On Saturday afternoon Providence defeated Marquette 84-72. Leading the way for Marquette was Markus Howard with a game high 38 points. The Friars were paced by Luwane Pipkins with 24. A difference in scoring totals that did not tell us everything. Pipkins, despite trailing in the scoring column, was the most efficient of the two guards. He was also recognized as Kenpom game MVP.
According to the efficiency formula, Used by the NBA, and devised by the late Martin Msanley, Howard checked in with a 25 efficiency- just shy of Pipkins’ 27. How do we arrive at efficiency?
Efficiency has been referenced here before. The formula is simple.
Eff + Points + Rebs. + Assists + Steals + Blocked shots – (Missed FGA + Missed FTA + Turnovers).
Howard (10 of 25 from the field, missed 15 shots while committing 4 turnovers (with just 1 assist). The Marquette standout missed 2 free throw attempts , though he was 15 of 17, as well.
Pipkins was 9 of 14 from the field and a perfect 3 for 3 from the line. While Howard’s shooting from the field and line netted a minus 17, Pipkins was just a minus 5. The Providence leading scorer did have 3 turnovers but balanced it with 3 assists and 4 steals.
Howard logged 38 minutes with Pipkins just a minute behind. Dividing efficiency by the minute we come up with this result:
Pipkins .750
Howard .658
Howard scored, he had to as the only other Marquette player in double digits was Greg Elliott with 10. For Providence, five of Pipkins’ teammates ht double figures. The example here is not to criticize Howards’ game. There are days, or nights, like this when he is asked to attempt (25 of Marquette’s 49 attempts) over 50 per cent of his team’s shots. The point of all this is individual points do not reveal the entire story. We need to look a little closer. Efficiency might not be perfect but it does tell us more than sheer scoring totals.
It told us on that afternoon at the ‘Dunk’ Luwane Pipkins put together the most efficient performance of any player out there.
