Lets Talk About Alexey Shved
By James Glenn
Dec 7, 2012; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves point guard Alexey Shved (1) looks on in the first half against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
There sure has been a lot of talk lately about the outstanding play of Timberwolves rookie guard, Alexey Shved. All of this talk is why sports are so great; they really are the purest form of reality TV. Everyone has an opinion on sports. Very often it can bring people together, and can tear them apart. How many conversations are started with a simple “did you see the game last night?” How many people surround the water cooler on Monday to recap the wild weekend of sporting events? Being a fan of everything sports, many of my conversations revolve around sports. Over a recent conversation with a Timberwolves season ticket holder, who was giving me his eye test on the team, and about Shved. He also talked about Shveds current role on the team, and what he has seen so far this season.
Like all conversations in sport, it is more of a debate. Debates are fun, they usually are based on facts and stats, numbers, and numbers never lie. The conversation with my friend was no different, we quickly engaged into a plethora of information swapping. We both took turns giving our own 2 cents on the Wolves, the roster, and specifically Alexey Shved.
So like all good debates, this one quickly took off. Comparisons of how Alexey was a longer Ricky Rubio. Well maybe not quite to Ricky’s level of passing, or court vision, but he was capable of controlling a game very similar to Ricky. Alexey single handedly can create offense, doing it in numerous different ways, getting other players involved or taking the right shots when the game calls for it. He seems to possess some of the same innate abilities as Ricky, and more importantly he has a better outside shot.
We are almost a quarter of the way through the NBA season, and up to this point in the season, Shved is definitely on the list for Rookie of the Year. There is no doubt Shved has made an impact in the NBA, and even more of an impact on a team that has seen its guard position depleted by injury.
It’s funny how things just seem to work themselves out. To start the season, there were numerous questions about how Shved would even get playing time. With the additions of Chase Budinger, Brandon Roy and returning players Luke Ridnour, JJ Berea and Ricky Rubio (don’t forget Malcolm Lee) where would there be room for Alexey Shved? Other than an impressive Olympic performance, Shved was considered an unknown and questionable signing for POBO (President of Basketball Operations) David Kahn. This just seemed to be another typical Kahn move for a team that already had a log jam in the back court. It seemed as if David Kahn, again signed a player for more money than he should of, and there was no need for it.
Due to the Wolves injuries in the back court Alexey got his chance and did he ever take advantage of the opportunity. Just like Ricky, who has some seriously high expectations when he returns to the floor, Alexey’s early season performance has already placed high expectations for the rest of the season.
Some things to keep in mind at the quarter break, for as good as Alexey has been so far this season, he is still the seventh highest performing rookie in efficiency. While Alexey is still trying to get his bearings straight in the NBA, he has already been performing at a very high level. That is all rookies, including front court players such as Anthony Davis and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist.
Player |
PER
TS%
eFG%
TRB%
AST%
STL%
BLK%
TOV%
USG%
ORtg
DRtg
OWS
DWS
WS
WS/48
Anthony Davis
26.3
0.567
0.493
17.6
5.7
1.9
6.4
9.6
26.2
115
105
0.5
0.2
0.7
0.19
A. Drummond
20.6
0.566
0.59
19.8
3.9
2.4
5.2
11.9
16.5
114
99
0.7
0.7
1.4
0.17
Damian Lillard
17.9
0.558
0.512
4.9
30.4
1.7
0.4
15.9
24.2
110
112
1.5
0.1
1.6
0.1
M. Kidd-Gilchrist
17.3
0.543
0.494
12.8
12.2
1.8
4.2
13.4
18.6
108
107
0.7
0.4
1.1
0.1
J. Valanciunas
14.9
0.556
0.507
13.5
8.8
0.7
4
14.9
17.7
109
109
0.6
0.3
0.9
0.09
Alexey Shved
14.2
0.533
0.484
6
25.2
1.4
1.5
17.5
21.8
103
103
0.4
0.5
1
0.1
Meyers Leonard
12.8
0.59
0.528
11.8
1.7
1.1
4.3
12.5
11.9
117
108
0.6
0.2
0.8
0.11
Jared Sullinger
12.6
0.541
0.494
16.5
4.7
1
2.3
10.8
14.5
111
102
0.5
0.5
1
0.13
Dion Waiters
12.6
0.464
0.428
4.2
18.8
2
0.5
10.3
24.8
99
110
0.2
0.2
0.4
0.03
Bradley Beal
12.3
0.474
0.411
6.8
13.5
1.7
1.7
11.4
22.7
96
107
0
0.4
0.3
0.03
Arnett Moultrie
11.6
0.356
0.25
16.3
2.8
2
1.5
5.6
16
97
104
0
0.1
0.1
0.06
Kyle Singler
11.2
0.591
0.551
7.1
5.4
0.9
1.4
12
15.1
112
109
0.9
0.3
1.2
0.09
Tyler Zeller
11.1
0.466
0.439
13.7
6.2
1.1
2.4
13.3
17.2
98
109
0.1
0.2
0.3
0.04
Maurice Harkless
10.8
0.466
0.467
12.4
4.7
1.8
3.3
10.6
11.8
98
100
0
0.5
0.5
0.09
Harrison Barnes
10.8
0.515
0.478
9.7
9.1
1.1
0.4
12.6
16.9
102
106
0.3
0.5
0.8
0.07
Jeff Taylor
10.2
0.52
0.484
5.1
6.3
2
1
10.9
14.8
104
112
0.3
0.1
0.4
0.04
Austin Rivers
5.8
0.392
0.348
5.2
16.6
1.6
0.7
15.3
17.4
83
113
-0.7
0
-0.6
-0.1
Part of the outstanding performance of Alexey, has been more than just numbers pure numbers. He has been on the floor to close out 4th quarters, because of his understanding and knowledge of the game. He is a typical intelligent basketball player, which Rick Adelman likes to have in his system. It is his intelligence that has won over his teammates and coaches. He knows the game, the angles and the nuances which normally takes players an entire career to develop, and understands the guard position. If we look at the rookie guard class, Alexey is proving to be the cream of the crop.
