Warning: There are stats in this post. If you believe statistics are the ruin of this team you may find the contents of this post very disturbing and are advised to click away. Came across this today, and thought it was interesting -- adjusted +/- pairs from 2008-2009 (link). I like the idea of adjusted plus-minus for combinations of players, because it also can capture chemistry (or lack thereof). This is especially true for defense, I would think. E.g. 2 players might have average defensive ratings individually, but put them together and their defense could be better than the sum of the parts. Below, I extracted pairs for Rocket players who've played between 08 and 11 seasons from the above link. Rnk is their pairwise APM ranking league-wide over these seasons (since there are several thousand such pairs in the last 4 seasons, rankings in the top 500 are probably pretty good). While Rnk_summed is their rank if you add up their individual ratings. So if Rnk is much better than Rnk_summed, that suggests extra "chemistry" between the two, while if its much worse that suggests lack of chemistry. Offense Code: [SIZE="2"] player1 player2 OFF Poss Rnk Rnk_summed ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 Martin, Kevin Hayes, Chuck 2.6 8472 22 570 2 Alston, Rafer Wafer, Von 1.8 1569 84 8330 3 Artest, Ron Ming, Yao 1.7 6056 102 2834 4 Martin, Kevin Artest, Ron 1.6 5678 118 433 5 Battier, Shane McGrady, Tracy 1.6 8753 141 1397 6 Ming, Yao Landry, Carl 1.6 2424 147 1815 7 Miller, Brad Martin, Kevin 1.5 10232 173 153 8 Hayes, Chuck Scola, Luis 1.4 13258 179 3268 9 Martin, Kevin Scola, Luis 1.4 10661 194 221 10 Martin, Kevin Lowry, Kyle 1.4 8822 207 287 11 Lowry, Kyle Budinger, Chase 1.4 6819 217 962 12 Miller, Brad Artest, Ron 1.3 6365 256 1938 13 Battier, Shane Lowry, Kyle 1.2 9330 277 1027 14 Brooks, Aaron Budinger, Chase 1.2 4625 289 751 15 Alston, Rafer Landry, Carl 1.2 2791 307 4322 16 Wafer, Von Scola, Luis 1.1 2257 338 4431 17 Battier, Shane Alston, Rafer 1.1 10693 342 2394 18 Ariza, Trevor Budinger, Chase 1.1 2109 352 3521 19 Landry, Carl Andersen, David 1.1 2350 358 2302 20 Ming, Yao Wafer, Von 1.1 2228 368 4743 21 Martin, Kevin Lee, Courtney 1.1 1994 383 269 22 Battier, Shane Brooks, Aaron 1 12840 439 799 23 Martin, Kevin Budinger, Chase 1 3716 450 106 24 Artest, Ron Battier, Shane 1 4469 468 1552 25 Scola, Luis Lee, Courtney 0.9 2115 498 1689 26 Brooks, Aaron Scola, Luis 0.9 15558 512 1452 27 Martin, Kevin Jackson, Bobby 0.9 2270 572 450 28 McGrady, Tracy Landry, Carl 0.9 2925 583 2760 29 Martin, Kevin Ariza, Trevor 0.9 1752 607 1227 30 Martin, Kevin Battier, Shane 0.8 7110 669 116 31 Brooks, Aaron Landry, Carl 0.8 7330 730 1687 32 Battier, Shane