA Play-by-Play summaries. Instead, I calculated the pure Win Score produced by Ilyasova and every other similarly positioned participant with NBA experience)
EuroBasket 2009 WS48
1. Ersan Ilyasova……………20.72
2. Kosta Koufus…………….16.57
3. Bostjan Nachbar…………13.55
4. Andris Biedrins…………..11.59
5. Nicolas Batum…………….7.06
6. Linas Kleiza……………….2.85
WS48: (Pts + Rebs + Stls + .5Ass + .5Blks - FGAs - TOs - .5FTAs - .5 PFs / Mins * 48)
Analysis of the WS48 numbers
As you can see Ilyasova’s WS48 average is much better than any of the other experienced NBA players who are participating and who are similar to him in size, position, and game type. Bucks fans should be very encouraged. Some of the players on that list are proven NBA win producers. Obviously, I didn’t adjust for competition, but I note that Turkey played Lithuania in its first game and Lithuania produces a fair amount of basketball talent.
Inside Ersan’s Numbers
Here is a look inside Ilyasova’s performances to date.
So far, Ilyasova has scored the basketball very efficiently. His PpP100 (points per possession used x 100) is a whopping 118.5, up from his dismal one year NBA average of 87.5. His Rebounding percentage is also up, 21.5% compared to his NBA one season % of 11.1%. Those are positive signs. He still must learn to pass, however. Ilyasova has one assist in 33 field goal attempts. He can’t turn the ball over as much as he does, either. His turnovers per “at risk” possession is very high, 29.5% (12.7% is the historical average… an “at risk” possession is a possession the player ended with a FGA that wasn’t a 3ptFGA, or a backend free throw attempt, or an assist.) But, all in all, I’d say Ilyasova’s game is definitely continuing to show promise.
Ukic, though, has Ustunk
If you remember my early prognostication for the Bucks, I predicted that new Bucks PG Roko Ukic would produce zero wins for the team this season. His NBA track record for efficient production has not been good. And his production has stunk at the EuroBasket this year as well. Thus far he has posted a WS48 of 3.37, very low. I hope the Bucks management did not believe Ukic to be the equivalent of Sessions at the point guard position — that would be like calling Jiri Welsch the equivalent of Ray Allen.
Rubio not doing well, either
I continue to think the Minnesota Timberwolves caught an enormous break when Ricky Rubio took a walk on them a couple of weeks ago. I believe he is years away from producing wins on the NBA level. He has validated that belief with his anemic performances at the EuroBasket. In his first three games for Team Spain, Rubio has a WS48 of only 2.27. He has committed as many fouls as he has produced assists.
