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

Steven Couper by Correspondent Written on May 11, 2008
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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. 

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written on May 11, 2008 Sports

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