Jackson, Bobby 0.8 1318 732 1592 33 Lee, Courtney Budinger, Chase 0.8 4050 744 870 34 Battier, Shane Lee, Courtney 0.7 1028 789 927 35 Wafer, Von Landry, Carl 0.7 2281 810 4971 36 Barry, Brent Brooks, Aaron 0.7 1564 869 2322 37 Andersen, David Budinger, Chase 0.7 2183 880 1022 38 Artest, Ron Brooks, Aaron 0.7 4693 903 2741 39 Lowry, Kyle Hill, Jordan 0.7 3150 912 5953 40 Battier, Shane Budinger, Chase 0.6 2003 1001 390 41 Lee, Courtney Patterson, Patrick 0.6 2501 1015 3978 42 Barry, Brent Wafer, Von 0.5 1308 1095 6083 43 Hayes, Chuck Lowry, Kyle 0.5 8199 1100 4122 44 Scola, Luis Budinger, Chase 0.5 5119 1124 745 45 Brooks, Aaron Hill, Jordan 0.5 1916 1168 4996 46 Lowry, Kyle Brooks, Aaron 0.5 4033 1279 1940 47 Jackson, Bobby McGrady, Tracy 0.4 1290 1321 4284 48 McGrady, Tracy Head, Luther 0.4 1619 1388 4515 49 Battier, Shane Scola, Luis 0.4 23082 1394 781 50 Hayes, Chuck Budinger, Chase 0.4 4077 1415 1855 51 Battier, Shane Andersen, David 0.4 1474 1421 1105 52 Lowry, Kyle Landry, Carl 0.4 4833 1458 2195 53 McGrady, Tracy Brooks, Aaron 0.4 2153 1470 2514 54 Budinger, Chase Hill, Jordan 0.4 3211 1521 2998 55 Ming, Yao Brooks, Aaron 0.4 5437 1620 1579 56 Miller, Brad Patterson, Patrick 0.4 1095 1660 2566 57 Brooks, Aaron Andersen, David 0.4 1718 1661 2052 58 Wells, Bonzi McGrady, Tracy 0.4 1527 1680 6972 59 Lowry, Kyle Lee, Courtney 0.4 2667 1702 2214 60 Artest, Ron McGrady, Tracy 0.4 2217 1721 4214 61 Head, Luther Hayes, Chuck 0.4 2550 1819 5698 62 Lowry, Kyle Andersen, David 0.4 2377 1827 2613 63 Lee, Courtney Dragic, Goran 0.4 1173 1859 3021 64 Ming, Yao McGrady, Tracy 0.3 7254 1909 2619 65 Wafer, Von Brooks, Aaron 0.3 1603 1980 4556 66 Miller, Brad Lee, Courtney 0.3 2712 1993 1169 67 Battier, Shane Hill, Jordan 0.3 2036 2022 3223 68 Budinger, Chase Patterson, Patrick 0.3 2245 2061 1952 69 Barry, Brent Ming, Yao 0.2 1235 2130 2420 70 Battier, Shane Mutombo, Dikembe 0.2 1978 2163 2281 71 Landry, Carl Budinger, Chase 0.2 2808 2249 851 72 Battier, Shane Ming, Yao 0.2 12136 2306 849 73 Brooks, Aaron Lee, Courtney 0.2 1754 2407 1723 74 Ariza, Trevor Brooks, Aaron 0.1 8078 2727 5711 75 Alston, Rafer Scola, Luis 0.1 9118 2784 3765 76 Battier, Shane Head, Luther 0.1 3319 2832 1680 77 Wells, Bonzi Battier, Shane 0.1 2198 3047 3224 78 Ariza, Trevor Landry, Carl 0.1 4865 3050 6218 79 Battier, Shane Landry, Carl 0.1 5935 3231 888 80 Artest, Ron Wafer, Von 0.1 1597 3459 6819 81 Artest, Ron Landry, Carl 0.1 2785 3464 3062 82 Battier, Shane Wafer, Von 0.1 1683 3467 2824 83 Martin, Kevin Brooks, Aaron 0.1 3631 3589 224 84 James, Mike Scola, Luis 0.1 1234 3608 7477 85 Ming, Yao Alston, Rafer 0.1 9954 3736 4055 86 Miller, Brad Hill, Jordan 0.1 1040 3934 3777 87 Lowry, Kyle Patterson, Patrick 