Posted: 2022-03-26 08:26:21 (CT) [ 939 views ]
TEAM AT HOME Atlanta 994 FT ELEVATION
AVERAGES PER GAME
VMI RANGE 3PM 3PA % MADE* GAMES WIN %
+0.00 to +5.99 12.2 34.1 35.7 102 48.0%
-0.01 to -5.99 13.5 36.5 36.9 50 62.0%
ATLANTA HAWKS ON THE ROAD:
AVERAGES PER GAME
VMI RANGE VMI Description 3PM 3PA % MADE* GAMES WIN %
+21.00 to +23.99 (Trip------Gm 1 at Den or Utah) 12.0 34.0 35.3 1 0.0%
+18.00 to +20.99 (Trip------Gm 1 at Den or Utah) 12.7 40.7 31.1 3 33.3%
+15.00 to +17.99 (Trip------Gm 2 at Den or Utah) 18.0 35.0 51.4 1 0.0%
+12.00 to +14.99 (Trip------Gm 2 at Den or Utah) 5.0 28.0 17.9 1 0.0%
+0.00 to +2.99 ---------------------------------------- 13.5 36.6 37.0 26 30.8%
-0.01 to -2.99 ---------------------------------------- 12.3 35.1 35.2 67 37.3%
-3.00 to -5.99 ---------------------------------------- 11.6 35.2 33.1 45 40.0%
-6.00 to -8.99 ---------------------------------------- 12.0 29.4 40.8 5 60.0%
-9.00 to -11.99 (Trip------Gm 3*nearer sea level) 6.0 30.0 20.0 1 0.0%
ATLANTA - CURRENT SEASON ON THE ROAD:
AVERAGES PER GAME
VMI RANGE VMI Description 3PM 3PA % MADE* GAMES WIN %
+15.00 to +17.99 (Trip------Gm 1 at Den or Utah) 18.0 35.0 51.4 1 0.0%
+0.00 to +2.99 ---------------------------------------- 13.6 35.6 38.2 8 37.5%
-0.01 to -2.99 ---------------------------------------- 11.9 32.1 37.2 16 37.5%
-3.00 to -5.99 ---------------------------------------- 11.4 33.6 33.9 13 53.8%
Summary for The ATLANTA HAWKS:
It appears that 3-pt shooting has not been Atlanta's strong suit as they struggle to get above 12 three pointers per game regardless of where they are playing. However, at home they are truly at home and on the road this season they have won consistently when they are traveling away from Denver or Utah (-3 to -6 VMI) and getting closer to home environomental conditions.
We still have the issue of too few games in these outlying areas to make definitive statements, but since every team in the league we've studied over the past three seasons has shown the same tendencies, we see no reason to believe any change in data will occur over the next few seasons. We will keep you posted.
Over the past three years Atlanta's winning percentage has been best in the -3.00 to - 8.99 VMI Range. Since their home elevation is essentially 1,000 feet above sea level, they could not sport a minus 5.00 or higher negative VMI unless they had recently been in one or two of those most extreme environments. That is because no other team outside Colorado or Utah, is above 1100 feet elevation either. So, the only other time they would hit above minus 3.00 VMI, is when they have first traveled to say Oklahoma City or Phoenix, then ended their trip back at sea level before returning home. There are only 50 games in this range, but that would appear to be enough to draw a conclusion, since a team plays only 82 games per regular season in the NBA.
While the Hawks' 3 point shooting isn't great in the minus 3 to minus 6 VMI Range, is hasn't suffered much and a 40% road win percent is pretty typical in the NBA and definitely higher than other environmental categories while on the road. The 5 games within the VMI Range of minus 6 to minus 9 would be those games first returning back nearer their own home court elevation from Denver/Utah. This indicates a sigh of relief in shooting and probably physiological comfort, as well. So, once again, we see an impact on the game from air density.
Of course, the heaviest impact the Hawks appear to suffer are those games in the extreme environments where they have played six games over the past three years and won only one of them. Three point shooting percentages are mixed from very high to very low, but 16.7% winning in those conditions is a big competitive issue. When adding the loss in the "returning back toward sea level" game from Den/Uta gives them a win percentage of 14.3% to and directly from those extreme environments.
The Atlanta Hawks will kick that problem sometime, but for now, they probably should hope they don't need to travel to Denver or Utah in this years playoffs.
