NBA Stat Central #12: Shots! Shots! Shots!

No, we’re not talking about Goldschlager or Jagermaister here. We’re also not talking about gun control. We’re talking about putting the ball in the basket from anywhere at any time. This version of NBA Stat Central is going to take a look at the most prolific shooters in the league and when they’re the most dangerous.

NBA Stat Central is a weekly column by HoopsHabit.com that delves deeper into the world of statistics. You can find a new version each Friday during the regular season.

We always hear about “clutch” shooters and those who do their best work late in games. What about those who start hot and establish a nice lead for their teams? Shouldn’t they get some credit, too?

All Stats Are For The 2012-13 Season

Most Field Goals In The First Quarter

Rk	Player	Season	Tm	G	FG	FGA	FG%	FGX	3P	3PA	3P%	3PX	eFG%	Ast’d	%Ast’d
1	Kobe Bryant	2012-13	LAL	30	96	184	.522	88	18	45	.400	27	.571	37	.385
2	LeBron James	2012-13	MIA	30	93	166	.560	73	7	18	.389	11	.581	36	.387
3	Blake Griffin	2012-13	LAC	33	92	177	.520	85	0	1	.000	1	.520	54	.587
4	Carmelo Anthony	2012-13	NYK	26	91	171	.532	80	33	59	.559	26	.629	45	.495
5	Tony Parker	2012-13	SAS	33	90	152	.592	62	2	4	.500	2	.599	27	.300
6	Tim Duncan	2012-13	SAS	34	83	160	.519	77	0	0		0	.519	54	.651
7	Brook Lopez	2012-13	BRK	25	81	126	.643	45	0	0		0	.643	54	.667
8	LaMarcus Aldridge	2012-13	POR	29	80	157	.510	77	0	0		0	.510	38	.475
9	Al Jefferson	2012-13	UTA	32	77	164	.470	87	0	0		0	.470	29	.377
10	James Harden	2012-13	HOU	31	73	158	.462	85	10	41	.244	31	.494	18	.247

Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 1/4/2013.

Not too surprising of a list here, with the notable exception of Brook Lopez. If the Brooklyn Nets went through Lopez throughout the game, how much better would they be? Lopez sees his shots decline throughout the game. He goes from 126 attempts in the first quarter to 71, 102 and 69 in respective quarters. Give him the ball!

Most Field Goals In The Second Quarter

Rk	Player	Season	Tm	G	FG	FGA	FG%	FGX	3P	3PA	3P%	3PX	eFG%	Ast’d	%Ast’d
1	David Lee	2012-13	GSW	31	82	137	.599	55	0	0		0	.599	61	.744
2	Jamal Crawford	2012-13	LAC	32	81	164	.494	83	23	48	.479	25	.564	48	.593
3	Tim Duncan	2012-13	SAS	33	67	113	.593	46	2	2	1.000	0	.602	48	.716
4	Kobe Bryant	2012-13	LAL	31	66	141	.468	75	13	37	.351	24	.514	23	.348
5	Chris Bosh	2012-13	MIA	29	64	98	.653	34	1	5	.200	4	.658	45	.703
6	Kevin Durant	2012-13	OKC	31	64	126	.508	62	16	30	.533	14	.571	44	.688
7	Kevin Martin	2012-13	OKC	30	63	121	.521	58	27	56	.482	29	.632	45	.714
8	Carmelo Anthony	2012-13	NYK	26	62	138	.449	76	10	33	.303	23	.486	26	.419
9	James Harden	2012-13	HOU	30	61	135	.452	74	19	44	.432	25	.522	18	.295
10	Brandon Jennings	2012-13	MIL	29	60	128	.469	68	14	26	.538	12	.523	23	.383

Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 1/4/2013.

The second quarter is often when the bench starts getting some bigger minutes, so it makes sense to see Jamal Crawford and Kevin Martin on the list. It’s interesting to see David Lee and Chris Bosh, though. Is it because the offense changes or the second-string centers aren’t nearly as good defensively against these guys? I’m going with the former.