0.1 1331 3956 4308 88 Miller, Brad Budinger, Chase 0.1 2321 3994 491 89 Dragic, Goran Patterson, Patrick 0.1 1012 4140 5479 90 Alston, Rafer Head, Luther 0.1 2913 4170 6439 91 Head, Luther Scola, Luis 0 2696 4340 2871 92 Miller, Brad Scola, Luis 0 1205 4368 949 93 Hayes, Chuck Patterson, Patrick 0 1128 4458 6501 94 Wells, Bonzi Alston, Rafer 0 2245 4512 8718 95 Miller, Brad Battier, Shane 0 1236 4546 526 96 Artest, Ron Lowry, Kyle 0 1305 4608 3394 97 McGrady, Tracy Scola, Luis 0 8126 4789 2459 98 Ariza, Trevor Lowry, Kyle -0.1 3535 5650 6704 99 Mutombo, Dikembe Scola, Luis -0.1 2112 6182 3708 100 McGrady, Tracy Alston, Rafer -0.1 9407 6267 5669 101 Jeffries, Jared Budinger, Chase -0.1 1270 6573 960 102 Ariza, Trevor Scola, Luis -0.1 7983 6613 5590 103 Miller, Brad Lowry, Kyle -0.1 1622 6673 1324 104 Miller, Brad Jackson, Bobby -0.1 1466 6681 2003 105 Ariza, Trevor Hayes, Chuck -0.1 5631 6888 8796 106 Wells, Bonzi Ming, Yao -0.1 2821 7074 5210 107 Artest, Ron Scola, Luis -0.2 5981 7671 2644 108 Ariza, Trevor Andersen, David -0.2 1594 7746 6879 109 Lee, Courtney Williams, Terrence -0.2 3117 7887 7116 110 Ming, Yao Head, Luther -0.2 2856 7936 3094 111 Barry, Brent Artest, Ron -0.2 1162 7950 3914 112 Wells, Bonzi Scola, Luis -0.2 1948 8097 4888 113 Ming, Yao Scola, Luis -0.2 9145 8250 1517 114 Alston, Rafer Hayes, Chuck -0.3 4790 8806 7006 115 Scola, Luis Hill, Jordan -0.3 2458 8845 4899 116 Battier, Shane Ariza, Trevor -0.3 5614 8912 3750 117 Wells, Bonzi Head, Luther -0.3 1463 8916 7700 118 Lowry, Kyle Scola, Luis -0.3 11733 8943 1879 119 Wells, Bonzi Hayes, Chuck -0.4 1086 9123 8135 120 Ming, Yao James, Mike -0.4 1292 9215 7799 121 Martin, Kevin Patterson, Patrick -0.4 1326 9260 607 122 Alston, Rafer Mutombo, Dikembe -0.4 1565 9276 7549 123 Jackson, Bobby Armstrong, Hilton -0.4 1187 9363 10501 124 Artest, Ron Alston, Rafer -0.4 3082 9430 6051 125 Hayes, Chuck Landry, Carl -0.4 2946 9493 3700 126 Wafer, Von Hayes, Chuck -0.4 1430 9585 7694 127 McGrady, Tracy Hayes, Chuck -0.4 4185 9701 4998 128 Alston, Rafer Brooks, Aaron -0.4 1355 9809 3908 129 Hayes, Chuck Lee, Courtney -0.4 2378 9844 3784 130 Battier, Shane Hayes, Chuck -0.4 13721 9884 2004 131 Barry, Brent Landry, Carl -0.5 1739 10062 2591 132 Ming, Yao Lowry, Kyle -0.5 1144 10078 2041 133 Barry, Brent Hayes, Chuck -0.5 1293 10124 4686 134 Head, Luther Brooks, Aaron -0.6 1461 10389 2949 135 McGrady, Tracy Mutombo, Dikembe -0.6 1906 10439 5615 136 Lee, Courtney Hill, Jordan -0.7 2451 10591 5560 137 Wafer, Von Lowry, Kyle -0.8 1706 10787 5413 138 Ming, Yao Hayes, Chuck -0.8 3713 10796 3492 139 Wells, Bonzi James, Mike -0.8 1453 10852 10783 140 Landry, Carl Scola, Luis -0.8 4621 10918 1624 141 Head, Luther