Introduction to advanced basketball statistics unfortunately shows Pistons’ defense was overrated
We use a fair amount of advanced statistics here, something I’m sure many of our regular readers understand. But for those who are only casual basketball fans or not numerically inclined, advanced statistics can be an intimidating term.
Writing for the Detroit Free Press, I try to bridge that gap by providing an introduction to the core concept of many advanced statistics: Possessions alternate. Unfortunately, the most apt example to display the idea was that the Pistons’ defense isn’t as good as basic numbers made it out to be.
Last season, the Pistons allowed 95.7 points per game and the Milwaukee Bucks allowed 98.7 points per game.
Which team had a better defense?
Unfortunately for Detroit, it was the Bucks.
Advanced statistics – a bugaboo that isn’t nearly as scary or complicated as it sounds – tell a more accurate story than aforementioned numbers.
Read the rest of the article here.
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Jul 13, 2012 • 10:53 am
by Shane
I mean let’s be honest.. we all knew how terrible our defense was
Jul 13, 2012 • 11:19 am
by Rodman4Life
I was gonna take umbrage because I thought you were aiming at the ’04 Pistons. Last years’ Pistons? Yeah, no arguments from me there.
Jul 13, 2012 • 11:57 am
by Desolation Row
Same here haha
Jul 13, 2012 • 11:27 am
by Ray
Can we atleast get one feel good article about the Pistons per-week?
Jul 13, 2012 • 11:39 am
by Lapin
I prefer honest articles.
Jul 13, 2012 • 11:51 am
by Aaron
If you want feel good read Keith Lanlois http://www.pistons.com
Jul 13, 2012 • 12:37 pm
by Daye and Knight
Random, but has anybody read Doolittle’s Emerging Bigg Three? It’s on our page so I’m assuming he’s talking about our team having an emerging big 3 do anybody know which 3 he’s talking about?
Jul 13, 2012 • 12:50 pm
by Scout
9. Detroit Pistons (24.9 Big 3 WAR)
Projected core: Greg Monroe (15.3) | Andre Drummond | Brandon Knight
This assumes that our optimistic rookie projection pans out for Drummond and that Monroe continues his development into a franchise player, but it sure looks as if the Pistons are positioned to take a leap in the next few years.
Has us ranked as the 9th best big three in four years, behind OKC, LAC, NOH, MIA,MIN, ATL, UTAH, IND
Jul 13, 2012 • 1:25 pm
by vic
Hmm, I’ve said this before, I think Stuckey has a better chance of being a top 10 SG than Knight has a chance of being a top 10 PG. But that’s just becuase Stuckey has a few years on Knight, and they both are combo guards, not PGs.
If Knight improves greatly and quickly and keeps up with the others, we could end up with a big 4. Plus an energy/utility 3 in Jerebko/Singler.
Jul 13, 2012 • 1:03 pm
by jacob
9. Detroit Pistons (24.9 Big 3 WAR)
Projected core: Greg Monroe (15.3) | Andre Drummond | Brandon Knight
This assumes that our optimistic rookie projection pans out for Drummond and that Monroe continues his development into a franchise player, but it sure looks as if the Pistons are positioned to take a leap in the next few years.
Jul 13, 2012 • 2:19 pm
by bugsygod
Would be cool if we could know the breakdown of the defense from the 4-20 start compared to the .500 finish. Just to see the improvement of the D and where we would rank.
Jul 13, 2012 • 2:21 pm
by Wall-E
THIS BLOG ENTRY IS NOTHING BUT SHAMELESS SELF_PROMOTION AND CROSS MARKETING!!! …Congrats on the savy play, Dan.
Jul 19, 2012 • 3:31 am
by Chris
I have to say – it is nice to see that the Free Press finally made it to 2007. Seriously. These are the sort of statistics that basketball fans with any measure of knowledge have been using for years and years. I remember using pace adjusted statistics to make arguments in favor of the Pistons’ glory years (02/03-07/08) offense.
The fact that they approach it like a completely new way of looking at the numbers, and haven’t been using it for years – making it run of the mill – is astounding to me.
Jul 19, 2012 • 4:05 am
by Chris
I’d like to also make it clear that this is NOT a shot at you. It is a shot at the Free Press. Maybe you look at those things as one and the same, but simple pace adjusted statistics like that should have become common years ago. Pace adjusted statistics are more simple than so many statistics that fans come across in various sports… QB Ratings in football, OPS in baseball (yes, I know OPS is simple - consider this a sign of just how simple I believe pace adjusted basketball numbers are), even +/- in hockey take more effort to understand than a simple pace adjustment like what you’re outlining.