NBA Behind the Numbers: Clippers' demise, Heat's unconventional offense

Welcome to NBA Behind the Numbers, a recurring look at noteworthy statistics and trends across the league, and the impact they're having.

The Good 👍

Minus-2.8

Nuggets improving in non-Jokic minutes

Opponents are outscoring the Nuggets by 2.8 points per 100 possessions when Nikola Jokic is on the bench. Why are we celebrating Denver losing those minutes? Well, because it's a drastic improvement from the last four seasons, when it lost the non-Jokic minutes by 9.3, 8.6, 10.4, and 7.9 points.

After finishing last campaign with (barely) six trustworthy players in their playoff rotation, the Nuggets prioritized depth this past offseason. By adding Tim Hardaway Jr., Bruce Brown, Jonas Valanciunas, and even undrafted rookie Spencer Jones, head coach David Adelman can now use a deep rotation when healthy.

Valanciunas replacing Jokic isn't exactly Bill Walton backing up Robert Parish. Still, the 13-year vet is the best relief option Jokic has ever had, keeping Denver afloat at center during the 13 minutes the three-time MVP sits. As a result, the Nuggets own the seventh-best bench net rating and are off to their best start since 2007 at 16-6, despite dealing with key injuries.

Denver, boasting the league's top offense, has assembled the strongest roster of Jokic's career - one capable of withstanding his absence and dominating when he's on the floor. The Thunder might be inevitable, but the Nuggets are knocking.

5.3

Heat's pick-and-roll possessions per game

Miami averages just 5.3 pick-and-roll ball-handler possessions per game, by far the fewest in the player tracking era (since 2013-14).

In a pick-and-roll-heavy league, Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra has developed an innovative approach, creating offensive advantages with a fast-paced, unconventional, egalitarian system.

"If everybody's doing the same thing, you try to find the advantages by doing something else," Spoelstra said in 2024. "The league, this game, constantly evolves. And you're constantly trying to (stay ahead of the curve)."

Miami hired Noah LaRoche as a consultant this offseason. Widely credited with transforming Memphis' offense into a pick-and-roll averse scheme, LaRoche helped guide the Grizzlies to the league's lowest number of pick-and-roll ball-handler possessions in 2024-25.

The Heat's drive-and-kick, read-and-react offense thrives on deploying ball-handlers who can consistently beat defenders off the dribble, force defensive breakdowns, and make the proper read. Miami's aggressive approach has the team averaging the second-most drives per game.

Pushing the tempo and running in transition is the key. After playing with the fourth-slowest pace last season, the Heat are the NBA's fastest team and generate the league's second-most transition points.

Miami's versatile perimeter players prioritize getting downhill and forcing the defense into rotation without a traditional ball screen. Tyler Herro, the Heat's best player, has traditionally relied on ball screens but has seamlessly fit into the new system since his late-November return.

Spoelstra has maximized the potential of nearly every player throughout his Hall of Fame career. The Heat currently have 11 players averaging at least 17 minutes per game, showcasing the team's impressive depth. Although playing fast is tiring, Miami is scoring the third-most bench points. Some skeptics wonder whether this style is sustainable - anticipating more ball screens as the season progresses - but for now, the Heat have the 12th-best offense (up from 21st last season), rank ninth in net rating, and hold a 14-9 record.

40.7%

Rockets' historic offensive rebounding rate

The Rockets grab 40.7% of their own missed shots, putting them on track for the highest offensive rebounding rate in NBA history. Their second-most used lineup is also the league's tallest, featuring Amen Thompson (6-foot-7), Kevin Durant (6-foot-11), Jabari Smith Jr. (6-foot-11), Alperen Sengun (6-foot-11), and Steven Adams (6-foot-11).

Houston owns the NBA's fourth-best offense after placing 12th last season. Adding Durant, an efficient 25-point-per-game scorer, has undoubtedly helped, as he frequently creates something out of nothing on broken plays.

But more than anything, offensive rebounding is fuelling a half-court offense that still sits outside the top 10, per Cleaning the Glass. The Rockets lead the league in second-chance points, frequently turning missed shots into scoring opportunities against scrambled defenses. Impressively, four players on the 15-5 squad are averaging at least two offensive rebounds per game, while Adams leads the league with 4.8.