TEAM AT HOME PHOENIX 1075 FT ELEVATION
AVERAGES PER GAME
VMI RANGE 3PM 3PA % MADE* GAMES WIN %
+3.00 to +5.99 8.0 26.0 30.8 2 0.0%
+0.00 to +2.99 11.5 31.8 36.3 112 58.9%
-0.01 to -2.99 12.8 33.2 38.6 37 56.8%
-3.00 to -5.99 13.4 37.0 36.2 5 40.0%
-6.00 to -8.99 11.5 32.5 35.4 2 50.0%
PHOENIX SUNS ON THE ROAD:
AVERAGES PER GAME
VMI RANGE VMI Description 3PM 3PA % MADE* GAMES WIN %
+18.00 to +20.99 (Trip------Gm 1 at Den or Utah) 12.5 31.0 40.3 2 50.0%
+15.00 to +17.99 (Trip------Gm 1 at Den or Utah) 10.6 28.4 37.2 7 42.9%
+12.00 to +14.99 (Trip------Gm 2 at Den or Utah) 5.0 17.5 28.6 2 50.0%
+9.00 to +11.99 (Trip------Gm 2 at Den or Utah) 10.5 28.5 36.8 2 100.0%
+0.00 to +2.99 ---------------------------------------- 9.4 30.3 31.0 13 53.8%
-0.01 to -2.99 ---------------------------------------- 11.2 31.3 35.8 68 66.2%
-3.00 to -5.99 ---------------------------------------- 11.2 32.4 34.5 47 42.6%
-6.00 to -8.99 (Trip------Gm 3*nearer sea level) 12.4 33.9 36.7 7 42.9%
-9.00 to -11.99 (Trip------Gm 3*nearer sea level) 7.3 29.0 25.3 3 0.0%
PHOENIX - CURRENT SEASON ON THE ROAD:
AVERAGES PER GAME
VMI RANGE VMI Description 3PM 3PA % MADE* GAMES WIN %
Summary for The Phoenix Suns:
While there are some interesting numbers to keep an eye on--what can I really say about the most prolific team in the NBA this season. Plus, there are just not enough games in those outlying vicinities per season to actually make definitive statements. Of course, the winning percentages and even some of the 3-pt percentages do show the same indications as other teams in those games played in outlying environments but, overall the Suns have been outstanding.
TEAM AT HOME CHICAGO 605 FT ELEVATION
AVERAGES PER GAME
VMI RANGE 3PM 3PA % MADE* GAMES WIN %
+0.00 to +2.99 10.9 30.9 35.4 67 40.3%
-0.01 to -2.99 11.2 30.5 36.8 70 44.3%
-3.00 to -5.99 9.5 25.5 37.3 2 100.0%
-6.00 to -8.99 12.0 27.0 44.4 1 0.0%
CHICAGO BULLS ON THE ROAD:
AVERAGES PER GAME
VMI RANGE VMI Description 3PM 3PA % MADE* GAMES WIN %
+21.00 to +23.99 (Trip------Gm 1 at Den or Utah) 8.0 31.0 25.8 1 100.0%
+18.00 to +20.99 (Trip------Gm 1 at Den or Utah) 17.0 35.0 48.6 1 0.0%
+15.00 to +17.99 (Trip------Gm 2 at Den or Utah) 9.0 28.8 31.3 4 0.0%
+6.00 to +8.99 ---------------------------------------- 4.0 16.0 25.0 1 100.0%
+3.00 to +5.99 ---------------------------------------- 15.0 39.0 38.5 1 100.0%
+0.00 to +2.99 ---------------------------------------- 12.0 32.0 37.4 35 37.1%
-0.01 to -2.99 ---------------------------------------- 10.9 30.1 36.3 67 41.8%
-3.00 to -5.99 ---------------------------------------- 10.2 29.9 34.1 20 25.0%
-6.00 to -8.99 (Trip------Gm 3*nearer sea level) 12.0 30.5 39.3 2 50.0%
-9.00 to -11.99 (Trip------Gm 3 nearer sea level) 14.0 28.0 50.0 1 100.0%
CHICAGO - CURRENT SEASON ON THE ROAD:
AVERAGES PER GAME
VMI RANGE VMI Description 3PM 3PA % MADE* GAMES WIN %
+21.00 to +23.99 (Trip------Gm 1 at Den or Utah) 8.0 31.0 25.8 1 100.0%
+15.00 to +17.99 (Trip------Gm 2 at Den or Utah) 12.0 34.0 35.3 1 0.0%
+3.00 to +5.99 ---------------------------------------- 15.0 39.0 38.5 1 100.0%
+0.00 to +2.99 ---------------------------------------- 11.6 28.7 40.3 7 57.1%
-0.01 to -2.99 ---------------------------------------- 10.5 29.4 35.8 17 47.1%
-3.00 to -5.99 ---------------------------------------- 11.6 30.1 38.4 7 28.6%
*Note: If a sea level team plays only 1 game at Denver or Utah, then travels to a midwest location, the VMI formula will calculate into the -6 to -12 VMI Range. Since Chicago is not a sea level team, but 600 feet, it is a little more difficult to determine by the VMI alone, whether they went to Denver, or Utah first.
