Metrics & Statistics

8 chapters

Understanding basketball metrics is crucial for any analyst. This section covers traditional box score statistics and their limitations, advanced metrics like PER and Win Shares, the plus-minus family (BPM, RPM, RAPTOR, EPM), shooting efficiency metrics, and how to build your own custom metrics. Learn what each metric measures, when to use it, and how to calculate it.

Chapters

5 Intermediate

Statistical Foundations for Analytics

Sound statistical reasoning underpins all basketball analytics. This chapter covers the fundamental concepts including probability distributions, hypothesis testing, regression analysis, and the critical concept of sample size. You will learn to apply these methods appropriately while avoiding common statistical pitfalls.

5 sections ~35 min read

6 Beginner

Box Score Statistics Deep Dive

Traditional box score statistics have been collected since the earliest days of professional basketball. This chapter examines foundational metrics including points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks, exploring both their utility and limitations. Understanding these statistics provides essential context for more sophisticated metrics.

6 sections ~30 min read

11 Intermediate

Pace and Tempo Analysis

Game pace—the number of possessions per game—varies dramatically across teams and eras, profoundly affecting all counting statistics. This chapter examines how pace is measured, what drives tempo differences, and how to properly adjust statistics for meaningful comparison.

5 sections ~25 min read

12 Intermediate

Per-Possession and Rate Statistics

Converting counting statistics to per-possession or per-minute rates enables fair comparison across different playing time and pace contexts. This chapter examines various rate calculations, their appropriate uses, and pitfalls to avoid when interpreting rate statistics.

5 sections ~25 min read

13 Intermediate