Nugg Love
Fansided

Denver Nuggets: Fat Lever vs. Chauncey Billups

By Grayson Moore

DENVER- 1990: Fat Lever #12 of the Denver Nuggets dribbles against the Utah Jazz during a game played circa 1990 at McNicholls Arena in Denver Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1990 NBAE (Photo by Scott Cunningham/NBAE via Getty Images)
DENVER- 1990: Fat Lever #12 of the Denver Nuggets dribbles against the Utah Jazz during a game played circa 1990 at McNicholls Arena in Denver Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1990 NBAE (Photo by Scott Cunningham/NBAE via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 6
Next
NEWARK, NJ – JANUARY 31: Chauncey Billups #1 of the Denver Nuggets shoots against Brook Lopez #11 of the New Jersey Nets during the game on January 31, 2011, at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.  Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2011 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)
NEWARK, NJ – JANUARY 31: Chauncey Billups #1 of the Denver Nuggets shoots against Brook Lopez #11 of the New Jersey Nets during the game on January 31, 2011, at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.  Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2011 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Scoring

These two aren’t known for being elite scorers, but they can certainly hold their own. Fat Lever ranks 14th on the Nuggets all-time points per game list and Billups ranks 15th. So it seems like Lever has a slight advantage already. However, to really judge scoring ability based on points per game, we’ll have to look at effective field goal percentage(along with other stats), which accounts for 3-pointers being worth more than 2-pointers, as Billups shot many more 3s than Lever. 

Denver Nuggets
Denver Nuggets /

Denver Nuggets

Billups had an EFG% of 49.9% during his Nuggets career. Lever had an EFG% of 46.1%. Lever did shoot and make significantly fewer 3-pointers in his career, as I said before. Billups actually surpassed or matched Lever’s career total 162 made 3’s in 3 different seasons. I think it’s fair to say that Chauncey is a better shooter from long-range.

However, the fact remains that Fat averaged more points per game and he did it with a lower usage rate. Lever averaged a 20.9% usage rate in Denver, while Billups averaged a rate of 22.2%. Fat did also average 2.2 more minutes per game and the stats point out that Billups did more with his time anyway.

Chauncey averaged 4.6 fewer shots per game than Lever and had a free throw attempt rate of 47.9% while in Denver. Fat had an FT attempt rate of 24.0% and averaged 2.3 less made FT’s per game. He also shot just 78.0% from the line, a paltry figure compared to Billups’ number of 91.2%. Per 100 possessions, Billups averaged 4.2 more points and had an offensive rating 8 points higher than Lever’s. While offensive rating isn’t just a points-based measurement, it is a pretty good estimate of their contribution to a lineup.

While Fat may have averaged a better FG% and more points per game, it’s clear that Chauncey is the better overall scorer and shooter.