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Roland Physicality Report

Game 5: DEN @ OKC | Final Score: OKC 112, DEN 105

Tracking over forty types of contact, aggression, and resilience -- every second of the game.


Team Physicality 4th Quarter Summary

Winner: Oklahoma City

The physicality was quite close for the quarter, largely because Jokic was EXTREMELY PHYSICAL, but the Thunder had more physicality wins, more level 2+ force plays, and a more balanced physicality profile across their players.

Team
RPR*
Plays
Wins
L/D
L2+
Falls
K/D
Oklahoma City
102.5
112
35
5
9
7
6
Denver
95.3
120
31
5
7
6
7

Header notes:
RPR = "Roland Physicality Rating" (in development)
Plays = Physicality Plays (adjusted by level of force)
Wins = a Physicality play that is deemed a 'win'
L/D = Losses/Defeats (non-intentional fouls and soft plays)
L2+ = level 2 or higher force physicality plays
Falls = player hits the ground
KD = Knockdowns: causes opponent to hit the ground
Net Pts = 'results over process' calculation


Player Physicality Stats

We track over 40 different forms of physical contact, with both the player initiating and the player receiving the contact. From this we can calculate all kinds of stats, ratings, and nuance. We are still learning about the way these stats influence winning. More to come!!

DENVER NUGGETS

Player
RPR*
Plays
Wins
L/D
L2+
Falls
K/D
Jokic
43.0
48
13
1
5
0
3
Murray
17.8
21
7
2
1
1
1
Gordon
12.0
12
4
0
1
1
0
Braun
10.8
17
4
1
0
0
0
Watson
9.8
11
3
0
0
2
2

DENVER NUGGETS "physicality suffered"

Player
xRPR*
Plays
Agn
Wins
Agn
L2+
Agn
Jokic
25.8
27
9
1
Murray
24.8
25
7
4
Gordon
11.5
12
4
0
Braun
26.2
25
9
2
Watson
5.5
10
1
0

Analysis:

  • Nikola Jokic played the whole second half, showing signs of exhaustion by the end, but still performing amazing feats. HUGE single quarter numbers for physicality, and doling out much more than he received, with 13 physicality wins, 5 level 2+ force plays, and 3 knockdowns.

  • Jamal Murray the other Nugget who has to do so much had a RPR that was only topped by Jokic and Shai.

  • Aaron Gordon they could have used more help from Gordon and the others, but Aaron despite his size often not the most physical player.



OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER

Player
RPR*
Plays
Wins
L
L2+
Falls
KD
Shai
18.5
14
6
0
2
2
3
Dort
17.5
20
7
2
1
1
1
Hartenstein
17.0
24
5
2
3
0
2
Holmgren
15.5
18
5
0
1
2
0
Jalen W.
12.8
15
4
0
1
0
0

OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER "physicality suffered"

Player
xRPR*
Plays
Agn
Wins
Agn
L2+
Agn
Shai
11.8
11
4
0
Dort
17.0
18
6
0
Hartenstein
26.8
27
9
2
Holmgren
13.8
19
3
2
Jalen W.
19.0
24
6
1

Analysis:

  • Shai Gilgeous-Alexander set a physical tone and made big plays late.

  • Lu Dort put a physical stamp on the quarter, and his huge pushoff on Porter for an offensive rebound that led to a three a key moment in the OKC comeback.

  • Isaiah Hartenstein they signed him to bring the force that Holmgren doesn't always have, and he has been solid. In actuality Jokic hitting him with more physical plays, but meeting Jokic with force probably contributed to the Jokic fatigue that was evident in the late game especially on the defensive end.


Final Take

In some ways we were expecting a more physical quarter by the numbers, but it was relatively normal levels outside of Jokic doing just about everything imaginable physically and the Nuggets still coming up short. Key stat was Jokic was 4-6 on his shots in the quarter, the rest of the Nuggets were 1-15 (!)



Also see:
- 2024 NBA Playoffs "Physicality" ratings
- NBA Playoff "Physicality" -- Now vs Then
- Full Player "Physicality" data table