Quick Hits: Sixers Defensive Goaltending

By Sean Kennedy (@PhillyFastBreak)

It’s no secret the Sixers are looking to get away from the ‘treadmill of mediocrity’ that was indicative of the teams of the mid-2000s. However, while they certainly wouldn’t be termed mediocre based on the on-court performance, one area of the game was reminiscent of the days Sam Dalembert patrolled the paint for Philadelphia: defensive goaltending. The Sixers actually led the league in defensive goaltending violations (34), while notably, the Rockets were second in the NBA with 31. These teams weren’t blocking everything, as the Sixers and Rockets were 4th and 9th in the league in blocks per game. Good numbers to be sure, but not wholly an explanation for the higher amount of goaltending calls. Which begs the question: is there some aspect of Moreyball that makes the system Sam Hinkie brought to Philadelphia more susceptible to goaltending calls?

The answer: probably not. At least with Houston, there’s a common denominator for why they’re toward the top of the league: Dwight Howard. Howard’s teams have been near the bottom of the charts in this area basically since he entered the league. The Rockets had the 3rd-highest total last season, the Lakers were tied for 1st the year Howard was there, and the Magic were top-4 in number of violations dating back every year to to 2006-07.

So what was it about this year’s Sixers team that saw such a high total from them. After all, the Sixers were way down at 21st last season (presumably for employing the earth-bound Spencer Hawes at center for a large chunk of the year). One possible explanation is the number of young, raw athletes the Sixers threw out there throughout the season. Many of the guys on the roster have explosive leaping abilities without the NBA experience to know when to time jumps exactly right, while picking the correct spots. A fraction of a second determines the difference between a highlight-reel play and two points for the opposition.

Keeping in mind I couldn’t find any player-specific statistics on goaltending from last season (and please tell me if you know where it can be found!), one would assume that Nerlens Noel was high in the category. (Editor’s Note: Nerlens Noel was actually 9th in the league with 11 such violations). The rookie big man was the biggest difference defensively between the 2013-14 and 2014-15 seasons, leading the team in blocks while anchoring the back line, so it stands to reason he would have been the culprit of many of those goaltending violations. While Noel certainly had an exemplary season defensively, further experience can only help him shave off a few of those violations going forward. As for any rookie, there are always things to keep learning in this league; I’m sure the rest of the NBA shudders at the thought of an at-his-peak Nerlens Noel with a few years experience under his belt. Personally, I can’t wait.