Could Terrelle Pryor still return to Cleveland?
March 8, 2017Browns expected to sign wide receiver Kenny Britt
March 9, 2017Happy Thursday everyone — or as I call it, Friday Lite. The weekend’s right around the corner, and with any luck you’re able to mentally conceive of the idea of springtime, even if the weather forecast does not reflect as much. Opening Day and playoff basketball are in the not-too-distant future. Anyway, While We’re Waiting…
Browns fans became quite fussy over the Terrelle Pryor situation this week, myself included. There is a realistic possibility that Pryor could yet resign with the Browns, but it’s still distressing. I’m not going to go full rant, but I’ll just say that the Browns had the inside track and a competitive advantage to wrap this up long before this week.
If the Browns don't secure Pryor to a semi-longterm deal within 3 weeks I will never have any faith in their new management.
— Kyle (@kcwelch330) October 2, 2016
Should the Browns massively overpay Pryor? No. But the worst-run franchise in the league is going to need to “overpay” free agents to come play for the worst-run franchise in the league. And when the Browns have this much cap room, their opportunity cost to overpay one or two free agents is lower than other teams.
Here’s an inverse example: My time is less valuable when it’s infinite for all intents and purposes. I’m willing to accept a base rate to work 40 hours a week because those first 40 hours aren’t that valuable. But to get me to work to 60 or 80 hours an employer is going to need to up my salary substantially, maybe as much as 50 to 100 percent. When time is an unlimited resource, it isn’t worth much (comparatively); when it’s limited, it becomes much more valuable. Hence why people on hourly wages normally receive time-and-a-half or double time for “overtime.”
Right now the Browns are talent-broke, and can’t afford to be stingy with everyone. The Browns are living in a metaphorical dumpster, but unwilling to take a minimum-wage job making french fries. I think Terrelle Pryor’s the deep frier in this analogy. And besides, if the Browns aren’t going to retain any of the young talent they actually shockingly almost accidentally develop, then what are we really doing here?
I’ve written quite a bit in the past about LeBron James’ free throw disparity compared with comparable players. It’s become a crusade of sorts for me, because as someone who watches a lot of basketball, I think he is held to a double standard compared to some other players in the league. So it’s a topic I like to revisit once in a while.
My free throw projections involve a formula that, while imperfect, has produced similar results over two seasons and the playoffs, lending some credibility to it. It takes into account drives and field goal attempts near the basket, with the idea being that these high-probability scoring opportunities produce contests that lead to contact that lead lead to free throws. There are plenty of reasons why a player would shoot more or less free throws than expected, and I looked at some of those rationalizations when I first touched on the topic. But my primary hypothesis remains, excuses aside, that LeBron James is officiated differently than other players of his ilk.
Here’s the most recent chart:1
Players above the line shoot more free throws than expected, and players below the line shoot fewer free throws than expected. As you can see, James shoots about what you would expect, all things being equal. But the linear trend line is very much generated by the average NBA player, which ranges from “Well at least he’s better than Kyle Singler” to “Oh god no it’s Kyle Singler.” But LeBron James is basically the only superstar in the league who doesn’t receive a massive bump from the officials, and the first aggrieved among the players who shoot the most free throws.2
The counter is, “James still has it way better than other guys.” Which is true. I’d like to draw attention them, too. John Wall, Kemba Walker, and even James’ teammate Kyrie Irving (73.0 fewer free throws than expected) have a legitimate gripe. And Jesus I have no idea what Dennis Schröder did to deserve such a raw deal from the officials — maybe he insulted each of their mothers individually and to their faces. But I focus on James (even over Irving) because: 1. Most of the other players with a giant free throw deficit are small guards, which isn’t necessarily “fair” but makes sense; 2. James plays very physically; 3. Physical slashers who play like James have elevated free throw numbers; 4. I watch basketball games, and James withstands more contact than other elite talents.
For example, let’s look at other physical forwards and guards who are stylistically comparable to James and All-Star caliber. That list includes Kawhi Leonard, Jimmy Butler, Paul George, Kevin Durant, DeMar DeRozan, and Giannis Antetokounmpo. Kawhi Leonard plays almost identical to a less assist-oriented James,3 and shoots nearly twice as many free throws as expected. If we average the surplus percentage of these physical wing players and apply it to James, James would have 193 more free throw attempts — that’s over three additional free throw attempts per game.
