Boxscore Help

[FromWayDowntown]

I don't often have questions about how to read a boxscore, but nba.com's boxscores for last night's game include two new columns: a self-explanatory +/- column for the game and then a column called "BA," located between blocks and points. I've stared at that column for about 5 minutes now trying to figure out what "BA" is, but I have no clue at all. I'm sure I'll kick myself later for having been unable to figure it out, but if anyone can shortcut it for me and just tell me what "BA" is, I'd be grateful.

[MI21]

Blocks against, I think.

[bdictjames]

Batting Average.

Just kidding, I really don't know.

[Bruno]

Blocks against, I think.

Yes.
You can notice that the BA total number for eon team is equal to the BS number for the other team.
In Europe, there is this stat for years. You have too the same thing with PF (PF made and PF against).

[whottt]

Yes.
You can notice that the BA total number for eon team is equal to the BS number for the other team.
In Europe, there is this stat for years. You have too the same thing with PF (PF made and PF against).

I like the Euroleagues stats better than American boxscores. I've mentioned several times over the years that the NBA should adopt these...especially PF made...or PF drawn I guess you could call it. Much more insightful...


I'm not a big fan of using +/- on a game by game basis though.

[MI21]

I didn't realise Euro boxscores had the PF Drawn in them. It's not in our local Australian League Box Scores, and we follow all FIBA rules etc I thought.

Anyway, it's a very good feature, would love to see it in NBA box scores.

[whottt]

I don't know if the boxscores in the newspapers have PF drawn in them...but online Euroleague boxscores usually do....


And you're right...it is a good feature, to me it's one of the most important stats...especially for a bigman. More important than blocks against, by far. I can't believe the NBA hasn't adopted it as a standard boxscore stat yet....still hasn't.

[FromWayDowntown]

Thanks!

[mystargtr34]

Yeh BA and the +/- are new additions...i like both but the +/- can be very misleading, especially during the regular season. Matt Bonner had a +10 while Duncan had a +5 .

Its fun to have it there though.

[whottt]

+/- isn't meant to be used as a primary stat...nor is it a stat that's accurate over a limited sample size...


For instance...last night, Matt Bonner and Darius Washington lead the team in that stat...

I can assure you, they were not the two best players on the court last night, and they did not have the biggest impact on the game in a positive fashion, although they did both play well...but they didn't play better than Tim Duncan and Tony Parker did...and Tony was +1 for the game.

Some stat analysts claim the smallest sample size that should ever be given much weight for +/- is a full season...some say it can't truly begin to be considered a realiable stat for judging individual impact until after 2 full regular seasons.


Supporting cast and role on the team have so much to do with that stat...


I think it's much more effective when used as a grouping stat...like figuring the +/- of various players on the court together, and then being used as a judge of how well they play together.