Analytics Glossary - Team Evaluation
The goal of this page is to contextualize certain metrics that I find useful when evaluating teams
Formulas for how the metrics are calculated are hyperlinked to the term name
This is a running page that I will continually update - if you come across a metric you find useful, please share and I will add it to the list
NO SINGLE METRIC OR STATISTIC TELLS THE ENTIRE STORY. ALL REQUIRE SOME LEVEL OF CONTEXT IN ORDER TO BE APPROPRIATELY APPLIED.
Defensive Rating (DRTG): The number of points allowed per 100 possessions by a team (NBA.com)
Why I Find Useful: DRTG is a more precise way of determining a team’s defensive effectiveness than raw points per game because it accounts for pace
Key Context to Remember: A team could have an effective defense but allow a large number of points per game because they play at an extremely fast pace and their games have an above average number of possessions per game
Helpful When Linked With: Offensive Rating, Net Rating
Effective Field Goal Percentage (eFG%): A measure of a team’s field goal percentage that provides additional weight to three-point shots.
Why I Find Useful: eFG% gives a better view of a team’s offensive or defensive profile than standard FG% because it assigns more value to shots that are worth more points (three pointers vs. two pointers).
Key Context to Remember: While a team’s three point offense is highly correlated to the quality of three point shooters they have on their roster, three point defense is far more variable and often more luck-based than attributable to a defensive scheme. Thus, limiting volume of three pointers allowed is the only true predictor of how many points a team will give up from beyond the three point line year over year.
Helpful When Linked With: Four Factor Metrics (Basketball Reference)
Free Throw Attempt Rate (FT/FGA): The proportion of free throws to field goal attempts for a team
Why I Find Useful: Descriptive of how often a team gets to the free throw line relative to their average number of possessions per game
Key Context to Remember: How often a team gets to the free throw line can be a key indicator of how efficient an offense is, as free throws are one of the ways to boost eFG%.
Helpful When Linked With: Four Factor Metrics (Basketball Reference)
Offensive Rating (ORTG): The number of points scored per 100 possessions by a team (NBA.com)
Why I Find Useful: ORTG is a more precise way of determining a team’s offensive effectiveness than raw points per game because it accounts for pace
Key Context to Remember: A team could have an effective offense but score a relatively low number of points per game because they play at an extremely slow pace and their games have a below average number of possessions per game
Helpful When Linked With: Defensive Rating, Net Rating
Offensive Rebound Rate (ORB%): The percentage of available offensive rebounds a player or team obtains while on the floor (NBA.com).
Why I Find Useful: ORB% helps provide an understanding of which teams excel at grabbing offensive rebounds
Key Context to Remember: In 2022-23 (according to Basketball Reference), the Rockets led the league in ORB% at 30.2%, while the Mavericks were dead last at 18.0%
Helpful When Linked With: Defensive Rebound Rate
Net Rating (NetRtg): Measures a team's point differential per 100 possessions (NBA.com)
Why I Find Useful: Net rating is a good indicator of future success - it’s highly correlated with win totals
Key Context to Remember: A team with abnormally high or low levels of success in close games may be over-performing or under-performing their net rating. At the same time, NetRtg itself can be skewed by games that end in blowouts, which is why it’s sometimes helpful to use NetRtg’s that filter out garbage time.
Helpful When Linked With: Offensive Rating, Defensive Rating
Turnover Percentage (TOV%): Estimate of turnovers per 100 plays (Basketball Reference)
Why I Find Useful: TOV% is more descriptive than raw turnover numbers for determining a team’s ability to either take care of the ball or take the ball away because it factors in pace of play.
Key Context to Remember: Winning the turnover battle against an opponent (and thus, having more possessions than said opponent) is a way to mitigate an offense that is inefficient on a possession by possession basis.
Helpful When Linked With: Four Factor Metrics (Basketball Reference)