Landry, Carl -0.8 2575 10936 3307 142 Martin, Kevin Hill, Jordan -1.1 2573 11253 996 143 Hayes, Chuck Brooks, Aaron -1.1 9624 11255 3366 144 Alston, Rafer Lee, Courtney -1.1 3774 11328 4374 145 Alston, Rafer Williams, Terrence -1.1 1498 11342 9767 146 Artest, Ron Hayes, Chuck -1.2 1262 11370 5349[/SIZE] Defense: Code: [size=2] player1 player2 DEF Poss Rnk Rnk_summed ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1 Battier, Shane Hayes, Chuck 2.5 13721 5 110 2 Ming, Yao Alston, Rafer 2.1 9954 18 142 3 McGrady, Tracy Hayes, Chuck 1.8 4185 37 176 4 Lowry, Kyle Landry, Carl 1.8 4833 42 4475 5 Artest, Ron Scola, Luis 1.7 5981 53 377 6 Artest, Ron Ming, Yao 1.7 6056 56 31 7 Battier, Shane Ming, Yao 1.5 12136 105 219 8 Lowry, Kyle Scola, Luis 1.5 11733 113 1267 9 Ming, Yao Scola, Luis 1.4 9145 138 604 10 Hayes, Chuck Budinger, Chase 1.4 4077 154 478 11 Alston, Rafer Hayes, Chuck 1.4 4790 158 76 12 Head, Luther Hayes, Chuck 1.4 2550 165 532 13 Ming, Yao Landry, Carl 1.4 2424 168 2629 14 Hayes, Chuck Scola, Luis 1.2 13258 196 328 15 Jackson, Bobby McGrady, Tracy 1.2 1290 203 2110 16 Alston, Rafer Mutombo, Dikembe 1.2 1565 211 782 17 Battier, Shane Scola, Luis 1.1 23082 321 1823 18 Lowry, Kyle Budinger, Chase 1.1 6819 329 1657 19 McGrady, Tracy Mutombo, Dikembe 1 1906 370 1498 20 Lowry, Kyle Andersen, David 1 2377 385 1166 21 Battier, Shane Brooks, Aaron 0.9 12840 403 8758 22 Wells, Bonzi Alston, Rafer 0.9 2245 404 1085 23 Artest, Ron Lowry, Kyle 0.9 1305 413 69 24 Lowry, Kyle Brooks, Aaron 0.9 4033 459 7754 25 Barry, Brent Ming, Yao 0.9 1235 531 2350 26 Wafer, Von Landry, Carl 0.9 2281 561 5699 27 Miller, Brad Budinger, Chase 0.9 2321 563 4813 28 Battier, Shane Jackson, Bobby 0.9 1318 578 1499 29 Ming, Yao Lowry, Kyle 0.9 1144 579 124 30 Wells, Bonzi Head, Luther 0.9 1463 593 3942 31 Miller, Brad Scola, Luis 0.8 1205 607 3869 32 Battier, Shane Head, Luther 0.8 3319 628 2487 33 Artest, Ron Alston, Rafer 0.8 3082 631 87 34 Miller, Brad Martin, Kevin 0.8 10232 649 11293 35 James, Mike Scola, Luis 0.8 1234 675 4939 36 Battier, Shane Mutombo, Dikembe 0.8 1978 701 1050 37 Ming, Yao Hayes, Chuck 0.8 3713 702 26 38 Lee, Courtney Budinger, Chase 0.8 4050 740 7213 39 Artest, Ron Wafer, Von 0.8 1597 746 130 40 Miller, Brad Artest, Ron 0.8 6365 781 438 41 McGrady, Tracy Landry, Carl 0.7 2925 785 6729 42 McGrady, Tracy Alston, Rafer 0.7 9407 787 867 43 Wells, Bonzi Hayes, Chuck 0.7 1086 990 244 44 Jackson, Bobby Armstrong, Hilton 0.6 1187 1035 2476 45 Budinger, Chase Patterson, Patrick 0.6 2245 1047 5269 46 Wells, Bonzi Ming, Yao 0.5 2821 1183 441 47 Mutombo, Dikembe Scola, Luis 0.5 2112 1258 2242 48 Wells, Bonzi Scola, Luis 0.5 1948 1309 2915 49 Ariza, Trevor Lowry, Kyle 0.5 3535 1379 