Oklahoma City Thunder’s D.J. Augustin: Storm Chaser
Compared To Reggie Jackson
Augustin seems to have done pretty well so far for the Thunder. The bigger question is how does he measure up statistically against Jackson’s time with the Thunder?
Removing the game in which Augustin started while Westbrook was out paints a clearer picture of his production as a backup.
| G | MP | FG% | 3P | 3PA | 3P% | FT | FTA | FT% | TRB | AST | STL | TOV | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | 25.6 | .403 | 1.5 | 3.9 | .387 | 1.6 | 2 | .813 | 2.8 | 3.5 | 0.9 | 1 | 9.4 |
Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 3/9/2015.
His numbers drop some, but they are still pretty solid or a guy backing up “Point Godzilla.” So how do Augustin’s backup numbers compare to Jackson’s?
Taking out the games in which Jackson started—especially the games in which he pretty much ran the show while both Westbrook and Durant were out—we are left with this:
| G | MP | FG% | 3P | 3PA | 3P% | FT | FTA | FT% | TRB | AST | STL | TOV | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 37 | 24.1 | .443 | 0.7 | 2.6 | .284 | 1.3 | 1.5 | .870 | 3.6 | 3.1 | 0.8 | 1.3 | 10.2 |
Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 3/9/2015.
Jackson’s overall field goal percentage is higher while his three-point percentage for the Thunder was more than 10 percent worse than what Augustin is shooting off the bench currently. That discrepancy mirrors the difference in their career numbers—37.3 percent for Augustin and 28.8 percent for Jackson.
Jackson did a better job rebounding than Augustin has done so far, but Augustin has had the better assist-to-turnover ratio.
All players, and especially point guards, are judged not only by their individual stats, but how their team performs when they are on the court. Below are some of the Thunder’s statistics with Augustin or Jackson on the court. (Note: this includes games in which they have started.)
These numbers are somewhat skewed by either the presence or absence of Westbrook and Durant due to injury, but that is how the entire season has been for the Thunder. Properly gauging how good the Thunder are is difficult because of the amount of time their stars, particularly Durant, have missed.
Taking Augustin’s small sample size into consideration and the circumstances of some of Jackson’s games earlier in the year, it would seem that the team has been a little better off with Augustin at the helm.
Despite primarily being reserve players, they have both spent plenty of time on the court with Westbrook. In 102 minutes on the court together, Augustin and Westbrook have been outscored by 19 points, per NBA.com.
On the flip side, Jackson and Westbrook played 397 minutes together and were a plus-56. (Kevin Durant and D.J. Augustin have yet to play together in a Thunder game. They did play together at Texas in college though.)
In theory, Augustin’s superior three-point shooting and floor spacing meshes better with Westbrook and Durant’s all-around scoring than Jackson’s primarily drive-oriented game. So far that has yet to play out on the court.
Statistically, the case for Augustin over Jackson or vice versa is not rock solid. At this point, the edge would be given to Augustin, understanding that it could change over the course of the next few weeks. However, the more important difference between the two is not one of numbers and statistics, but attitude and chemistry.
Next: Attitude And Chemistry