Summary for The Chicago Bulls:
Teams such as Chicago from the Mid-West and West must transition to both lower elevations and higher elevations directly from their home environment. Sea Level teams transition only to higher elevations and equal elevations for their first road games of each trip.
Below, I have combined those Chicago games above 3 VMI (meaning 3-pt shooting would be affected by 1-1/2 inches or more where there is no room to spare between the basketball and the rim without an adjustment for distance by the shooter. These games are only those traveling to higher altitudes and to sea level from Chicago. Clarification: The plus VMI ranges below are those on the road where they transition upward in elevation from previous games at home and on the road. In this scenario, the ball will travel further than the players are used to, so shooting can be physically relaxing, but may be mentally frustrating while trying to adjust the shot.
The minus VMI ranges below are a mixture of both those road games where the Bulls have played at a high altitude for a game or two, and then transitioned back into lower altitudes, and also those games where they have left Chicago and traveled to sea level for their first game of the road trip. So, below I have split the transitioning back from high altitude from those games first leaving Chicago to play at sea level.
AVERAGES PER GAME
VMI RANGE VMI Description 3PM 3PA % MADE* GAMES WIN %
+3 to +23.99 All Games Above 600 Feet Elev. 10.6 30.0 35.4% 8 37.5%
-3 to -5.99 Games From Chicago to Sea Level Venues 10.3 30.0 34.4% 21 23.8%
-6 to -11.99 Games Leaving Den/Utah to Lower Elev. 13.0 29.3 44.4% 3 66.7%
It would be interesting to see Michael Jordan's games in this type of graphic, because his focus was so acute. However, the current team and recent 3 full seasons of Chicago's 3-pt shooting is displayed above. While the overall 3-pt accuracy percentages in these games do not appear to be a problem, the numbers made per game, attempts and win percent would indicate there is a problem to solve if a team wants to always be competitive.
This graphic seems to indicate that plus three and minus 3 in VMI transitions may be significant. Of course, we don't have enough games to validate that at this time, but it is something we at VMI are going to look at closely over the next few seasons. One of the major features I would like to add is scoring by quarter for both the team and individual player.
It becomes extremely significant if Major College Basketball is affected, as I suspect it is, and I do have some data on that already.
TEAM AT HOME MEMPHIS 393 FT ELEVATION
AVERAGES PER GAME
VMI RANGE 3PM 3PA % MADE* GAMES WIN %
+0.00 to +2.99 10.8 31.2 34.7 59 44.1%
-0.01 to -2.99 10.8 31.0 34.7 78 62.8%
-3.00 to -5.99 11.0 34.0 32.4 4 75.0%
-6.00 to -8.99 10.0 32.3 30.9 3 33.3%
MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES ON THE ROAD:
AVERAGES PER GAME
VMI RANGE VMI Description 3PM 3PA % MADE* GAMES WIN %
+21.00 to +23.99 (Trip------Gm 1 at Den or Utah) 6.5 29.5 22.0 2 0.0%
+18.00 to +20.99 (Trip------Gm 2 at Den or Utah) 11.0 28.2 39.1 6 66.7%
+15.00 to +17.99 (Trip------Gm 2 at Den or Utah) 12.2 34.8 35.3 4 25.0%
+9.00 to +11.99 ---------------------------------------- 8.0 23.0 34.8 1 0.0%
+6.00 to +8.99 ---------------------------------------- 8.5 29.0 29.3 2 50.0%
+3.00 to +5.99 ---------------------------------------- 10.9 29.7 36.7 9 66.7%
+0.00 to +2.99 ---------------------------------------- 10.8 30.8 34.9 40 45.0%
-0.01 to -2.99 ---------------------------------------- 11.2 31.6 35.5 64 45.3%
-3.00 to -5.99 ---------------------------------------- 11.2 31.7 35.3 6 33.3%
-6.00 to -8.99 (Trip------Gm 2*nearer sea level) 9.4 30.0 31.2 8 37.5%
-9.00 to -11.99 (Trip------Gm 3 nearer sea level) 15.0 40.0 37.5 1 100.0%
-12.00 to -14.99 (Trip------Gm 3 nearer sea level) 11.0 31.0 35.5 1 100.0%
MEMPHIS CURRENT SEASON ON THE ROAD:
AVERAGES PER GAME
VMI RANGE VMI Description 3PM 3PA % MADE* GAMES WIN %
+18.00 to +20.99 (Trip------Gm 1 at Den or Utah) 11.0 25.0 44.0 1 100.0%
+15.00 to +17.99 (Trip------Gm 2 at Den or Utah) 13.0 35.0 37.1 1 100.0%
+3.00 to +5.99 ---------------------------------------- 11.0 29.0 37.9 1 100.0%
+0.00 to +2.99 ---------------------------------------- 9.9 29.2 33.8 8 62.5%
-0.01 to -2.99 ---------------------------------------- 11.1 34.2 32.3 19 63.2%
-3.00 to -5.99 ---------------------------------------- 10.5 33.0 31.8 2 50.0%
-6.00 to -8.99 (Trip-----Gm 2*nearer sea level) 7.0 27.3 25.6 3 66.7%
*Note: If a sea level team plays only 1 game at Denver or Utah, then travels to a midwest location, the VMI formula will calculate into the -6 to -12 VMI Range. Since Memphis is not a sea level team, but 400 feet, it is a little more difficult to determine by the VMI alone, whether they went to Denver, or Utah first.
