Popularized by former ESPN analytics guru John Hollinger, PER has become perhaps the most commonly used advanced metric.Ī common misconception, though, is that it's a catch-all stat that determines a player's ranking in the NBA hierarchy-much like WAR in baseball-but even Hollinger concedes that this is simply not the case. 1: just have open in your browser at all times).įollow along, and you'll discover effective ways to augment your NBA analysis. I'll give you tips for where to find all the relevant numbers (Tip No. Looking at these statistics will paint a more complete portrait of a player's or team's profile while also revealing hidden traits which can support your opinion-or change it entirely.Īnd don't sweat the calculations. Use this primer as a guide for which metrics to study when taking an in-depth look at players and teams. Read any respectable basketball columnist (as well as those striving to reach that level, like yours truly), and you'll come across a plethora of advanced metrics which support their claims and provide astonishing insight into the game.ĭon't be blinded by the raw numbers though it's how you interpret the numbers that really matters, as these are what truly enhance your basketball sophistication. These days, you can't have an intelligent conversation about hoops without relevant statistics to back up your thoughts and lend credence to your opinions. The NBA's analytics revolution (insert Revenge of the Nerds joke here) has changed the way we think and talk about basketball. In a heated debate over who is the best shooting guard in the league? Advanced stats will win you that argument.