Basketball Statistics Blog

Books Review: October 2007 eBA Best Seller

Basketball's Most Wanted II

By: Jr. David L. Hudson

Basketball has so many great stories, so many interesting anecdotes-about college and pro teams, players from all levels, announcers, and even owners-that one book just isn't enough to hold it all. That's why Potomac Books, Inc. is introducing Basketball's Most Wanted II: The Top 10 Book of More Hotshot Hoopsters, Double Dribbles, and Roundball Oddities. With even more fun tales and interesting facts from the world of hoops, there's something in here for all fans of basketball.

Which NBA team attempted to draft a player straight out of high school in 1969-a female player from the Iowa six-on-six league? What standard features in today's NBA were originally introduced in the renegade American Basketball Association? Who are the best three-point shooters in both the pros and college? Which high school team had an amazing four future NBA players on its roster? With which team did Wilt Chamberlain begin his professional career? (Hint: It wasn't an NBA team.)

You'll find the answers to all those questions and so much more in Basketball's Most Wantedª II, including the best and worst basketball movies, the most shocking NCAA tournament upsets, top names from basketball's "Asian invasion," and even guys who played one game-and only one game-in the NBA.

So join David L. Hudson, Jr. as he looks at the amazing and the amusing, the wacky and the wonderful, the best and worst of everything basketball has to offer. It's a slam dunk!.

  more info

Read More ... at the eBA Wiki Basketball Encyclopedia

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Basketball Humour: The Basket According to Caloi

Another great artistic production by Carlos Loiseau - Caloi -, an humorist and outstanding artist of the highest Argentina’s graph and animation cinema level, who is presenting his new book "Humoris Causa" at his excellent site "Caloi's Site".

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Rules Corner: Is it a Traveling case ?:


" ...If a player, while holding the ball, touches the floor with a knee or any other part of the body other than hand or foot, it results in a Traveling violation and a personal Turnover ? ..."

Right. It results in a Travelling violation and a personal Turnover: forced or unforced ( without a defender interference ) depending upon the opponent action.

On the contrary, any action or pressure as result of the defender work, which causes the turnover, make it a Forced one.

The best way to see the differences, classification and discussions about Forced and Unforced Turnovers - and Steals - is going to the The Global Basketball Encyclopedia.
To study how the eBA System rules at each case, go to The eBA System - The Project.

This topic is summarized at Basketball Stats Discussions - Forced & Unforced Turnovers - 06/09/2005.

Basketball Background: Favorite Quick Phrases

What are my favorite quick phrases ?

Slicers go to the foul line

Be a finisher

Think quick... Be quick !

Basketball is a game of speed and angles

Be quick but don't hurry

Basketball is played with bent knees

Defense is played with you head, legs, and heart

Basketball is not about size and strength, it's about what you do with the size and strength you have.

Play hard, play smart, play together and have fun

Reverse the ball one time for a good shot, two times for a great
shot, three times for a layup

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Coach's Digest: Stunting From the Free-throw Line

When you consider how many Basketball games are won or lost by four points or less every year, you can understand why coaches are always looking for a way to pick up those few extra points.

One of the ways I have been doing this over the years is through a series of stunts off our free throw.
Since we cannot make all of them, we are always looking for a way to rebound and score on our misses.

...Read more in "Stunting from the free-throw line" by Thomson Gale...

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EuroLeague 2008: This Week's Game - ARIS vs. Unicaja

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Statistician's Digest: Play Percent

Play Percent: Scoring possessions minus scoring possessions on which no field goal was made (only free throws), divided by possessions minus scoring possessions on which no field goal was made. Approximately the percentage of the time a team will score if not sent to the free throw line.

Play % = FG / ( FGA - OR + TO )

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Unforgettable Moments: 1995 McDonald's All American Slam Dunk Contest

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Coach's Digest: About the Points Off Turnovers Concept

More of the third of all regular season games played, are "decided by" points off turnovers. When we Analyze a Basketball game and it is said here that turnover scores were the "deciding factor" in a game, eBA Basketball Statistics Analysis System means that the turnover points led to one team wining the game and the other losing, and without such turnovers, the won-lost result have been switched.

Points are attributable to turnovers in one of two ways - directly or indirectly. By "directly" leading to a score, eBA System mean that a fumble recovery or interception was returned for a fast break attack, and a score in the first 4/6 seconds of the shooting clock ( see the Shot Clock ). Consequently, by "indirectly" leading to points, we mean that a fumble recovery or interception return immediately led to a set offense play which culminated in a field goal in the second sequence of the shooting clock, after 6/8 seconds play till 24; the turnover did not produce any points in and of itself, but the opponent team did score on the ensuing offensive play.

