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Today we are going to focus on arguably the most underrated player in NBA history: Bob Lanier.
Many people do not even know his name. That is the reason for today's thread.
Many people do not even know his name. That is the reason for today's thread.
To start with, Bob Lanier was a 6'11'', 250lbs center who played for the Detroit Pistons and the Milwaukee Bucks.
He played in the NBA from 1971 to 1984, for 15 years.
Over his career, he averaged:
20.1 PPG
10.1 RPG
3.1 APG
1.5 BPG
1.1 SPG
2.6 TPG
on 55.9 TS% / 109 TS+
He played in the NBA from 1971 to 1984, for 15 years.
Over his career, he averaged:
20.1 PPG
10.1 RPG
3.1 APG
1.5 BPG
1.1 SPG
2.6 TPG
on 55.9 TS% / 109 TS+
This looks pretty impressive, if you ask me. A very efficient 20 point double-double.
Looking at his advanced stats, they are just as impressive:
.175 WS/48
3.5 OBPM
1.0 DBPM
4.5 BPM
2.63 VORP per season
are the averages over his whole career!
Looking at his advanced stats, they are just as impressive:
.175 WS/48
3.5 OBPM
1.0 DBPM
4.5 BPM
2.63 VORP per season
are the averages over his whole career!
Due to Bob starting to play in the very early 70s, there is not his whole career PIPM available. The available PIPM over his whole career looks like the following:
Green = Overall PIPM
Blue = Offensive PIPM
Red = Defensive PIPM
Green = Overall PIPM
Blue = Offensive PIPM
Red = Defensive PIPM
Now that you have seen his quite good longetivity, let's focus on his prime.
In my opinion, his 5 year peak starts in the 1973/74 season and ends in the 1977/78 season.
His basic stats during that stretch look like the following:
In my opinion, his 5 year peak starts in the 1973/74 season and ends in the 1977/78 season.
His basic stats during that stretch look like the following:
Regular season:
23.5 PPG
12.1 RPG
3.9 APG
2.1 BPG
1.2 SPG
on 56.6 TS% / 112 TS+
Playoffs:
25.6 PPG
13.8 RPG
3.5 APG
2.5 BPG
0.9 SPG
on 58.6 TS% / no TS+ on bbal-reference
Context:
- Turnovers were not tracked until the 1977/78 season.
- Bob did not make the PO in 1977/78.
23.5 PPG
12.1 RPG
3.9 APG
2.1 BPG
1.2 SPG
on 56.6 TS% / 112 TS+
Playoffs:
25.6 PPG
13.8 RPG
3.5 APG
2.5 BPG
0.9 SPG
on 58.6 TS% / no TS+ on bbal-reference
Context:
- Turnovers were not tracked until the 1977/78 season.
- Bob did not make the PO in 1977/78.
The advanced stats show his real impact. You see that not only his box score stats are very good but his advanced stats are good aswell:
.209 WS/48
4.7 OBPM
1.2 DBPM
5.9 BPM
5.26 VORP per season
are his regular season advanced stats.
.209 WS/48
4.7 OBPM
1.2 DBPM
5.9 BPM
5.26 VORP per season
are his regular season advanced stats.
The playoffs advanced stats are even better:
.221 WS/48
5.0 OBPM
1.5 DBPM
6.5 BPM
0.5 VORP per playoff run
You can clearly see that his production increases during the playoffs! Incredible.
.221 WS/48
5.0 OBPM
1.5 DBPM
6.5 BPM
0.5 VORP per playoff run
You can clearly see that his production increases during the playoffs! Incredible.
I want to add on his very good longetivity.
Bob Lanier has *11* seasons averaging .160 WS/48 or more. BPM and VORP are sadly not available for his whole career.
Bob Lanier has *11* seasons averaging .160 WS/48 or more. BPM and VORP are sadly not available for his whole career.
To conclude you can say that Bob Lanier is arguably a top 10 center ever! I have him below the top 10 but he is very close.
He elevates his game in the playoffs, has a great impact on winning, is very efficient and a quite good defender.
Put some respect on his name!
He elevates his game in the playoffs, has a great impact on winning, is very efficient and a quite good defender.
Put some respect on his name!
I'd appreciate a follow or a retweet. I hope you enjoyed it, the thread was a lot of work.
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