Is the best use of advanced stats
Posted: Sat Oct 20, 2012 12:45 pm
To determine the "impact" of a player apart from the raw box score stats?
For example, the most attractive metric for any player is points per game - the more one player scores, the better they look. But of course, there are many ways to skin a cat - and many many ways to put points on the board. Layups and dunks are better than free throws which are better than corner threes which are better than other threes which are better than midrange shots which are better than long twos, so a player who puts up 20 ppg on midrange jumpers and long twos is less effective than a player who only shoots from beyond the arc or at the line or in the restricted area.
Then there's the factor of pace, which is why stats like AST% can be more important than raw assists per game. Fast paced teams create more possessions, which in turn create more opportunities for scoring, passing, and rebounding.
And of course, there are various statistics that attempt to find the value of a player on defense. Opponent PER, RAPM, defensive rating - take your pick. While none of them are perfect, they each contribute to the valuation of players who while not putting up gaudy box score stats still manage to be in a rotation.
So, what to you is the most important part of advanced stats?
For example, the most attractive metric for any player is points per game - the more one player scores, the better they look. But of course, there are many ways to skin a cat - and many many ways to put points on the board. Layups and dunks are better than free throws which are better than corner threes which are better than other threes which are better than midrange shots which are better than long twos, so a player who puts up 20 ppg on midrange jumpers and long twos is less effective than a player who only shoots from beyond the arc or at the line or in the restricted area.
Then there's the factor of pace, which is why stats like AST% can be more important than raw assists per game. Fast paced teams create more possessions, which in turn create more opportunities for scoring, passing, and rebounding.
And of course, there are various statistics that attempt to find the value of a player on defense. Opponent PER, RAPM, defensive rating - take your pick. While none of them are perfect, they each contribute to the valuation of players who while not putting up gaudy box score stats still manage to be in a rotation.
So, what to you is the most important part of advanced stats?