On June 1st, I will have worked for the NBA for one year.
It all began with hearing a podcast with Bill Simmons and Houston Rockets General Manager, Daryl Morey, the gist of which was about how the Rockets were using advanced metrics to evaluate basketball and how teams hid their stats to keep a competitive edge.
I'd read Moneyball when it came out, I'd read Bill James Baseball Prospectus, and the idea of expanding those ideas to basketball fascinated me.
Basketball was my favorite sport, while simultaneously being the thing I've sucked at more than anything I've ever tried. And here was a chance to really get into it in a way that could only grow.
First off, I read Dean Oliver's, Basketball on Paper. The main point of this book was to introduce and analyze the idea efficiency rankings.
Offensive Efficiency, Defensive Efficiency, Rebounding Rates, True Shooting Percentage, Effective Field Goal Percentage.
For example, the Allen Iverson debate. Is he good for his team? Well, yes and no. But not for the reasons you've thought.
Points are great, but points are a function of your team and your us ...
Read Full Article at Bleacher Report - NBA
Article written by Alton LaBrecque
Why John Hollinger Is to the NBA Stats Revolution as Micheal Bay Is to Movies
April 21st, 2010 by Alton LaBrecque Leave a reply »
Advertisement