572 50 Martin, Kevin Hill, Jordan 0.5 2573 1396 11488 51 McGrady, Tracy Head, Luther 0.5 1619 1421 3311 52 Alston, Rafer Landry, Carl 0.5 2791 1432 4757 53 Wells, Bonzi James, Mike 0.5 1453 1447 4192 54 Ming, Yao McGrady, Tracy 0.4 7254 1551 355 55 Ming, Yao Wafer, Von 0.4 2228 1641 232 56 Artest, Ron Hayes, Chuck 0.4 1262 1701 14 57 Hayes, Chuck Patterson, Patrick 0.4 1128 1761 464 58 McGrady, Tracy Brooks, Aaron 0.4 2153 1808 9563 59 Lowry, Kyle Patterson, Patrick 0.4 1331 1841 1646 60 Wafer, Von Brooks, Aaron 0.4 1603 1859 8871 61 Hayes, Chuck Lowry, Kyle 0.4 8199 1885 62 62 Artest, Ron Landry, Carl 0.4 2785 1887 1858 63 Barry, Brent Artest, Ron 0.4 1162 1901 1663 64 Battier, Shane Alston, Rafer 0.4 10693 1903 591 65 Wafer, Von Lowry, Kyle 0.4 1706 2007 539 66 Ariza, Trevor Andersen, David 0.3 1594 2337 1806 67 Artest, Ron McGrady, Tracy 0.3 2217 2340 205 68 Alston, Rafer Lee, Courtney 0.3 3774 2412 3148 69 Barry, Brent Wafer, Von 0.3 1308 2440 5383 70 Miller, Brad Patterson, Patrick 0.2 1095 2919 4793 71 Brooks, Aaron Andersen, David 0.2 1718 2927 10150 72 Andersen, David Budinger, Chase 0.2 2183 3075 4159 73 Scola, Luis Lee, Courtney 0.2 2115 3103 6366 74 Battier, Shane Lowry, Kyle 0.2 9330 3143 526 75 Barry, Brent Landry, Carl 0.2 1739 3206 10654 76 Scola, Luis Hill, Jordan 0.2 2458 3236 7883 77 Hayes, Chuck Lee, Courtney 0.2 2378 3257 973 78 Artest, Ron Battier, Shane 0.2 4469 3316 126 79 Landry, Carl Andersen, David 0.1 2350 3590 7769 80 McGrady, Tracy Scola, Luis 0.1 8126 3655 2500 81 Landry, Carl Budinger, Chase 0.1 2808 3674 8782 82 Ming, Yao James, Mike 0.1 1292 3730 972 83 Alston, Rafer Head, Luther 0.1 2913 3789 1992 84 Martin, Kevin Lowry, Kyle 0.1 8822 4625 10095 85 Miller, Brad Battier, Shane 0.1 1236 4807 2035 86 Lee, Courtney Williams, Terrence 0.1 3117 5144 7034 87 Battier, Shane Ariza, Trevor 0.1 5614 5395 898 88 Lowry, Kyle Lee, Courtney 0 2667 5763 2898 89 Martin, Kevin Budinger, Chase 0 3716 5904 11344 90 Miller, Brad Lee, Courtney 0 2712 5951 6777 91 Barry, Brent Brooks, Aaron 0 1564 6152 11351 92 Lowry, Kyle Hill, Jordan 0 3150 6250 4319 93 Ariza, Trevor Hayes, Chuck 0 5631 6399 125 94 Wells, Bonzi McGrady, Tracy -0.1 1527 6632 2031 95 Battier, Shane McGrady, Tracy -0.1 8753 6835 1180 96 Wells, Bonzi Battier, Shane -0.1 2198 7092 1436 97 Barry, Brent Hayes, Chuck -0.1 1293 7300 1530 98 Lee, Courtney Dragic, Goran -0.1 1173 7417 9228 99 Hayes, Chuck Brooks, Aaron -0.1 9624 7626 4228 100 Battier, Shane Wafer, Von -0.1 1683 7770 850 101 Dragic, Goran Patterson, Patrick -0.1 1012 7797 7572 102 Jeffries, Jared Budinger, Chase -0.1 1270 8245 2204 103 Alston, Rafer Williams, Terrence -0.1 1498 8301 1686 104 Ariza, Trevor Landry, Carl -0.1 4865 8382 