Even when Josh Okogie or Reed Sheppard replace Adams in the lineup, Houston prioritizes the offensive glass. The club's aggressive rebounding wears down defenses and creates kick-out opportunities for three-pointers - where the Rockets rank second in accuracy.

The Bad 👎

.484

Lakers' strength of schedule

The Lakers have benefited from the league's sixth-easiest schedule, according to ESPN, which has propelled their 16-6 start.

L.A. went 11-2 in November, though it faced only four teams above .500 and went 2-2 against them. It's already played three games in December against winning teams (1-2) and has another five remaining.

Regression is imminent. While the Lakers are far too talented to fall out of the playoff race, it's unrealistic for them to compete for a top seed in the West.

Offense isn't their problem. As JJ Redick often notes, Los Angeles employs one of the game's all-time great offensive engines in Luka Doncic, while Austin Reaves is the league's second-most efficient pick-and-roll ball-handler. Together, they form the NBA's highest-scoring duo, and LeBron James' recent return only strengthens their offensive arsenal.

The problem lies with the defense. Despite playing 14 of their 22 contests against bottom-half offenses, the Lakers still place just 21st defensively. A Doncic-Reaves backcourt exposes a weak point-of-attack defense.

Los Angeles' defensive shortcomings are clear in the numbers: the club ranks 25th in opponent 3-point percentage and 27th in opponent effective field goal percentage, and it also surrenders the seventh-most wide-open threes per game. Excellent rim protection can sometimes mask weak perimeter defense, but the Lakers don't have that either. Opponents are shooting 64.2% at the rim against L.A., putting the team in just the seventh percentile league-wide, per Synergy.

James, who can only play sufficient defense in short stints, hasn't provided much help. The Lakers have a 122 defensive rating when he's on the floor, second-worst in the NBA. Although the sun is shining in Laker Land to start Doncic's first full season, winter is coming.

271

Games missed by Williamson in his NBA career

Zion Williamson has missed 271 games - 55% of his eligible career contests - and has surpassed 62 appearances in a season just once. After playing 30 games in 2024-25, Williamson has suited up for only 10 of the Pelicans' 23 matchups this campaign before landing on the sidelines indefinitely with an adductor strain. It feels like a generation ago that New Orleans' front office, which has since been fired, celebrated winning the 2019 draft lottery with the exuberance of Mardi Gras on Bourbon Street.

The talent is obvious when Williamson is active, but seven years later, it's safe to call him a bust. Although Williamson is a diminished asset, it's time for the 3-20 Pelicans to cut ties.

The Ugly 🤮

30

Clippers' average age this season

The Intuit Dome, renowned as the NBA's loudest and most energetic arena, could double as a seniors' residence, considering that the Clippers are the league's oldest team with an average age of 30.

While many clubs emphasized adding youth and athleticism to match the league's rising pace, Los Angeles took a different approach, hoping experience and wisdom would help it run back on defense. Instead, the gamble has backfired.

Let's check in on some of the Clippers' free-agent signings. Chris Paul was released this week, Bradley Beal is out for the season, and Brook Lopez is unplayable. James Harden is still competing at an All-Star level at age 36, but he can't do it alone. Kawhi Leonard isn't shooting at the rim as much, and there's a better chance he's in street clothes than on the floor when you tune into a Clippers game. Los Angeles traded Norman Powell, a borderline All-Star last season, to the Heat in return for John Collins, a significantly worse player.

The 6-17 Clippers operate at the third-slowest pace, rank sixth-worst in defensive efficiency, and fourth-worst in turnover rate. Compounding their issues, they score the fewest transition points per game and allow the fourth-most points per transition possession, highlighting their struggles to keep up with faster teams.

The worst part is the Thunder - yes, the 22-1 defending champs - control the Clippers' 2026 first-round pick, which is likely to land in the lottery.

Sam Oshtry is a sports writer at theScore. You can follow him on X @soshtry for more basketball coverage.