The other player among that peer group who shoots fewer free throws than the rest? Giannis Antetokounmpo aka “The Greek Freak,” who (in my opinion) is the player most capable of replicating James’ playing style and career . They both pose officiating dilemmas.
Will officiating and free throw attempts ever be “fair”? No. Furthermore, should it be fair? Maybe not. Is this model perfect? No. But I do have a serious problem with James Harden shooting nearly 300 more free throws than LeBron James while James is basically subject to wrestling referees willing to let James get smacked over the head with a folding chair. I simply don’t believe that James Harden merits 699 free throw attempts to James’ 401. I watch them both play basketball. There are some definite inequities in free throw shooting, and it would be nice to see the NBA do something to mitigate them.
The Calvin and Hobbes strip of the day. While it’s easy to lose sight of it because of Calvin’s own precociousness, mischief, and cogent worldview, his parents’ own biting wit and perspective have a profound influence on Calvin’s character. I’m not sure if the sports business is or more or less cynical than music business. Let’s go with “even.”
And now for the random 90s song of the day. Because it was International Women’s Day or whatever on Wednesday, it seems like a good opportunity to make one of my favorite 90s jams the R90sSotD: No Doubt’s “I’m Just a Girl.” It’s depressing to think that most people under the age of 20 only know Gwen Stefani as one of the judges on The Voice, when pre-“Hollaback Girl” Stefani was the cool girl with loud fashion tastes with whom every guy wanted to be friends with and who was also the lead singer of an awesome ska band, insomuch as ska can ever be “awesome.”
In doing my scholarly research for the R90sSotD, I’ve become something of an expert on 90s music videos. Ninety percent of them are the same: the band lip-syncing the song and jumping up and down with rapid cuts and weird lenses interspersed with bizarre non-sequiturs with no narrative whatsoever. There’s often a raucous crowd or party scene. I presume this uniformity is because all 90s music directors were taking the same drugs. Anyway, “Just a Girl” is also one of my favorite karaoke songs, which I think is supposed to be ironic but I can’t even tell any more.
Oh, I’ve had it up to here
Oh, am I making myself clear?
38 Comments
If Sashi collects enough discarded McDonald’s wrappers off the bottom of the dumpster he’ll be able to scrape off enough crumbs to make a delicious Big Mac at a fraction of the cost, right?
The charts are beautiful and captivating.
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Just when you think it cannot get more disheartening, the Browns reportedly throw way more money at FAs than other teams, and they go “naw, I’m not signing”
Uh, we just signed Kenny Britt to a 4 yr deal with 17 million guaranteed. I dont…I mean…why would they…but hes…aww F8ck it Dude, lets go bowling
(Kenny Britt is the guy who has a big game then disappears for three weeks. Also, he might be crazy, which isnt great for a locker room. He’s also on the radar of Goodells discipline hammer, having been suspended previously. I mean I guess whatever but, I dunno man)
Yeah, I’ve read such, but I haven’t seen any actual numbers that confirmed they were offering Jefferson significantly more money than the ratbirds.
And as far as Juszczyk, the 49ers paid him a four-year, $21 million deal with $10.5 million guaranteed. Even our merry bunch of rubes isn’t stupid enough to do that.
Annnnnd, as far as the report that Sashi is going to make Zeitler the highest paid guard ever…I’ll believe it when I see it.
Kenny Britt, eh?
http://mrwgifs.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Steve-Dance-Celebration-Gif-On-Blues-Clues.gif
Zeiter would allow Greco shift to Center and last chance for Erving at RT.
Why didn’t we throw something on Pryor?
Franchise Tag- Lock him up for a year
Transition tag – we would get him for what others think he is worth
Some sort of tender – get a draft pick back if someone wants him bad enough
Pryor is an UFA.
