NBA: Most Efficient Offensive Players in '07-'08 Season

    Below is a ranking of the top 20 offensive players in the league during the regular season.  These players were selected based on the fact that they played over 70 games and appeared on an All-NBA team or were top 20 in the league in scoring.  This is not a ranking of the top 20 players for the whole NBA, just a ranking of the top 20 offensive players. 

    To make this ranking I computed a players offensive efficiency using Offensive, Player Efficiency (OPE), a formula I created.   The OPE formula is: (field goals made + 1.5* 3 pt field goals made + free throws made) / (field goal attempts + free throw attempts + turnovers - offensive rebounds). 

20.  Baron Davis, Golden State warriors.  OPE rating: .506 .  While Davis enjoyed one of his better years scoring 21.8 ppg and handing out 7.6 apg it was done in a typically inefficient manner.  Davis has too many turnovers and shot above 42% from the field for only the second time in his career.

19.  Joe Johnson, Atlanta Hawks.  OPE rating: .520.  While Johnson had a great year leading the Hawks to the playoffs his scoring production fell this year as he struggled from the field finishing the season at only 43%.

18.  Deron Williams, Utah Jazz.  OPE rating: .529.  Deron Williams enjoyed his finest season in the pros and in some categories he is a very efficient player, shooting over 50% from the field.  However, Williams struggles with high turnovers, is a poor rebounder, and does not get to the free throw line often.

17.  Steve Nash, Phoenix Suns.  OPE rating: .541.  Nash's production dipped slightly this year from his MVP worthy seasons as has his efficiency.  While, Nash continues to shoot high percentages from the floor, he struggled with turnovers, rebounded poorly and had his fewest free throw attempts per game since the 1999-2000 season.  

16.  Lebron James, Cleveland Cavaliers.  OPE rating: .553.  James had an amazing year averaging more than 30 ppg 7 rpg and 7 apg.  However, he continues to shoot a lot of threes at a very low percentage, and still struggles from the foul line

15.  Allen Iverson, Denver Nuggets.  OPE rating: .550.  Iverson's position here is little surprise as he continues to score at a high rate averaging over 26 ppg.  His efficiency is bolstered by the fact that he shot his highest percentage from the field since 1997-98 and attempts a high number of free throws

14.  Chris Paul, New Orleans Hornets.  OPE rating: .554.  While Paul's scoring numbers have improved each year his efficiency has taken a hit as his game has gone further away from the basket.  In each year Paul's three pointers per game have increase while his free throws per game have decreased.

13.  Michael Redd, Milwaukee Bucks.  OPE rating: .558.  Without much attention or fanfare Redd continues to score at a high rate season after season.  This year was no different as he scored over 22 ppg.

12.  Paul Pierce, Boston Celtics.  OPE rating: .565.  Pierce's numbers fell as he had to share shots with Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett.  However, he was still an offensive force scoring almost 20 ppg and had his best season behind the arc since 2000-01.

11.  Richard Jefferson, New Jersey Nets.  OPE rating: .568.  Jefferson was the lone bright spot for a disappointing Nets team as he came back from an injury plagued year to put up a career best 22.6 ppg.

10.  Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers.  OPE rating: .568.  Bryant's game has become more efficient as he is now taking less shots and passing to his teammates more.  Bryant still had a great season offensively as he was rewarded with his first MVP.

9.  Carmelo Anthony, Denver Nuggets.  OPE rating: .569.  Anthony's production dipped slightly as he often deferred to Iverson but he made his mark in other areas.  He shot a career best 49% and grabbed a career high 7.4 rpg with many of them coming on the offensive glass.

8.  Tim Duncan, San Antonio Spurs.  OPE rating: .583.  Duncan had another great year for the ever efficient Spurs.  Everything about Duncan's game is efficient as he continues to win and compiled 19 ppg and 11 rpg, of which more than 3 per game were offensive.

7.  Manu Ginobili, San Antonio Spurs.  OPE rating: .583.  Ginobili is finally getting the recognition he deserves as he was selected as 6th man of the year and selected to the All-NBA 3rd team after scoring 19.5 ppg.   Manu's game is very efficient as he shoots over 40% from three and over 86% from the foul line.

6.  Carlos Boozer, Utah Jazz.  OPE rating: .587.  Boozer turned in a Karl Malone like season scoring more than 21 ppg, grabbing over 10 rpg while shooting better than 54% from the field.

5.  Dwight Howard, Orlano Magic.  OPE rating: .589.  While Howard's offensive game remains raw, comprised mainly of thunderous dunks, he do so very effectively.  Howard was 3rd in the league in field goal percentage shooting just a shade under 60%.  His ranking could be near the league lead for years to come particularly if he can cure his foul shot woes, as he shot only 59% this year.

4.  Al Jefferson, Minnesota Timberwolves.  OPE rating: .593.  Jefferson's high ranking might be a surprise to some, but not to any who watched him play, as he closely matched the departed Garnett's production and efficiency.  Jefferson lead the Timberwolves in scoring at 21 ppg and finished second behind Tyson Chandler in offensive rebounds per game at 3.8. 

3.   Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas Mavericks.  OPE rating: .597.  Nowtizki followed up his MVP season with another great year despite his teams struggles.  Nowitzki continues to shoot a high percentage as he continues to rely less on his three point shot than earlier in his career.  His improved driving ability and usage of his mid-range game has greatly improved his efficiency.

2.  Kevin Garnett,  Boston Celtics.  OPE rating: .605.  Garnett received much attention for turning the Celtics into a defensive force, but the revitalized Celtics were also third in the Eastern Conference in ppg.  Much of this goes to the offensive efficiency of Kevin Garnett's whose numbers dipped but he continued to shoot above 80% from the foul line and shot a career best 53% from the field.

1.  Amare Stoudemire, Phoenix Suns.  OPE rating: .670.  Stoudemire easily lead the league in offensive efficiency as he had a terrific year playing alongside Shaquille O'Neal.  Stoudemire scored 25.2 ppg on a career best 59% from the field, and well as a career best 80% from the foul line, a great percentage for a big man.  Additionally, he limited his turnovers, committing the fewest of his five full NBA seasons.  It is great news for the league that Amare has returned from knee surgery so effectively as he is only 25 and is set to dominate the league in production and efficiency for the next decade.