Some of the All-Time greats averages in 100 poss. per game and 40 mpg.

[DatAsh]

Although this topic involves speculation, the OP is using flawed information. Instead, let's sue actual comparative statistical information.

The starting baseline numbers of relevance should be 118.8 ppg, 108 FGA/game, 37 FTA/game, 61 rpg, and the always overlooked stat of .426 eFG%. Those were the league averages in Wilt's historic '62 season. And, no, his personal team averages should not be used. Wilt took his team, on his back, and drove them to their numbers...in that season. He was generally a "catch-and-shoot" shooter, unlike MJ and Kobe, players who would dribble for several seconds in orer to get their shots.

Also, keep in mind that Wilt's numbers were achieved playing nearly very minute of every game. Why is that important? Because the OP is basing his evaluations on a 40 mpg basis. Think about just how unfair that is to a player who played every minute of every game, in a season in which he also played a ton of back-to-back games, including separate stretches of six, three-in-a-rows; three, four-in-a-rows; and even another separate stretch of, five games in five days.

Does anyone in their right mind believe that a Shaq, in 2000, who played a career high 40 mpg, would have continued to play at the same levels, playing 48 mpg? Would his rebounds per game have gone from 13.6 rpg in 40 mpg, to a projected 16.3 rpg playing 48 mpg? Would he have continued to shoot .574 from the field, playing an exhausting 48 mpg? And doing so in a schedule of 20 or so back-to-back games? Keep in mind that Shaq's playoff numbers, with one days rest, were considerly less than when he had two. Meanwhile, Wilt was playing in an era of playoff series with not only back-to-back games, but with even three-in-a-row.

And given Chamberlain's history of playing 45.8 mpg over his entire career, and then an unfathomable 47.2 mpg over the course of his 160 post-season games, or that his worst season was "only" 42.3 mpg (on a Laker team that went 69-13 and on their games by NBA record margins), or that in his last season, at age 36, he was playing 43.2 mpg...there would have been no era in which he would only b playing 40 mpg. I suspect that a prime Chamberlain would have led the league just like he did nearly ever season...so that would mean at least 42-43- an even 44 mpg (jst take a look at the league leaders year-after-year.) So, even in Shaq's 2000 season, in which he played that career high 40 mpg, Michael Finley was leading the leaue at 42.2 mpg.

So then, the reverse has to also be taken into account...that Wilt's efficiencies wold surely rise only playing a hypothetical 40 mpg. Would Wilt's rebound rate of 25.7 rpg, at 48.5 mpg, have been a straight drop to 21.4 rpg? Or would his rebounding efficiency have risen somewhat to counter the drop? And if so, how much? Same with his FG%. Surely his .506 FG% would have been considerably higher playing less minutes in a season which had the most demandin schedule in NB history.

Let's begin. Since I mentioned Shaq's 2000 season, we'll start there.

Once again here were Shaq's numbers. 40 mpg, 29.7 ppg, 13.6 rpg, and on .574 shooting. In that '99-00 season, the NBA averaged 97.5 ppg, 43 rpg, and had an eFG% of .478. And, the average team took 82 FGAs per game, and 25 FTAs per game.

In Wilt's '61-62 season, Chamberlain averaged 39.5 FGAs per game, in a league that averaged 108 FGA, and he averaged 17 FTAs per game, in a league that shot 37 FTAs per team on average. He shot .506 from the field (in a league that had an eFG% of .426...more on that later), and shot .613 from the line.

Here we go...reduce Wilt's FGAs down to 99-00 levels (82/108 x 39.5), and he would have averaged an even 30 FGAs per game. Multiply his .506 FG% by that 30 FGA, and he would have averaged 15.2 FGM per game, or 30.4 ppg from the field. Reduce his 17 FTAs down to '99-00 levels, (37/25 x 17) and he would have taken 11.4 FTA per game. Since he shot .613 from the line that season, he woul have made an even 7 FT's per game. 30.4 + 7 = 37.4 ppg.

Multiply that 37.4 ppg by .825 (40/48.5), and he would have averaged 30.9 ppg in 2000, playing 40 mpg.

But wait...we forgot something. Wilt's '62 NBA ony had an eFG% of .426, while Shaq's '00 had an eFG of .478. So what you ask? If we are going to hypothetically reduce Wilt's '62 season numbers down to '00 levels, we also have to raise the FG%'s to equalize the conditions. Why? In the 99-00 season, the average NBA team averaged 97.5 ppg. If we don't equalize the FG%'s, then the average team from '61-62 will only average 32.3 made FGAs per game, or 64.6 ppg on FGAs. Then factor in that they would only average 18 ppg on their 25 FTAs (.727), ...for a total of 84.6 ppg...or over 13 ppg less than the average team in 2000.

How do we equalize it again? Raise the league FG% to an adjusted .478. Suddenly, in '62, the average team would be making 39.2 FGM per game, or 78.4 ppg. Add the 18 ppg that they did from the line, and then the average team in '62 would be scoring 96.4 ppg. By the way, the reason it is not equal has a considerable amount to do with Wilt's FT shooting. Take a look at the NBA's FT% before Wilt arrived. In the 58-59 season, the NBA shot .756 from the line (in 2000 it was .755.) Furthermore, in the season after Wilt retired, '73-74, the NBA shot .771.

What does all of that have to do with Wilt's scoring average in '99-00? Once again, reducing his FGAs down to '00 levels, he would have taken 30 FGAs per game. But, instead of making 15.2 FGs per game (based on his .506 FG%), he would make an adjusted 17.1 FGs per game (.478/.426, x .506) on an adjusted FG% of .568. 17.1 x2 = 34.2 ppg, + 7 ppg from the line, or 41.2 ppg. Reduce 41.2 ppg by playing 40 mpg, instead of 48.5 mpg, and he would have averaged an even 34.0 ppg (on .568 shooting.)