5870 105 Ariza, Trevor Scola, Luis -0.2 7983 8634 1973 106 Wafer, Von Hayes, Chuck -0.2 1430 8870 116 107 Martin, Kevin Artest, Ron -0.2 5678 8948 7752 108 Battier, Shane Lee, Courtney -0.2 1028 9025 3889 109 Martin, Kevin Patterson, Patrick -0.2 1326 9194 11345 110 Ariza, Trevor Brooks, Aaron -0.3 8078 9305 8945 111 Battier, Shane Landry, Carl -0.3 5935 9340 5576 112 Miller, Brad Lowry, Kyle -0.3 1622 9486 1421 113 Ming, Yao Brooks, Aaron -0.3 5437 9557 5688 114 Brooks, Aaron Scola, Luis -0.3 15558 9573 10316 115 Lee, Courtney Patterson, Patrick -0.3 2501 9592 7215 116 Alston, Rafer Scola, Luis -0.4 9118 9659 1388 117 Ariza, Trevor Budinger, Chase -0.4 2109 9716 2490 118 Head, Luther Brooks, Aaron -0.4 1461 9772 10747 119 Head, Luther Scola, Luis -0.4 2696 9813 4688 120 Martin, Kevin Ariza, Trevor -0.4 1752 10036 10738 121 Ming, Yao Head, Luther -0.4 2856 10150 893 122 Hayes, Chuck Landry, Carl -0.4 2946 10201 1713 123 Scola, Luis Budinger, Chase -0.4 5119 10259 4394 124 Wafer, Von Scola, Luis -0.5 2257 10298 1864 125 Miller, Brad Jackson, Bobby -0.5 1466 10409 3407 126 Head, Luther Landry, Carl -0.5 2575 10568 8932 127 Brooks, Aaron Hill, Jordan -0.7 1916 10851 11377 128 Artest, Ron Brooks, Aaron -0.7 4693 10895 4476 129 Martin, Kevin Jackson, Bobby -0.8 2270 10932 11128 130 Alston, Rafer Brooks, Aaron -0.8 1355 11041 8074 131 Battier, Shane Hill, Jordan -0.8 2036 11047 5463 132 Battier, Shane Andersen, David -0.8 1474 11055 1692 133 Martin, Kevin Hayes, Chuck -0.8 8472 11062 7531 134 Budinger, Chase Hill, Jordan -0.9 3211 11095 8656 135 Miller, Brad Hill, Jordan -0.9 1040 11102 8248 136 Brooks, Aaron Lee, Courtney -0.9 1754 11143 11157 137 Martin, Kevin Lee, Courtney -0.9 1994 11232 11458 138 Lee, Courtney Hill, Jordan -1 2451 11261 9988 139 Martin, Kevin Brooks, Aaron -1.1 3631 11315 11504 140 Battier, Shane Budinger, Chase -1.1 2003 11325 2334 141 Alston, Rafer Wafer, Von -1.2 1569 11378 623 142 Martin, Kevin Battier, Shane -1.2 7110 11397 10647 143 Brooks, Aaron Budinger, Chase -1.4 4625 11419 10663 144 Martin, Kevin Scola, Luis -1.5 10661 11447 11242 145 Landry, Carl Scola, Luis -1.7 4621 11474 7998 146 Brooks, Aaron Landry, Carl -1.7 7330 11476 11388 [/size]
These stats are over rated,and durvasa you know it. Otherwise,Martin and Battier would have gotten us deep into the playoffs. Basketball needs two way players for sustained success. Martin can't defend,and Battier can't score. The stats don't even show how limited Martin has been in the 4th quarter,and how Shane's defense/shooting wilted under pressure against OKC,even though he was on a stronger team with Memphis. He was already showing a slow decline with us. That is something that stats don't show.
