Are Jaren Jackson Jr.’s home stats inflated?

Because he still hasn’t played 70% of his team’s games this season (“only” 34 out of 50, or 68%), Jaren Jackson Jr. is not yet eligible to appear in the various official NBA statistical rankings.

When it is, the inside of Grizzlies however would regain his status as the best blocker in the league, with 3.2 blocks per game, ahead of Nic Claxton (2.7) and Brook Lopez (2.5). Two players lead him, however, in total blocks: 125 for Nic Claxton, 121 for Brook Lopez and 108 for Jaren Jackson Jr.

Add to that his 1.0 interceptions per game and you get an average of 4.2 “stocks” (interceptions + blocks) per game for Jaren Jackson Jr, who is also the best in the league, ahead of Nic Claxton’s 3.4, him again. , and Anthony Davis.

Inevitably, in raw statistics, that fact is included Memphis has the most efficient defense in the NBA (109.7 points conceded per 100 possessions) and that he shows a Defensive rating of 103.5, “JJJ” is a legitimate favorite for the Defender of the Year 2023 title.

Except some are starting to question his defensive prowess.

Double the number of blocks and interceptions at home!

Saturday night, on the social network Reddit, a user, for example, launched a controversy, according to which statistics in the defense of Jaren Jackson Jr. will be raised… when he plays at the FedEx Forum. Why? It is possible to promote his candidacy for the DPOY trophy, or even get a financial advantage from it (sports betting).

At home, the 23-year-old averaged 1.4 interceptions and 4.2 blocks, against “only” 0.7 interceptions and 2.2 blocks away from home! A big difference, but playing the same number of minutes per game (27), and put behind the person responsible for listing statistics in Tennessee (used by the franchise, not the NBA).

The beginning of this controversy, which led to some bookmakers to take back their bet “Jaren Jackson Jr. wins the title of Defender of the Year”, in any case it got to the ears of the NBA so quickly, that it had to be killed in a press release.

” To ensure the integrity of our statistics, controllers independent of the statistics present on the site verify all actions and all statistical decisions in real time, during matches. If changes are needed, they will be made at that time or after the matches. In this case, all actions questioned in the publication resulting in Memphis games continue to be marked in accordance with the rules defined by the NBA statistics manual. »

“Fun” but misguided controversy

On his side, Jaren Jackson Jr. was comforted. with all the noise last night, after his team’s win over the Pacers. A victory was won at home, where he compiled 28 points and 8 rebounds… as well as 5 blocks and 1 interception.

” I found it quite amusing. I really can not understand [cette polémique] at first, but I found that I survived in the end “, the person in charge reacted in a press conference.

valid, on Twitter, analyst Kirk Goldsberry, for example, set out to analyze Jaren Jackson Jr.’s 66 blocks. (it has since increased to 71) at home and he considers 60 correct, 3 to 5 as doubtful and 2 as suspect. Suffice it to say that the Reddit user’s doubts were swept away with the back of his hand… or rather with a slap comparable to those sent by “JJJ” on his opponents’ shots.

An obviously important element in the device and the success of the Grizzlies. ” He is one of the best defenders in the league, we are very lucky to have him on our team. “, declared his coach Taylor Jenkins, who also did not fail to describe this controversy as “silly”.

It should be noted, finally, that this is not the first time that this controversy has arisen over a potential increase in player statistics when they play at home. So, since the 1990s, John Stockton who sometimes had to face such accusations, from observers or sometimes from his colleagues (Chris Paul, etc.), because some of his help was friendly granted by the then Salt Palace statistics. the Delta Center…

But, before shouting controversy, let’s also note that it is not unusual, or surprising, to see players be more productive when they play in front of their home audience than when they play away from home. Individual reward is at stake, or not.