| Player | PER | TS% | eFG% | AST% | STL% | TOV% | USG% | ORtg | DRtg | OWS | DWS | WS | WS/48 |
| Damian Lillard | 17.9 |
0.558
0.512
30.4
1.7
15.9
24.2
110
112
1.5
0.1
1.6
0.104
Alexey Shved
14.2
0.533
0.484
25.2
1.4
17.5
21.8
103
103
0.4
0.5
1
0.102
Dion Waiters
12.6
0.464
0.428
18.8
2
10.3
24.8
99
110
0.2
0.2
0.4
0.033
Bradley Beal
12.3
0.474
0.411
13.5
1.7
11.4
22.7
96
107
0
0.4
0.3
0.034
Austin Rivers
5.8
0.392
0.348
16.6
1.6
15.3
17.4
83
113
-0.7
0
-0.6
-0.064
As the statistics show, Shved is right at the top of the list in numerous categories. He’s got the 2nd highest Win Share of rookie guards, and the 2nd highest PER. Here is a major difference; the only rookie above Alexey on the list is currently starting. Alexey is the top performing bench player of all of the listed rookies. Alexey, also is tied for the 2nd best in EFF (efficiency), but when you take into consideration Alexey’s time difference, he has the highest EFF48M (efficiency per 48 minutes) at 19.5 of any rookie guard.
| Player | MPG | PTS | EFF | RPG | APG | STPG | BLKPG | EFF48M | EFF |
| Damian Lillar | 38 |
18.9
17.4
3.2
6.5
1.2
0.2
22.01
17.4
Dion Waiters
32.1
15.2
10.1
2.3
3.4
1.2
0.18
15.18
10.1
Alexey Shved
24.7
10.6
10.1
2.7
3.6
0.7
0.5
19.45
10.1
Bradley Beal
27.8
11.7
9.5
3.4
2.1
0.9
0.59
16.32
9.5
Seeing how Alexey has been so solid to start this season, and when you take into account his averages per 48 minutes, it starts to make a guy wonder. How would Alexey Shved, the 6th man of the Timberwolves, compare to other past 6th Man of the Year winners rookie season stats. I’m glad you asked that question, as you can see below, Alexey has been every bit as good in most categories and better is others as these past winners rookie seasons.
Alexey Shved |
MPG
FG%
3p%
FT%
TS%
eFG%
AST%
STL%
BLK%
TOV%
PPG
USG%
ORtg
DRtg
PER
WS
WS/48
24.8
0.399
0.325
0.792
0.533
0.484
25.2
1.4
1.5
17.5
10.6
21.8
103
103
14.2
1
0.102
James Harden
MPG
FG%
3P%
FT%
TS%
eFG%
AST%
STL%
BLK%
TOV%
PPG
USG%
ORtg
DRtg
PER
WS
WS/48
22.9
0.403
0.375
0.808
0.551
0.484
12.3
2.4
0.9
13.4
9.9
20.4
109
104
14
4.5
0.124
Manu Ginobili
MPG
FG%
3P%
FT%
TS%
eFG%
AST%
STL%
BLK%
TOV%
PPG
USG%
ORtg
DRtg
PER
WS
WS/48
20.7
0.438
0.345
0.737
0.556
0.503
15.8
3.6
0.8
17.5
7.6
18.5
106
98
14.7
4.2
0.141
Jason Terry
MPG
FG%
3P%
FT%
TS%
eFG%
AST%
STL%
BLK%
TOV%
PPG
USG%
ORtg
DRtg
PER
WS
WS/48
23.3
0.415
0.293
0.807
0.497
0.453
29.3
2.5
0.3
19.1
8.1
19.2
100
108
13.9
1.9
0.047
Jamal Crawford
MPG
FG%
3P%
FT%
TS%
eFG%
AST%
STL%
BLK%
TOV%
PPG
USG%
ORtg
DRtg
PER
WS
WS/48
17.2
0.352
0.35
0.794
0.442
0.419
23
2.2
1
21
4.6
17.9
84
108
8.5
-0.9
-0.043
Leandro Barbbosa
MPG
FG%
3P%
FT%
TS%
eFG%
AST%
STL%
BLK%
TOV%
PPG
USG%
ORtg
DRtg
PER
WS
WS/48
21.4
0.447
0.395
0.77
0.553
0.535
18
3.2
0.3
19.5
7.9
18.6
100
106
12.7
1.9
0.061
To try and make sure we have some perspective, these stats are only a quarter of the season played for Alexey and a full season for the other listed 5 players rookie seasons. However, there is some reason to be excited about the possibilities for Alexey, the players he is being mentioned with above have gone on to have great careers that are still being played out.
It is still early for Alexey, but if his performance we’ve seen so far is any indication of what he is capable of, the Wolves could have a back court running mate for Ricky that will be around for years to come.