( Excerpt from the introduction to my exposition "Points Off Turnovers" at the eBA Basketball Statistics Clinics. )

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Great Basketball Moments: First Point in History - 1891

Photograph: Vedia PhotoStream

On December 21, 1891 in the YMCA gym in Springfield, Massachusetts, USA, Naismith tried his game out on the18 students of his class. He had 2 teams of 9 and his instructions to the games was simply " throw the ball into the basket".
The game was very crowded because of the 9 players to a side instead of the usual 5 as it is now. Another reason was because the gymnasium was only 35 feet by 50 feet (A regulation court is 50 feet by
94 feet).
There was very little teamwork or co-operation in that game because whenever a player got the ball all the other players surrounded him. A student named William Chase (see photograph) scored the only basket of the game.
Now that Naismith had a game for his students he needed a name for it.
One of the students suggested the name "Naismith Ball" but Naismith
rejected that suggestion and named the game "Basketball".

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Statistician's Digest: It's a pass or a shot ?

A1 shoots but fouls B1 (a) before the ball is in flight or (b) after the ball was in flight.

case a ) The ball was dead before it was in flight, so charge A1 with an UNFORCED TURNOVER (offensive foul) - not with a FGA - and a personal foul made. B1 is credited with a FORCED STEAL (charge drawn) and a personal foul received.
The official action: it will be signalled as a "team control foul".

case b ) Charge A1 with a FGA and a personal foul made. B1 is credited with a personal foul received.
The official action: will not indicate team control.

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The Best Basketball Quotes: John Wooden

"Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are."

"Adversity is the state in which man mostly easily becomes acquainted with himself, being especially free of admirers then."

"Consider the rights of others before your own feelings, and the feelings of others before your own rights."

"Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do."

John Wooden, American Basketball Coach, author of "They Call Me Coach".

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Statistician's Digest: PPR - Assist/Turnover Rating

The PPR - Assist/Turnover Rating is an assist to turnover ratio which is much better than the simple assists divided by turnovers ratio which is often used by the media. Turnovers were not kept as an official stat by the NBA prior to the 1977-78 season so PPR is only displayed or accurate after this that season. This formula was used by John Hollinger in his book Pro Basketball Forecast: 2005-06 (Pro Basketball Prospectus).

PPR - Assist / Turnover Rating = (((ASTS*.66)-TO)*100) / Minutes

We modify, apply and discuss this method in the eBA Basketball Statistics Analysis Clinics: from the 2nd. Exposition "Basketball Statistical Formulas Revision".

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Basketball News: Esteban Batista leaves Celtics

Esteban Batista, the first Uruguayan to play in the NBA, leaves the Boston Celtics.

The 2.08m center, who signed for Atlanta Hawks in 2005 after an impressive showing for his country at the FIBA Americas Championship, spent a couple of seasons with the Atlantic Hawks and after that contract expired, he joined the Celtics this preseason but faced the prospect of playing very little.

Batista was not going to be cut, but he asked to be released by the club due to the few opportunities to play he would have this season.

Batista is expected to cross today the Atlantic and play in the Maccabi Tel Aviv team from Israel.

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Coach's Digest: Points per Possession Statistic

Many coaches are now using what is called Points/Possession, or Turnovers/Possession. The Pts./Poss. is an impartial reliable stat when all things are considered.

However it doesn't take into account the optimal pace as which a team plays. Team A that receives 90 points may actually produce a better defensive efficiency than team B that allowed 80 points: in a fast paced game, Team A received 90 points but in 90 possessions.

This means their defensive efficiency was 1.0. Team B on the other hand received only 80 points but in a much slower paced game in 60 total possessions. That is a defensive efficiency of 1.3 actually worse than team A who allowed ninety points.

Points per possession is a completely good stat but what is more important is to break it down into ranges such as an offensive or defensive efficiency when you score or allow 90-100 points, 80-90, 70-80 and so forth. The parameter we will find is that the team have better offensive and defensive efficiency ratings when he plays at its team's optimal pace. The eBA System do this break down in his "Quarters Reports", when the game is Analyzed every 5 minutes by separate.

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October's Basketball Books Review: Basketball on Paper

"Basketball on Paper: Rules and Tools for Performance Analysis"

By Dean Oliver

Journey "inside the numbers" for an exceptional set of statistical tools and rules that can help explain the winning-or losing-ways of a Basketball team. Basketball on Paper doesn’t diagram plays or explain how players get in shape, but instead demonstrates how to interpret player and team performance.