Summary for The Memphis Grizzlies:
Memphis has more games in the high plus teen VMI range than some sea level teams and fewer games above plus 20 VMI. This is because they get a 400 feet elevation head start toward those two high elevation teams; Denver and Utah. Over the last few years, they have struggled to get above that 12 three pointers per game, even at home. They have done better this year on the road, but in the past have had some pretty poor shooting games at high elevations.
Trips from home or sea level road games to Oklahoma City, Phoenix, Minnesota, Atlanta will place their VMI range between +6 and +12. It appears they have struggled to hit threes in those higher elevations (around 1000 feet) as well. Since it is only 3 games, the league and the Grizzlies can dismiss it as outlier data, but the air density can still be the culprit, of which fantasy players and wagerers can take advantage.
TEAM AT HOME BOSTON 25 FT ELEVATION
AVERAGES PER GAME
VMI RANGE 3PM 3PA % MADE* GAMES WIN %
+0.00 to +5.99 13.3 35.9 36.9 54 72.2%
-0.01 to -5.99 12.7 35.6 35.7 98 55.1%
-6.00 to -11.99 13.5 34.5 39.1 2 100.0%
BOSTON CELTICS ON THE ROAD: using new tool at 3 VMI per range.......
AVERAGES PER GAME
VMI RANGE VMI Description 3PM 3PA % MADE* GAMES WIN %
*Note: If a sea level team plays only 1 game at Denver or Utah, then travels to a midwest location, the VMI formula will calculate into the -6 to -12 VMI Range.
BOSTON CURRENT SEASON ON THE ROAD:
AVERAGES PER GAME
VMI RANGE VMI Description 3PM 3PA % MADE* GAMES WIN %
+18.00 to +20.99 (Trip------Gm 1 at Den or Utah) 14.0 39.0 35.9 1 0.0%
+3.00 to +5.99 ------------------------------------------ 5.5 31.0 17.7 2 0.0%
+0.00 to +2.99 ------------------------------------------ 12.9 37.9 34.1 17 47.1%
-0.01 to -2.99 ------------------------------------------ 13.0 38.4 33.9 8 62.5%
-3.00 to -5.99 ------------------------------------------ 16.3 39.7 41.2 3 66.7%
-6.00 to -8.99 (Trip------Gm 2 nearer sea level) 21.0 37.0 56.8 1 100.0%
Summary for The Boston Celtics:
Boston shoots well and wins at home as well as any of the other top teams in the NBA. No surprise there. I don't yet know what to make of the difference in winning when the home VMI falls into the negative 0.00 to -5.99 range. Most of the teams seem to have been better in one category or the other at home, but there is not enough consistency in the data to draw conclusions. So, while I may want to dig deeper into that, this is not the time.
On the road, Boston shows the same tendencies as all the other top teams we have looked at thus far. No surprise there either. Since the current season shows the same indicators; that is, that when they travel to the extreme NBA venues in altitude it does seem to affect the shooting and definitely the winning percentage. So, we know that all the top teams from the extreme NBA venue at sea level have difficulty with both the shooting and the physiological adjustments. However, the bigger issue is that it affects all teams and therefore all individual players. So far, we have not identified any individuals who consistently overcome this shooting or physiological issue when traveling to high elevations from their home court at sea level.
TEAM AT HOME MIAMI 15 FT ELEVATION
AVERAGES PER GAME
VMI RANGE 3PM 3PA % MADE* GAMES WIN %
MIAMI HEAT ON THE ROAD: using new tool at 3 VMI per range.......
AVERAGES PER GAME