Most Field Goals In The Third Quarter

Rk	Player	Season	Tm	G	FG	FGA	FG%	FGX	3P	3PA	3P%	3PX	eFG%	Ast’d	%Ast’d
1	LeBron James	2012-13	MIA	30	99	177	.559	78	20	45	.444	25	.616	49	.495
2	Kobe Bryant	2012-13	LAL	31	82	182	.451	100	14	41	.341	27	.489	29	.354
3	Kevin Durant	2012-13	OKC	31	78	160	.488	82	18	45	.400	27	.544	47	.603
4	Thaddeus Young	2012-13	PHI	32	77	132	.583	55	0	0		0	.583	56	.727
5	Al Jefferson	2012-13	UTA	32	75	158	.475	83	0	0		0	.475	46	.613
6	Blake Griffin	2012-13	LAC	33	71	135	.526	64	1	4	.250	3	.530	50	.704
7	David West	2012-13	IND	32	70	145	.483	75	1	3	.333	2	.486	42	.600
8	DeMar DeRozan	2012-13	TOR	32	70	147	.476	77	5	15	.333	10	.493	40	.571
9	Russell Westbrook	2012-13	OKC	31	69	164	.421	95	15	41	.366	26	.466	16	.232
10	Greg Monroe	2012-13	DET	34	68	141	.482	73	0	0		0	.482	33	.485

Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 1/4/2013.

Halftime is all about adjustments and taking advantage of mismatches. As we look at this list, it becomes apparent that the cream rises to the top with LeBron James, Kobe Bryant and Kevin Durant. Who would’ve thought Thaddeus Young would be there? Maybe Doug Collins is a Wizard (he did coach them, after all)?

Most Field Goals In The Fourth Quarter

Rk	Player	Season	Tm	G	FG	FGA	FG%	FGX	3P	3PA	3P%	3PX	eFG%	Ast’d	%Ast’d
1	Kobe Bryant	2012-13	LAL	28	76	162	.469	86	21	57	.368	36	.534	30	.395
2	Kevin Durant	2012-13	OKC	26	72	135	.533	63	12	33	.364	21	.578	35	.486
3	Jamal Crawford	2012-13	LAC	33	72	164	.439	92	23	64	.359	41	.509	42	.583
4	J.R. Smith	2012-13	NYK	32	63	140	.450	77	16	47	.340	31	.507	22	.349
5	David Lee	2012-13	GSW	32	57	100	.570	43	0	0		0	.570	42	.737
6	Stephen Curry	2012-13	GSW	31	55	131	.420	76	25	60	.417	35	.515	31	.564
7	David West	2012-13	IND	28	55	107	.514	52	1	3	.333	2	.519	34	.618
8	LeBron James	2012-13	MIA	26	52	107	.486	55	12	28	.429	16	.542	15	.288
9	Andre Miller	2012-13	DEN	29	51	108	.472	57	2	12	.167	10	.481	11	.216
10	Ryan Anderson	2012-13	NOH	32	51	133	.383	82	27	72	.375	45	.485	35	.686

Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 1/4/2013.

We talked about crunch time earlier and here we are. The names aren’t that surprising, as the players on this list are very offensively-centered players. However, take a look at some of those field goal percentages. Jamal Crawford at 43.9%? Stephen Curry at 42%? Ryan Anderson at 38.3%? Woof.

Most Field Goals In Overtime

Rk	Player	Season	Tm	G	FG	FGA	FG%	FGX	3P	3PA	3P%	3PX	eFG%	Ast’d	%Ast’d
1	O.J. Mayo	2012-13	DAL	5	9	20	.450	11	2	8	.250	6	.500	2	.222
2	Tony Parker	2012-13	SAS	3	8	12	.667	4	0	2	.000	2	.667	1	.125
3	Damian Lillard	2012-13	POR	3	8	10	.800	2	4	6	.667	2	1.000	5	.625
4	DeMar DeRozan	2012-13	TOR	3	7	19	.368	12	0	4	.000	4	.368	5	.714
5	LeBron James	2012-13	MIA	3	7	11	.636	4	0	1	.000	1	.636	1	.143
6	Russell Westbrook	2012-13	OKC	3	6	10	.600	4	2	3	.667	1	.700	2	.333
7	Rajon Rondo	2012-13	BOS	5	5	10	.500	5	0	1	.000	1	.500	1	.200
8	LaMarcus Aldridge	2012-13	POR	4	5	9	.556	4	0	0		0	.556	3	.600
9	Will Bynum	2012-13	DET	1	5	12	.417	7	0	0		0	.417	1	.200
10	Nicolas Batum	2012-13	POR	3	5	7	.714	2	3	4	.750	1	.929	5	1.000

Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 1/4/2013.

Not everyone plays equal amounts of overtime and the sample size isn’t that large, so we’ll have to take this one with a grain of salt. With that said, take a look at this list and what stands out? With the exception of Tony Parker (who is having one of his finest seasons), it’s all young guys. O.J. Mayo, Damian Lillard and crew have enough energy to go beyond 48 minutes.

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