Dean Oliver highlights general strategies for teams when they’re winning or losing, and what aspects should be the focus in either situation. He describes and quantifies the jobs of team leaders and role players, then discusses the interactions between players and how to achieve the best fit. Oliver conceptualizes the meaning of teamwork and how to quantify the value of different types of players working together. He examines historically successful NBA teams and identifies what made them so successful individual talent, a system of putting players together, or good coaching.

Oliver then uses these statistical tools and case studies to evaluate the best players in history - such as Magic Johnson, Wilt Chamberlain, Bill Russell, and Charles Barkley - and how they contributed to their teams’ success. He does the same for some of the NBA’s "oddball" players - Manute Bol, Muggsy Bogues, and Dennis Rodman - and for the WNBA’s top players.

Basketball on Paper is unique in its incorporation of business and analytical concepts within the context of Basketball to measure the value of players in a cooperative setting.
Whether you’re looking for strategies or new ideas to throw out while watching the ballgame at a sports bar, Dean Oliver’s Basketball on Paper will give you amazing new insights into teamwork, coaching, and success.

...more info...

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Statistician's Digest: PPFGA - Points per FGA

This formula was used by John Hollinger in his book Pro Basketball Forecast: 2005-06 (Pro Basketball Prospectus) and is sometimes a better way of looking at shot efficiency than FG PCT because it takes into account three point shots and points gained due to free throw shots.

PPFGA - Points per FGA = Points/(FGA+(FTA*.44))

We modify, apply and discuss this method in the eBA Basketball Statistics Analysis Clinics: from the 2nd. Exposition "Basketball Statistical Formulas Revision".

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The Best Basketball Video Clips: Nike Basketball Elite II

Nike Basketball has released this awesome Beautiful Monster ad campaign.

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Statistician's Digest: Time Played Statistical Registration

"... Before a single free throw is attempted, A1 enters the game. The free throw is not scored, but there is a free-throw violation. The clock never starts and A1 leaves the game. The violation was against A1: how we must register the time played statistics ? And also, how to register if the violation was against another player ? ..."

eBA Statistical Registration= We must register a game played to A1 since he had a violation and a turnover, as results of this foul. Enter ' 0 ' under minutes played. If the violation was against another player, therefore we don't charge A1 with a game played.

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One-on-one: with Carlos Delfino - Argentine & Toronto Raptors, NBA


"I believe this season with the Toronto Raptors will make or break my career in the NBA. " Delfino (25 years old) says.

“As a shooting guard, I was a member of the Argentina side that finished runners-up at the FIBA Americas Championship this summer to qualify for the Olympics. "

"I left the Detroit Pistons this summer for the Raptors in a trade and this is my last season under contract and if I don't do things well, next year I won't clinch a good contract and will have to return to Europe. "

"I was among the biggest stars in Italy at Fortitudo Bologna but never received much playing time in Detroit. "

"The two parties tried a thousand things to make my situation in Detroit better, but unsuccessfully. "

"This is my last chance because I finally left Detroit and Toronto is a different club. "

"If I had stayed with the Pistons, I'm sure it would have been my last NBA season. "

"My performance this summer in Las Vegas has given me a confidence boost. "

"I'm very motivated and very happy," Carlos Delfino resumes. "The national team was very important for me and I have to build on that performance."

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Statistician's Digest : What is the Pace Factor ?

What is the Pace Factor ?: Is an estimate of the number of possessions per 40 or 48 minutes by a team and its opponents. The formula is:

..............................( 0.44* total FTA ) + total FGA + total TO - total ORB
Pace= 48 or 40 * -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
..............................................................2 * tmMP

References: "total" includes "our team + opponents".

More Formulas & Discussions at our eBA Forum and the eBA Encyclopedia

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BASKETBALL UNFORGETTABLE LEGENDS: DOMINIQUE WILKINS

Born: January 12, 1960
Origin: Paris, France
Height: 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
Weight: 224 lb (102 kg)
Hall of Fame: Inducted 2006

Jacques Dominique Wilkins is a retired American professional basketball player in the NBA and Basketball Hall of Famer. "'Nique" (also nicknamed The Human Highlight Film[1]) is one of the most prolific scorers and best dunkers in NBA history.

Photograph: Vedia PhotoStream

Dominique Wilkins - 1985

Cash flow problems within the Utah Jazz organization along with his reluctance to play with the team led to him being traded to the Atlanta Hawks several months after the draft. The trade included John Drew, Freeman Williams and cash. Prior to his last three NBA seasons Wilkins never averaged fewer than 20 points per game and captured a scoring title in 1985-86 with an average of 30.3 points per game.

