In an era where NBA fans are constantly bombarded by advanced statistics, it can be hard to sort through everything and find the most significant.
It’s almost an impossible task to keep up with the every advanced statistic there is and what they mean. Player Efficiency Rating (PER), Wins Above Replacement Player (WARP), Player Impact Plus-Minus (PIPM) and Real Plus-Minus (RPM) are just some of the many acronyms to remember. Rebound rate, rebound percentage, offensive rating, clutch stats and true shooting percentage are just a handful of terms that get thrown around daily.
While advanced stats have permeated the basketball world (and other sports), there is always doubt about relying too much on the statistics. The eye test is the primary “nemesis” of advanced stats, pointing out it’s foolish to simply rely on numbers and data instead of watching the games.
Both sides are right: advanced stats need the eye test as much as the eye test needs advanced stats. It’s better to look at them like ying and yang instead of oil and water.
You can’t always rely on the eye test. A player’s offensive explosion might be marred after looking at the stats, showing that despite going on a scoring binge, Player X took too many mid-rangers and never got to the free throw line.
Relying on the stats too much doesn’t provide the whole picture either. Sure, Player X’s stats looked great, but he only plays when the game is a lost cause.
Today, we’ll be looking at four times where relying solely on the stats can be dangerous and where these instances don’t tell the whole picture.