Of course, you could do this much easily. The average NBA team averaged 118.8 ppg in '62, and 97.5 ppg in '00. Divide 97.5 by 118.8, and you get .821. Multiply 50.4 ppg by .821, and you have 41.4 ppg. Multiply 41.4 by .825 and Wilt's scoring average, in 40 mpg, would have been 34.2 ppg.

How about rebounding? In the 61-62 season, the NBA averaged about 61 rpg per team (after adjusting for team rebounds.) In Shaq's '99-00 season, it was at 43 rpg. This is relatively easy. 43/61 = .705. Multiply Wilt's 25.7 rpg times .705, and it omes out atw18.1 rpg. Multiply 18.1 times .825, and it becomes an adjusted 14.9 rpg, which would have led the league(and here again, that is a Wilt only playing 40 mpg.)


You can the above in any of the OP's scenarios. How about MJ's '86-87 season?

88 FGA, 30.5 FTA, 44 rpg, and on an eFG% of .488.

Chamberlain's numbers would then be, 32.2 FGAs, and 14 FTAs per game. His FG% would have risen to .580 (488/426 x 506), or 18.7 FGM per game, or 37.4 ppg. And he woud have made 8.6 FTs per game (14 x .613), or a total of 46 ppg. Multiply 46 x .825, and he woud have averaged 38 ppg...playing the same mpg as MJ (37.1 ppg on 40 mpg.)

And he would have averaged 18.5 rpg playing 48 mpg (25.7 rpg x .721), or 15.3 rpg...playing 40 mpg.

So, to recap, Wilt, in 86-87, would have averaged 38 ppg, on .580 shooting, and 15.3 rpg...all while only playing 40 mpg.

Once again, though, the above numbers don't take into account the extra efficiency "boost" that a Chamberlain, only playing 40 mpg, instead of 48.5 mpg, would have surely received.

Go ahead...use those formulas for any of the OP's listings. Wilt's 61-62 season stands as the greatest scoring season of all-time.

Are you JLauber?

I agree with your sentiments of 67' Wilt being not only his greatest season, but the greatest season of any player, period.

I tend to think 62' Wilt is drastically overrated because of the role he played. I'd take 66', 67', 68' and 64' Wilt all before I'd take 62' Wilt.

Also, much of your math is flawed, but I can't say I entirely disagree with your conclusions.

[ThaRegul8r]

Are you JLauber?

Yes, it is.

As if it weren't evident enough from the content of the posts if one has read enough of them, the choice of the name "Lazeruss," after the whole thing about being dead isn't exactly subtle.

[DatAsh]

Yes, it is.

As if it weren't evident enough from the content of the posts if one has read enough of them, the choice of the name "Lazeruss," after the whole thing about being dead isn't exactly subtle.

What made me suspicious is that he's making a lot of the same mathematical mistakes that Jlauber used to make.

[SyRyanYang]

Finally, someone out-essayed pauk. mad respect.

[fpliii]

jlauber going up against pauk? Hmmm...

[La Frescobaldi]

jlauber going up against pauk? Hmmm...

powk posts = far better than the personal assaults that other guy always used because he had 0 value to add. a true null.
mullwad or something like that.
nullwad.

[deja vu]

Wow! Jlauber is back!

[L8kersfan222]

Pauk exposed.

[sundizz]

Are you JLauber?

I agree with your sentiments of 67' Wilt being not only his greatest season, but the greatest season of any player, period.

I tend to think 62' Wilt is drastically overrated because of the role he played. I'd take 66', 67', 68' and 64' Wilt all before I'd take 62' Wilt.

Also, much of your math is flawed, but I can't say I entirely disagree with your conclusions.

It's a great post. However you can't just say ridiculous stuff like could Shaq play 48 mpg. It's a different era and that is what was expected. Shaq could had played 48 mpg. Albeit, not as well as Wilt. Shaq also played against teams that could scout him with video, against much more sophisticated defenses, with much more scrutiny. What Wilt did was dominate in an undeveloped league. It's not a knock on him. It's just the truth. It's like intramural ball..if someone is much better, there is just nothing you can do to stop him. They had no time to scout, no hack a Wilt going on, etc. Would Wilt be able to play 48 mpg in today's NBA? Sure, I think so. However, he wouldn't because no coach would let him. You talk about playing in games. However, today's athletes hit the gym, go to shootarounds, have media sessions, etc etc. that put additional wear and tear on their bodies. Watching Wilt in high school videos it doesn't seem likely he even played all that much hoops at that point. He looks like a young, lanky giraffe that can't move well. Shaq at high school >>>>>>> Wilt at high school.

[PHILA]

He looks like a young, lanky giraffe that can't move well.

He was very quick and agile in his younger years, though perhaps not as coordinated yet since his body was still growing. He was a tremendous leaper as well.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XNw0c19DhIU&t=2m

http://www.nbcuniversalarchives.com/...9AA4921_s01.do

[kNicKz]

Pauk got exposed

[andgar923]

Whether Pauk had an agenda or was flawed, still props to him for even attempting this.

Not only did he try, he tried to explain his methodology (whether we agree with it or not) and he made an easy to read and understand listing of his findings.

I may not always agree with him, but gotta give him props on this for trying.

[Big#50]

Why no Duncan or Dirk?

[Mr. Jabbar]

too boring; didn't read

[Pointguard]

I read the OP somewhere else. I mean Pauk personalized it but I recall the methodology.

I'm with Jesus. Great to have Lazzurus back tho.