DBR Newsletter #90
at California; at Stanford
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Key Stats
Duke 71 California 56
Total Possessions: 65
Duke Pts/Possession: 1.10 ppp
Cal Pts/Possession: 0.87 ppp
Duke OReb Rate: 40.0%
Cal OReb Rate: 17.6%
Duke Pts in the Paint: 42 pts
Cal Pts in the Paint: 16 pts
Duke 80 Stanford 50
Total Possessions: 63
Duke Pts/Possession: 1.27 ppp
Stanford Pts/Possession: 0.79 ppp
Duke TO Rate: 15.9%
Stanford TO Rate: 28.6%
Duke Pts in the Paint: 44 pts
Stanford Pts in the Paint: 20 pts
Full Game Stats: Duke Basketball Reference Season Stats
Notes
Cal (41.3%) and Stanford (40.7%) were each below 42% effective field goal percentage and 1.00 points-per-possession. The Blue Devils had not held consecutive opponents below both offensive outputs since the Niagara and Howard contests. Duke’s points allowed in the four halves were: 30, 26, 19, 31.
Duke rebounded 40% of their missed shots in both games, and outscored the Golden Bears 17-2 in second chance points.1
Stanford committed 18 turnovers (12 in the first half). Duke capitalized for a 22-6 advantage in points off turnovers (15-4 in the first half).
Duke averaged 1.30 points-per-shot inside the arc while posting a combined +50 in paint points (86-36) in the two West Coast games. After going 7 for 32 on three-pointers against Cal, the Blue Devils only attempted 10 triples against Stanford (20% 3PA rate) - the fewest three-point attempts (and 3PA rate) for Duke so far this season.2
Duke’s best plus/minus lineups at California:
1-Foster / 3-Evans / 6-Brown / 12-Boozer / 14-Khamenia (+10 in 11:29)
2-Boozer / 3-Evans / 7-Sarr / 14-Khamenia / 21-Ngongba (+12 in 3:02)
Duke’s best plus/minus lineups at Stanford:
2-Boozer / 3-Evans / 6-Brown / 7-Sarr / 12-Boozer (+9 in 12:10)
1-Foster / 3-Evans / 7-Sarr / 12-Boozer / 21-Ngongba (+14 in 8:39)
Clips
I liked this elbow action from Duke, with Isaiah setting the back-screen for Cam in the middle of the floor, and Pat or Maliq as the passer. The clip below shows three possessions from Duke’s road trip:
1 - Because Evans is a three-point threat, his defender is reluctant to help on Boozer’s cut off the back-screen. Cam’s defender chases over the top of the screen and is forced to foul on the catch inside.
2 - This time, Cal switches the action initially. Isaiah stays in motion after setting the back-screen, curling for a possible hand-off with Maliq. The Golden Bears attempt to switch back to prevent the big from chasing Evans on the perimeter, which leaves Cam open inside for the dunk.
3 - Stanford defends the initial action well, so Dame Sarr clears to the opposite side of the floor and Caleb Foster flattens along the three-point line. The paint is now wide open as Cam moves out to the short corner since he did not receive the pass. Isaiah sets his man up and cuts backdoor for the slam.
Thanks for reading, Go Duke!
OReb Rate: at Cal (40.0%); at Stanford (40.7%)
Prior to Stanford, Duke’s fewest three-point attempts in a game had been 23 (vs. Texas, vs. Arkansas, at Louisville), and their lowest 3PA rate had been 36.2% (vs. Lipscomb). Duke hit 4 of the 10 threes at Stanford for 1.20 pps from beyond the arc.

