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Digest: The Four Factors

05/29/07

Digest: The Four Factors

22:32:14, Categories: Coach's Digest, Statistics, Formulas

The Four Factors

"... Essentially, the four factors are the building blocks to the efficiency formula.
Efficiency data gives you an idea of the quality of a team’s offense or defense, but the four factors tell you why a team is good or bad when they have or don’t have the ball. Here’s a breakdown of how each statistic on this concept is calculated…

Effective field goal percentage is like regular field goal percentage except that it gives 50% more credit for made three-pointers.

eFG% = (.5*3FGM + FGM) / FGA

Turnover percentage is a pace-independent measure of ball security.

TO% = TO / Possessions

Offensive rebounding percentage is a measure of the possible rebounds that are gathered by the offense.

OR% = OR / (OR + DRopp)

Keep in mind that rebounding percentage is computed from box score data which does not contain team rebounds. Therefore, the figures shown here may differ slightly from calculations made on the rebounding totals provided by a team.

Finally, free throw rate captures a team’s ability to score from the line.

FTRateoff = FTM / FGA
FTRatedef = FTA / FGA

Defensive FTRate uses FTA in the numerator since the defense has little control on the percentage of free throw attempts made by the opposition.

The four factors concept is based on Dean Oliver’s research and you can read Dean’s more detailed explanation of the four factors in the last exposition by Prof. Roberto Azar from eBA-Stats about "Basketball Formulas Revision" in eBA ONLINE CLINICS....."