

THE CONTEXT

That mark would put LaVine among the best backcourt shooters in the league. Among guards who took at least 400 shots last season, only Stephen Curry, J.J. Redick and Klay Thompson had an effective field goal percentage better than 56.4 percent.

But LaVine's effective field goal percentage when Rubio wasn't on the floor was a below-average 48 percent. In the first half of last season, LaVine spent most of his time backing up Rubio, and the Wolves were bad on both ends of the floor in LaVine's minutes. Prior to the All-Star break last season, they scored only 101.6 points per 100 possessions and allowed 108.9 with him on the floor.

But around the break, LaVine became the starting shooting guard. And playing more alongside Rubio, LaVine had an effective field goal percentage of 57.3 percent after the break, up from 48.2 percent before it. That was the third biggest increase among 136 players with at least 250 FGA before the break and 200 after it.