Peaks and Valleys- A weekly look at NLL Trends

Junior cracks 1000


Peak

We are taking a break from slagging poor performances this week to celebrate John Grant Jr’s 1000th point. He joined John Tavares, Gary Gait, Colin Doyle and Josh Sanderson in the exclusive 1000 Point Club as he led his Colorado Mammoth to a big win in Calgary last week.

Junior has always attracted a wide array of opinions during his career. For every person who thinks he is a magician, there is a dissenter who labels him an under-performer. Well 1000 points certainly doesn’t scream “under perform” does it?

Let’s take a look at his NLL Career stats: (Courtesy- www.nll.com)

                              Games Goals Assists Points LBs PIM

2000 R Rochester    12       37      40        77     76    32
2000 P Rochester      2         9        7        16       9      6
2001 R Rochester    14       42      48        90   124    18
2001 P Rochester      1         3        1          4       5      0
2002 R Rochester    16       52      53      105   102    43
2002 P Rochester      2         6        5        11     10      0
2003 R Rochester    16       46      53        99   115    20
2003 P Rochester      2         6        7        13     17      4
2004 R Rochester      5       16      19        35     34      6
2005 R Rochester    15       49      56      105     83    31
2005 P Rochester      2         7        6        13       7      2
2006 R Rochester    16       54      43        97     86    22
2006 P Rochester      2         8        2        10       8      2
2007 R Rochester    15       51      60      111     81    40
2007 P Rochester      3         8        7        15     24      0
2008 R Rochester    16       47      45        92   116    16
2010 R Rochester    15       39      44        83     85    17
2011 R Colorado     16       36      47        83     45    12
2011 P Colorado       1         3        1          4       2      0

Career Totals                     519   544    1063  1030  271

The raw numbers are amazing to look at especially for the balance. He isn’t a pass-first player nor is he a straight gunner. To amass 500 goals AND 500 assists is incredible.

What really stands out in the stats are his ability to put up consistently strong numbers throughout his career in all categories. He has 1000 points but also has 1000 Looseballs. For comparison Colin Doyle, has put up 1200 points and 965 Looseballs which is also incredible.

Looking at the stats even further you then remember that Junior only played 5 games in 2004 and missed the entire 2009 season due to injuries and illness. Using his averages around those missing season would add 150 Points and Looseballs to his totals.

It also seems that the cool Mountain air has rejuvenated him. Though playing with Gavin Prout and young gun, Adam Jones certainly helps, Junior is on pace for a career best 149 points at the age of 38.

So let us celebrate the career of John Grant Jr. He has persevered through a knee injury and a serious infection to continually provide brilliance season after season. He is one of the games greats.

Notes:

We continue or work on LB Plus and anecdotally it seems that our thesis is being proven. Of course we will let the season play out and perform the work before claiming our brilliance to the Lacrosse world!

What is noticeable is the ability of the winning teams to limit second chances and the inability of losing teams to do the same. Toronto is winless because they give up too many second chances on Defence while simultaneously running countless 1 shot and out possessions on Offence. Philadelphia turned their game around after a terrible opener by performing on defence and limiting second chance opportunities.