#advanced metrics

[zanechalk]

Breaking the Model: The Advanced Metrics That Capture Victor Wembanyamas Defensive Takeover

This statistical deep dive analyzes the advanced metrics behind Victor Wembanyama's dominance in the 2026 season. The summary discusses how standard box score stats fail to capture his true impact, turning to tracking data like "rim deterrence," "defensive field goal percentage differential," and "paint touches allowed." It illustrates how his mere presence warps the geometry of the court more than any player since prime Kevin Garnett or Bill Russell.

The analysis looks at the "Wemby On/Off" splits, showing the massive canyon in defensive rating when he sits. It highlights his block percentage and steal percentage, noting the rarity of a player leading the league in both rim protection and passing lane disruption. The piece also compares his Year 3 metrics to the peaks of other all-time defensive greats.

The piece concludes by asserting that Wembanyama is breaking the analytical models used to evaluate defense. It argues that we are witnessing a statistical outlier that may not be repeated for generations.

The Alien Ascendant: How Wembanyama’s 2026 Campaign Ended the Debate

Victor Wembanyama stats 2026 show a two way takeover: 31.2 points, paint fear, and late game control that makes the Spurs feel inevitable.

[bostonsportspub-blog]

Belichick Has No Use for Analytic Websites

Belichick Has No Use for Analytic Websites

At his press conference this week, Bill Belichick was asked about his use of analytic websites. The analytic websites measure whatever data you are looking to assess. For example, one can analyze a play based on a situation and need. Or they can even examine quarterback release times. When asked about these websites, Belichick had a reaction similar to his reaction towards the sideline tablets,…

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[outofcontextcommentators-blog]

Nones Shits Given.

[outsidepitchmlb]

Brian Dozier Is Quickly Becoming The MLB's Most Underrated Second Baseman

Brian Dozier Is Quickly Becoming The MLB’s Most Underrated Second Baseman

Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

Last season, Brian Dozierhad the best season of his big league career thus far, hitting to a .244/.312/.414 mark, and posting career-high numbers in home runs (18) and steals (14), while also displaying the earnest potential to become a member of baseball’s elite “20-20″ club in the near future. Dozier’s abilites didn’t stop on the offensive side, however, as the…

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[yourenotlisteningtome]

Stuff I like right now.

Damir Doma hi-tops

Lee Bannon’s PLACE/CRUSHER

Katsuya

advanced metrics in NBA/college basketball

admitting you’re a nerd.  a real one, not to be cool.

large bodies of water in Kuwait, not named the Arabian Gulf

Localeur

[bigsmoothstats]

Resolved: Kendrick Perkins is the Worst Player in the League

Yesterday over lunch, my friend Dan proposed the above hypothesis.  At first, the statement might seem a bit extreme.  A starter for a title contending team surely can't be the league's WORST player-- not when Austin Rivers plays in that league.  However, when you factor in a salary figure well above $8M per year and the fact that he plays 25 minutes a night with a strong supporting cast, Perk's lack of production does appear to cry "amnesty!". 

It turns out, Perk is not only the worst-- he is historically bad

The above data set shows seasons in which a player appeared in at least 60 games, averaged at least 25 mpg, and failed to achieve a PER above 9.  There have only been 49 such seasons in the past 60 years.  One player accomplished this dubious achievement each of the past two seasons: Perk.

A possible caveat to this data's usefulness exists in one Bruce Bowen.  We all know that while Bowen did not pile up stats, his presence on the court, in particular his outstanding playoff wing defense, helped lead the Spurs to three titles.

In response to the Bowen rebuttal, one must first consider the eye test.  Did it look like Perk neutralized Gasol or Z-Bo in the Memphis series?  Did opponents shy away from paint, as they do with Roy Hibbert? Did his help defense draw comparisons to a flatbed truck carrying a house trying to make a left-hand turn?

Then there is this.  Not only did the Thunder score 17 fewer points per 100 possessions Perk was on the court in the playoffs, their defense was unaffected by his presence on the court.  No Bowen outliers here.  Perk doesn't accumulate stats, has a negative offensive impact, and a negligible defenseive impact.

In trading Harden and keeping Perkins, Sam Presti might have lost all goodwill he earned in assembling the KD-Westbrook core.

[oldtimefamilybaseball]

David Cone is Just Like You and Me

And by that I mean a baseball-obsessed supernerd. In an interview with New York Magazine, Cone says: 

"I love Fangraphs and the mountains of data you can get there, especially with hitters' tendencies and what percentage of pitches they chase outside the strike zone. Across the board, when balls are put in play — you know exactly which guys are groundball hitters, certain tendencies. Some of the defensive metrics are pretty interesting, too, although it's probably a little bit controversial still...There's not a day that goes by that I'm not on Fangraphs or Baseball-Reference.com..."

and in regards to PITCHfx: 

"It would have also been nice to know exactly what I was giving hits up on over a period of time — the efficiency of certain pitches. What the rate was on my slider, my fastball, my splitter? Against right-handers, against left-handers. I would have really gotten into that data."

Of course, Cone gets paid to look into these things, but that hasn't stopped plenty of former athletes-turned color commentators from shunning the information. It's always nice to see former players embrace advanced statistics and not stick to a constant stream of Dibble-isms.