You can only tender RFAs, like Crowell.
hi MAX … Britt is the guy i liked most of all the FA WR’s … now , just think what could be if they re-sign Pryor & they can trot-out Pryor , Britt , Coleman & Barnidge … that’s not too shabby.
but , if they signed Britt because they’re preparing to lose Pryor , then that’s not so hot. at least the Browns covered that spot if Pryor decides to bolt.
If LeBron isn’t getting as many FTs as he should, then (as our teachers liked to say) “it would behoove” him to work on his FT shooting and make a greater percentage of the FTs that he does get.
I don’t understand how attaching hooves to himself would help, but I guess that’s why I’m not a teacher.
I think the Browns’ plan is simply to match whatever another team gives him. Not saying it’s a great plan (he could still bolt), but it could work.
What was his suspension? I don’t like that, but the rest doesn’t bother me too much.
I hope it’s in addition to Pryor, but if it’s not, I think it’s okay. Trying to be rational: Is Pryor better than Britt? Not likely; not today, anyway. So the Browns would upgrade the position vacated by Pryor.
Suspended in 2012 for DUI
http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/8318870/nfl-suspends-tennessee-titans-wide-receiver-kenny-britt-one-game
On April 12, 2011, Britt was arrested in New Jersey on three counts (including a felony) following an alleged car chase with police. The charges were later reduced. On June 7, Britt pleaded guilty to careless driving and was fined.
On June 8, 2012, Britt was arrested in Hoboken, New Jersey, charged with resisting arrest.
In May 2014, a sex video briefly appeared on Britt’s Instagram. The Rams announced they were looking into the incident.
Except that his agent put that out there before coming to terms with Balt. It was a pretty obvious play at “please offer us more money, we don’t want to go to the Browns”
Agree on Juszczyk, he better be an H-Back/TE in their scheme for that coin.
We have a thread for this now too.
Okay, 1 and 3 are clearly not good. 2? Meh (unless it’s the DUI mentioned below). 4? Who cares?? Is that an “incident?”
I doubt Greco plays in 2017 – foot injury in December with a full year rehab needed
Yeah, let’s go bowling.
hi MG … i saw last night the Browns would pursue S Tony Jefferson , but now i’m hearing he might sign with the Ravens.
i also saw something fairly interesting last night : Charlie Casserly’s mock draft … he had the first QB (Trubisky) going to the Browns at #12 , then didn’t have another QB going until #27 (Watson) … then somebody trading to #32 to take Kizer. the more i think about it , there may be more than 1 QB to drop to the Browns at #33 , if they wait.
I would be shocked if zero QBs went in the Top10. Too many needs. Now, figuring out the order of the first four guys is another thing entirely.
Watson seems to be getting the most momentum but he has as many questions as the rest too.
hi GARRY … i personally would take Pryor over Britt , but i’d like to see us have them both.
Ok, help me out on this one…was Greco actually a good center, or was he just better than Care Bear?
Austin Reiter was our best center in 2016 but so limited it could have just been a nice matchup for him.
Greco isn’t a good center, he is a good backup guard who can play center in a pinch. Except in 2017 when he’ll be on IR.
i dunno … if Cousins ends-up in SF & let’s say Glennon ends-up in Chicago … you never know.
My takeaway is the rebuild is going to be slow and people thinking it was going to gain momentum this year were fooling themselves. They might not even address QB this offseason while they continue to just build slowly and steadily. Not that I agree, but more my assessment of what’s transpiring.
hi SCRIPTY … good post. all i know is they certainly must have a plan … and whatever that plan is , STICK TO IT.
Browns free agency plans
https://s3-media1.fl.yelpcdn.com/bphoto/YMRRcJTOBZJjqO_Wn9l2ew/ls.jpg
I think they are just looking for value wherever they can find it and moving forward. Being unemotional about traditional norms b/c they are so early in the re-build.
I think that would be my preference, too. I prefer Pryor as a person; but rationally, I can’t argue with the decision to take Britt from a pure football perspective. Would also like to see us have both. That would be a great WR group (but it would definitely signal the HBT’s disdain for their own strategy, or at least the outcome of their strategy, last year).
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yeah , last year it didn’t help that the pothead couldn’t get it together … *fingers crossed*
hi NATE … i think JANE has a thing for you …
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