Looking at a box score is something anyone can do. Who lead my team in scoring? How'd we shoot from the field? And while that knowledge is useful, does it really earn you bonus points around the water cooler? That's why I'm here. I'm bringing you the S.W.I.M: Statistics Worth Increased Media. Let Joe from accounting regurgitate what he heard on the way in this morning; you're better than that. Use these nuggets to gain a unique perspective about last night's Spurs/Mavericks game.
Kawhi Leonard grabbed more than 11 rebounds in a regular season game for the first time in more than a year. He did it three times against the Heat last postseason.
Leonard totaled six assists in his first four double digit rebound efforts this season: he totaled five tonight.
Tim Duncan had four games with at least six rebounds in the final 15 days of March: he has totaled just six assists through ten April days.
Patty Mills attempted 18 shots in his first three games this season against the Mavericks: he took 25 shots tonight.
It's now been more than two months (seven games) since the last time Mills handed out at least four assists and turned the ball over more than once.
For the first time since his final game in February, Boris Diaw played at least 20 minutes and did not attempt a three pointer.
Shawn Marion has made more free throws over his career than three pointers attempted, yet he has opened April by taking at least as many triples as freebies in five of six games.
For the fifth consecutive month, Marion had a game in which he made at least 70 percent of his field goals, 66.7 percent of his threes, and didn't miss a free throw.
For the third time this season, Vince Carter didn't attempt a three point field goal: he had two such games over the previous two seasons combined.
Dirk Nowitzki is shooting a higher percentage from the field than from the free throw line over the Mavericks last three losses.
Devin Harris missed seven of his eight shots from the field and played for the losing team, yet his +/- was the third highest in this game and 30 points better than any Maverick starter.
Samuel Dalembert set a season-high for assists over a three game span ⦠with four.