What is the purpose of them then? You are trying to point out their efficiency which in my opinion is over rated. These stats don't show their weaknesses.
He'd say "Looks about right" if he agrees with them (e.g. Shane/Chuck, Lowry's general awesomeness) and "Not sure about that" if he doesn't (e.g. playing Luis and Carl together).
I don't think it's showing anything extraordinary about those players.It sheds light on some things rockets fans should know. The only shocker might be how well Chuck is offensively with Martin but that's more about KM than anything. He plays well with bigs that set good screens and can get him the ball when he's open. How helpful he is to our offense is related to how much he gets in position to score.
The purpose is help gauge how well combinations work together, on either end of the floor. Help gauge, not "replace our assessment of". The purpose is definitely not to tell anything and everything that's relevant about each player. Especially things which are mostly subjective, "feel" based. I trust most people know how to take information and use their judgment to incorporate it into their existing evaluations and come up with a clearer picture of players. If you don't want to do that or you don't know how to do that, then by all means don't bother. This thread is for people that are interested in stats; I'm not trying to convince those that aren't that they should give a crap about it.
Based on what we know I doubt he would incorporate them into his approach. Doesn't say much about the usefulness of this information when a hall of fame coach won't include them in his approach. Then again, if, for the most part, they're telling us what we already know, their usefulness in general is obviously questionable as well. Thanks for posting them though. Yeah, I agree with you. But some people have just fallen in love with this methodology, because it's what Morey has brought with him. Much like many people on this board who don't watch other teams play except when they play against the Rockets, people who constantly focus on these so-called advanced stats probably don't watch much actual basketball, instead opting to focus on number crunching, which means they miss a lot as you've correctly pointed out.
Lowry, Martin, Battier, Scola/Hayes and a healthy Yao, with Patterson, Dragic, Lee off the bench. I'd have been pretty fomfotable going to war with that.
And what does it say that Pat Riley -- who actually is in the Hall of Fame -- does use +/- stats and has been using them since he was coaching the Lakers? You're right, if we already "knew" it then it doesn't serve a purpose. But more importantly, there is a difference between "knowing" something and having an opinion. If you have an opinion on something, and evidence confirms it, that is useful.
So you're agreeing with me then that hall of fame coach Rick Adelman wouldn't use any of these stats in his approach to coaching basketball, right? That's some cool info on Pat Riley. I don't doubt it, but can you post some links with some information on him and advanced metrics. I'd like to read up on it later. Thanks in advance. Also, could you tell us if you HAD to pick one - either traditional approaches to evaluating players or these new intensively quantitative methodologies - which one would you choose? I'm sure you'll say a combination of the two, but remember I'm asking you to pick one or the other.
Rankings in offense and defense for yao and tmac, if i interpreted it correctly. Saleem, this says more about the rockets themselves than how they stack up against the NBA. Even losing teams will have players with great chemistry. It doesn't necessarily mean these guys are keepers, untouchable, or going to lead this team anywhere. It doesnt mean you can't improve either. It's just telling you, that of the players you currently have, these combinations play well together. "Playing well" has different levels. It's going to help mainly within games/rotations and not as much with coming up with a blueprint to build a chmpionship team.