Wilkins, in addition to his eleven seasons with the Hawks, had short stints with the Los Angeles Clippers, the Boston Celtics, Panathinaikos Athens (a professional team in Greece, with whom he won his first title, the European Clubs' Championship and the Greek Cup), Fortitudo Bologna (a professional team in Italy), the San Antonio Spurs, and the Orlando Magic before he retired in 1999.

Wilkins was instrumental in the Hawks' prominence in the 1980s, when the club recorded 50-win seasons four consecutive times during the decade. As Wilkins entered his 30s, and the Hawks started to require an all-around contribution from their star, Wilkins evolved into an all-around player, averaging 9.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists in the 1990-91 season.

Wilkins, a nine-time NBA All-Star and the winner of two NBA Slam Dunk Contests, registered 26,668 points (one of only 12 players to do so) and 7,169 rebounds in his NBA career.

Wilkins' nickname was the "The Human Highlight Film" for his Erving-esque athleticism, and highlight reel dunks which helped him to win two NBA Slam Dunk Contest titles. His trademark dunk was a powerful one or two handed windmill. His duels in the contest with the young Michael Jordan are widely considered to have been the best slam dunk contests ever.

His #21 jersey was retired by the Hawks on January 13, 2001. He is one of four players to have had their jerseys retired by the Hawks.

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Rules Corner: Interrupted Dribble & 3 Seconds Rule:


" ...Does the 3 second count continues during an interrupted dribble ? ..."

Yes: 3 seconds count continue during an interrupted dribble.
Here is the correction from the Case Book, page 66-67:

Rule 9.7.2: Delete the last three words "or interrupted dribble" in the second to the last sentence of the ruling.

It needs to be charged: rule 9-7-1 says: "when the ball is in control of his/her team...". You DO NOT lose team control during an interrupted dribble, only player control.

All the terms in this answer are explained widely at The Global Basketball Encyclopedia and in eBA ONLINE.

Video News & Comments from the EuroBasket 2007 Women Championship

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From the eBA Statistics Glossary: Analogy

Analogy is either the cognitive process of transferring information from a particular subject (the analogue or source) to another particular subject (the target), or a linguistic expression corresponding to such a process.

In a narrower sense, analogy is an inference or an argument from a particular to another particular, as opposed to deduction, induction, and abduction, where at least one of the premises or the conclusion is general. The word analogy can also refer to the relation between the source and the target themselves, which is often, though not necessarily, a similarity, as in the biological notion of analogy.

In mathematics and statistics, some types of analogies can have a precise mathematical formulation through the concept of isomorphism.

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Video News & Comments from the EuroBasket 2007 Women Championship

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Statisticians:
Created Field Goal Percentage - The Goal Percentage without Assists

The cFG% ( created Field Goal Percentage ) is a stat applied by the eBA Basketball Statistics Analysis System which has the same formula as the [true] FG% ( click here to this topic ) except that only field goals which are unassisted and which occur at least 5 seconds after an offensive rebound are counted.

The Created FG% is an attempt to measure how well a player can create his own shot without the benefit of those situations. Therefore, when we make the calculation of this statistic, assisted shots and shots from offensive rebounds are not counted. The whole fundamental of this statistics is just being discussed next Thursday 11 in the eBA 2007 Clinic's live chat.

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Video News & Comments from the EuroBasket 2007 Women Championship

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Statistician's Digest: The Formula TENDEX

TENDEX - by Dave Heeren (1988): The TENDEX is one the coefficients of player efficiency evaluation more used by the Basketball coaches, and was the basis of the work of the eBA, created in the same year, and between the first in apply this evaluation mean. This coefficient was developed by Dave Heeren in 1988 and is the methodological basis of an annual publication (Basketball Abstract) where the efficiency of all the players of the NBA are evaluated.

Tendex=
Points Made + Total Rebounds + Assists + Blocks +
Steals - TurnOvers - Missed Shots

On 1990, Manley, one of the most renowned American Basketball analysts, applies the same linear equation -only changing the factor's order-, calling it Individual Efficiency to evaluate the efficiency o his players:

Individual Efficiency=
Points Made + Rebounds + Assists + Steals +
Blocks - Missed Shots - Free Throws missed - TurnOvers

The eBA Basketball Statistics Analysis System applies this formula in a different way developed in our eBA Statistics Clinics.

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Video News & Comments from the EuroBasket 2007 Women Championship

EC, Qualifying Round: the schedule

Group E (Vasto): Belgium, Czech Republic, Lithuania, Latvia, Turkey, Germany.
Group F (Ortona): Russia, Spain, Belarus, France, Italy, Serbia.

The four firsts of each group advance to quarterfinals.

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Photograph: Sport1.at

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