Tag: Analytics

12 players making an efficiency leap in the NBA this season

HoopsHype ranks the 12 players who have made the biggest efficiency leaps from 2023-24 to 2024-25, including Chris Paul and Josh Hart.

The first quarter of every NBA season is a blast because there’s so much to learn. We’re creeping up on the 20-game mark for most teams, which means we’re starting to feel a little more grounded in our new evaluations of players, teams, and coaches – although plenty can still change.

Sample sizes at the player level are still small, but they’re not infinitesimal anymore. We can feel better about directional reads on where they’ve improved (or where they haven’t).

In today’s numbers-driven NBA, efficiency is king. We wanted to look at who has optimized their shot diet and leveled up their shotmaking compared to previous years to become a more effective scoring option. I looked at everyone in Basketball-Reference’s qualifying list of players from this year and last year and narrowed it down to players who have attempted at least 7.5 shots per game this season, leaving me with a pool of 119 players. Below are the 12 (the top decile) with the biggest jump in true shooting percentage (TS%).

We’re not at the point where these things are capital-T truths yet; a whole lot of the season still has to go on, and not everyone on this list will remain here if we re-run the exercise at the end of the year. But these players have made such significant jumps that it has to mean something, even if they come back to Earth eventually.

2024-25 Global Rating: Who are the best players by salary?

Whether they are on a two-way deal or a max contract, every player has an opportunity to shine on the court. To see who is giving their team the biggest bang for its buck, here are the top-ranked players by Global Rating, considering their salary.

Whether they are on a two-way deal or a max contract, every player has an opportunity to shine on the court. To see who is giving their team the biggest bang for its buck, here are the top-ranked players by Global Rating, considering their salary.

Global Rating: Who are the best players by position?

The modern NBA may be positionless, but fortunately the players are not all cast by the same mold. While traditional positions have evolved, they remain a useful way to categorize talent. Here we rank the top 30 players at each position based on …

The modern NBA may be positionless, but fortunately the players are not all cast by the same mold. While traditional positions have evolved, they remain a useful way to categorize talent. Here we rank the top 30 players at each position based on their 2024-25 Global Rating.

Global Rating rankings: The best players in the NBA preseason

They say preseason doesn’t count. Players looking for a better spot in the rotation or even an NBA contract would beg to disagree. To find out who’s been balling so far in the 2024 preseason, here are the leaders in Global Rating.

They say preseason doesn’t count. Players looking for a better spot in the rotation or even an NBA contract would beg to disagree. To find out who’s been balling so far in the 2024 preseason, here are the leaders in Global Rating.

Wisconsin and Purdue share a less-than-desirable standing through Week 5

A graph shows where Wisconsin and Purdue stand entering Week 5:

Wisconsin and Purdue enter Saturday’s matchup both badly in need of a victory.

Wisconsin, first, has lost two straight games in blowout fashion. It fell 42-10 to now-No. 1 Alabama, then 38-21 to No. 11 USC. The team sits 2-2 (0-1 Big Ten) on the season. Given the challenging schedule that lies ahead, a win on Saturday is almost a requirement.

Purdue, meanwhile, has dropped three consecutive games after its Week 1 win. None of the losses were particularly close. The Boilermakers fell 66-7 to Notre Dame, 38-21 to Oregon State, then 28-10 to Nebraska.

Bowl eligibility seems like a long shot for a Purdue program that remains in a rebuild under second-year head coach Ryan Walters. Most metrics have it currently ranked as one of the worst teams in the Power 4.

Wisconsin, believe it or not, is in a similar position through four weeks. It is also falling to the lower-left quadrant of Bud Davis’ weekly look at the Power 4 based on each team’s offensive and defensive EPA/play.

(EPA is short for Expected Points Added. In short, it measures how well a unit performs compared to the expectation on a play-by-play basis. Here is an expanded explanation.

Here is the graph, which effectively tells the story visually.

Purdue is alone on the bottom left, which is not where a team wants to be. Wisconsin is positioned significantly better on offense and defense. But still, the Badgers are sliding the wrong way.

Wisconsin finding a decisive victory on Saturday could reverse the current trend and start its season headed in the right direction.

The Badgers and Boilermakers will kick off at noon ET, 11 a.m. CT on Saturday at Camp Randall Stadium in what is becoming a must-win game for both programs.

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There is no better cornerback in the NFL than Denzel Ward right now

Denzel Ward is the best cornerback so far in the 2024 NFL season according to advanced statistics

Cleveland Browns cornerback Denzel Ward is playing some of the best football in the league as he plays through his seventh season in the NFL.

Ward is locking down his third of the field and making it impossible for quarterbacks to throw it his way. He ranks at the top of most cornerback statistics. Ward has the second highest coverage grade, according to PFF, and the third highest forced incompletion rate in the league. NFL’s Next Gen Stats ranks him first in tight windows forced.

Ward has been sticky in man coverage. Ward followed Malik Nabers in the second half and shut down the rookie’s fantastic first half. The Browns must decide if they want Ward shadowing the opposing number one receiver or if the team wants him to shut down the left side of the field.

The Browns won’t make the choice on Sunday when they take on the Las Vegas Raiders. Star wide receiver Devante Adams has been ruled out of the game. Ward should have a solid outing against one of the league’s worst passing attacks.

Browns analytics department ranked number one in NFL for fourth year

Cleveland Browns analytics department ranked number one in the NFL. The Browns have the most advanced data analysts in the league.

The Cleveland Browns analytics department defended their title as the best analytics department in the league. The Browns have been voted the best analytics department by their NFL peers in a survey run by ESPN. The Browns analytics department is constantly ranked at the top of the league by media insiders and management of sports analytics companies.

