Early Returns On Continuing Themes, Part 1

It's far too early from on/off data from this season to contain much meaning but I thought I'd look at players and combinations of players that have been discussed previously with an eye at determining if anything might be changing.

All data courtesy of BasketballValue.com

1) Mike Bibby is capable defensively if Marvin Williams, Josh Smith, and Al Horford are all on the floor. If they're not all on the floor, Bibby is overwhelmed.

It was true last season:

Bibby	Poss	Pts	Def Eff
w/ all three	2359	Pts	103.2
w/o any of the three	1676	Pts	109.2

And it's true so far this season:

Bibby	Poss	Pts	Def Eff
w/ all three	245	242	98.8
w/o any of the three	354	386	109

2) Marvin Williams has not, in limited minutes, been a defensive savior at small forward.

Last season, the Hawks were much better defensively when Marvin Williams played small forward:

Williams 09-10	Poss	Pts	Def Eff
Williams at 3	4113	4191	101.9
anyone else at 3	3319	3764	113.4

The difference is far smaller so far this season:

Williams 10-11	Poss	Pts	Def Eff
Williams at 3	389	418	107.5
anyone else at 3	623	672	107.9

One possible explanation is that Larry Drew is only using Marvin Williams at the 3. Last season, Williams played 11.66% of his defensive possessions at other positions and the Hawks allowed almost 8 more points per 100 possession with Williams on the court but not playing the 3. So far this season, Williams has played just 16 defensive possessions (3.95%) at other positions and the Hawks are allowing 11.3 more points per 100 possession with Williams on the court but not playing the 3.

3) Al Horford and Zaza Pachulia play well together even if they play together rarely.

Pachulia & Horford	Off Eff	Poss	Def Eff	Poss	+/-
2008-09	N/A	672	N/A	670	+1.7
2009-10	110.7	291	96.9	270	+13.8
2010-11	120.4	49	84.3	51	+35.9

A second post, covering different players and combinations will appear later in the week.