The survey included answers from various analytics staffers across the league. The Browns received the most votes for three of the biggest questions in the survey; “Which team produces the highest level of analytics work?”, “Which team incorporates analytics the most into its decision-making?”, and  “Which NFL team is the most analytically advanced overall?”. The Browns were praised for their dedication to data analysis and the infrastructure they have set up over the past decade.

Browns vice president of research and strategy, Dave Giuliani received much praise in the survey. Giuliani received the third most votes when asked about the most likely general manager candidates in the future. Browns’ longtime vice president of research and strategy, Andrew Healy received two votes.

Giuliani is an under-the-radar candidate in Berea. Assistant general managers Catherine Hickman (nee Raîche) and Glenn Cook have interviewed for the general manager position with multiple teams. Berea might be developing an incubator for future general managers.

Victor Wembanyama and five other NBA players with a surprising skill

If you consume enough NBA media, you’ll note how often we pigeonhole players into rigid categories. The superstars get more than their fair share of the discussion, but everyone else falls into generalities: the game manager, the rim-running big …

If you consume enough NBA media, you’ll note how often we pigeonhole players into rigid categories. The superstars get more than their fair share of the discussion, but everyone else falls into generalities: the game manager, the rim-running big man, etcetera. After a while, players can blur together like uniform blocks within their segments, interchangeable and faceless. Categorization makes for easier conversation and analysis but loses the nuances that make basketball the best sport.

That’s a bummer! It’s fun to celebrate the individuality of each player, to look a little deeper into how they play. Below, I’ve gathered six players with quirks or tendencies that the general public doesn’t recognize enough. Some of these notes are borderline silly, and some are essential parts of what makes a player tick. But all deserve more (or at least a little!) discussion.

Disclaimer: I’m not always saying that these players are the absolute best at a thing. I’m simply highlighting unexpected skills or idiosyncrasies that aren’t well-known outside the local market. Don’t expect LeBron James to show up, but we may as well start with the biggest name (literally and figuratively).

Examining how Jayden Daniels’ numbers compare to other NFL quarterbacks

A closer look at how Jayden Daniels’ numbers compares to other NFL quarterbacks.

Yes, it’s only two games, so it is an extremely small sample of the season; so, what kind of start is Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels having in 2024?

Daniels is all across the board when looking at the NFL quarterback leaders through two weeks. He is very high in one important positive statistic. He is also very high in one significant negative statistic. Daniels is also in the middle third of several other metrics.

https://Twitter.com/JetPackGalileo/status/1835928057636696230

Above Average

  • Completion Percentage 3rd (75.5 percent) This is significant because it shows Daniels can a very accurate passer. He has the ability and is delivering the ball well.
  • Interceptions: 0  There are eight quarterbacks who have started / played both games and have yet to throw an interception. Daniels is one of those eight.
  • Passing Success Rate: 12th  (46.7 percent). This reveals how successful a QB gains yardage needed on the four downs, divided by their passing attempts and times they are sacked. He is just outside the top third in the league.
  • Yards gained per pass attempt: 10th (7.7) This is most often a very important statistic in the NFL. It points to accuracy and decision making. Daniels is in the top third through two games.
  • Adjusted Yards gained per pass attempt: 9th (7.74) This also includes passing touchdowns and passing interceptions into the equation. Again, Daniels is in the top third.
  • Passer Rating: 8th (97.2)  Having only played two NFL games, this is a solid start for Daniels.

The Average

  • First Downs Passing: 16th  Daniels has 18 passing first downs which places him directly in the middle of the league.
  • Yards Gained per Completion: 18th (10.3) Just below the middle of the league, in the middle third. As he grows he will be more confident to go deeper in his attempts.
  • Net Yards Gained per Pass Attempt: 15th (6.18)  This metric includes subtracting your sack yards from your completion yards.
  • Adjusted Net Yards per Pass Attempt: 13th (6.18) This takes the above and then accounts for passing touchdowns and interceptions.

The Below Average

  • Longest completed pass 27th (34 yards). It is true Daniels is not throwing down the field as much as many other quarterbacks. Some of this is design as Kliff Kingsbury is attempting to protect Daniels, having him getting rid of the ball early.
  • Passing Yards Gained per Game: 19th (205) Again, below the middle of the league, in the second third of quarterbacks.
  • QBR 20th (46.8) This ESPN stat is graded on a 100 point scale. Daniels as you can see is below average and close to the lowest third of the league.
  • QB Sacked: Tied for 3rd most (7) The only quarterbacks to have been sacked more are Gardner Minshew and Caleb Williams (9), Brock Purdy and Deshaun Watson (8).
  • Sack Percentage 3rd highest (11.67) Daniels has missed some early reads. He will most likely improve in this statistic throughout the season.

*16th is the exact middle of a 32-team league.

* Average: Ranking 14-18 in the NFL

* Above Average: Ranking 1-13 in the NFL

*Below Average: Ranking 19 and higher in the NFL

 

Research: Who runs the most miles in the NBA?

In the depths of the offseason, with so little going on news-wise, we often explore NBA rabbit holes to uncover lesser-known facts about the league. Today, we’re focusing on the distance NBA players cover during games. The league has been tracking …

In the depths of the offseason, with so little going on news-wise, we often explore NBA rabbit holes to uncover lesser-known facts about the league. Today, we’re focusing on the distance NBA players cover during games. The league has been tracking this data since the 2013-14 season, which allows us to identify which players have run the most.

It’s important to note that the number of games played in the last 11 years greatly influences a player’s ranking on this list. You’re not going to make it if you entered the league in 2017. It’s an interesting exercise regardless and you can see the results below.

(If you’re wondering who runs the most per game, that would be Scottie Barnes, but that’s another ranking for another day).