
Defensive Win Shares (DWS) in basketball is a player statistic that attributes credit to players based on their ability to prevent opposing teams from scoring. It is calculated by estimating the number of points allowed per 100 defensive possessions. This calculation involves various other statistics, including minutes played, league points per possession, defensive rating, blocked shots, defensive rebounds, steals, and more. Defensive Win Shares are credited using the formula: (marginal defense) / (marginal points per win). The intention behind the creation of Win Shares was to build a unified measure that encapsulates a player’s offensive and defensive contributions into a single statistic.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Calculating Defensive Win Shares | (marginal defense) / (marginal points per win) |
| Marginal points per win | 0.32 * (league points per game) * ((team pace) / (league pace)) |
| Team marginal defense | 1.08 * (league points per shot attempt) * (team field goal attempts + 0.44 * (team free throw attempts)) - (opponent points) |
| Player's share of the team's marginal defense | 0.25 * ((minutes played) / (team minutes played)) + 0.5 * ((total rebounds) / (team total rebounds)) + 0.25 * ((assists) / (team assists)) |
| Defensive Win Shares dependence | minutes played, defensive rebounds, steals, and blocks |
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What You'll Learn

Marginal points per win
The calculation of Marginal Points per Win involves multiplying the league points per game by the team's pace and then dividing it by the league pace. This calculation can vary slightly depending on the specific league and season being analysed. For example, for the 2008-09 Cavaliers, the formula would be: 0.32 * 100.0 * (88.7 / 91.7) = 30.95.
Once the Marginal Points per Win is calculated, it serves as a denominator in the formula for determining Defensive Win Shares. Defensive Win Shares are calculated by dividing the player's Marginal Defence by the Marginal Points per Win. This calculation distributes credit for defensive performance among the players.
For example, let's consider LeBron James' performance during the 2008-09 season. His defensive contribution resulted in 202.5 Marginal Defence points. Using the Marginal Points per Win value calculated earlier, we can determine his Defensive Win Shares: 202.5 / 30.95 = 6.54 Defensive Win Shares.
It is worth noting that prior to the 1973-74 season, the NBA did not track defensive rebounds, steals, or blocks, making the allocation of defensive credit more challenging. As a result, alternative methods or proxy statistics may be necessary for calculating Defensive Win Shares for seasons prior to the implementation of these tracking measures.
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Player's share of team's marginal defense
Defensive Win Shares (DWS) are calculated using the formula: (marginal defence) / (marginal points per win). Marginal defence is calculated as follows: (player minutes played / team minutes played) x (team defensive possessions) x (1.08 x (league points per possession) - (defensive rating / 100)).
The player's share of the team's marginal defence is calculated using the following formula: 0.25 x ((minutes played) / (team minutes played)) + 0.5 x ((total rebounds) / (team total rebounds)) + 0.25 x ((assists) / (team assists)).
Modern Defensive Win Shares are most dependent on minutes played, defensive rebounds, steals, and blocks. Defensive Win Shares are credited to players based on Dean Oliver's Defensive Rating, which estimates the player's points allowed per 100 defensive possessions.
The calculation of a player's share of their team's marginal defence recognises that basketball defence is both an individual and a team act. It is challenging to precisely value each player's defensive contribution, as it is influenced by factors beyond their control, such as the quality of their teammates' defence.
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Defensive rating
The defensive rating of a player is calculated as the number of points allowed per 100 defensive possessions. This statistic provides a quantifiable measure of a player's defensive performance, indicating how many points they concede while on the court.
The DWS formula, as mentioned earlier, is calculated by dividing the defensive rating by the league defensive rating and then multiplying the result by the team defensive win shares divided by the team defensive rating. This calculation helps to determine the defensive contribution of a player relative to the league and their team's defensive performance.
While defensive rating is a crucial aspect of DWS, it's important to note that DWS also considers other defensive factors and adjusts for the pace of play. This comprehensive approach ensures that DWS provides a more holistic evaluation of a player's defensive impact on their team.
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Offensive and defensive contributions
Defensive Win Shares (DWS) is a statistic that attributes credit to players based on their ability to prevent opposing teams from scoring. A player's DWS is calculated by estimating the number of points allowed per 100 defensive possessions. This calculation involves various other statistics, including minutes played, league points per possession, defensive rating, blocked shots, defensive rebounds, steals, contested shots, and forced turnovers.
Offensive Win Shares (OWS), on the other hand, are credited to players based on Dean Oliver's points produced and offensive possessions. The Marginal Offense formula is used to calculate OWS: Points Produced by the player – 0.92 x League average points per possession x Player’s offensive possessions. This formula takes into account the player's individual production and compares it to the league average to determine their offensive contribution.
The Win Share (WS) metric combines both offensive and defensive contributions to evaluate the overall impact of a basketball player on their team's success. It is calculated by first determining the team's offensive and defensive ratings, which are the points produced or allowed per 100 possessions, respectively. The Marginal Offense and Marginal Defense formulas are then applied to determine the player's contribution to the team's success. Finally, the player's Win Share is calculated by comparing their marginal offense and defense values with the league averages.
It is important to note that the calculation of Win Shares is a complex and multi-step process that involves several statistics. The specific formulas and weights assigned to each statistic may vary depending on the source and the specific league or season being analyzed. Additionally, the availability of certain statistics may impact the calculation, and adjustments may be necessary for past seasons where certain data was not officially tracked.
By integrating various aspects of a player's performance, Win Shares provide a comprehensive metric for evaluating and comparing the contributions of basketball players. This statistic can be used by team management, bettors, and analysts to assess the value of players and make more informed decisions.
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Minutes played
In simple terms, Minutes Played directly influences Defensive Win Shares because it sets the timeframe for a player's defensive impact. Longer playing time offers more opportunities to make defensive plays, contest shots, grab rebounds, and create turnovers. Consequently, a player with more minutes played will generally have a greater capacity to accumulate defensive stats and, thus, increase their Defensive Win Shares.
However, Minutes Played isn't solely about quantity. The quality of a player's defense during those minutes is essential. A player who consistently demonstrates strong defensive skills and helps their team concede fewer points during their time on the court will have a more significant impact on the game. This impact is reflected in their Defensive Win Shares.
The distribution of Minutes Played across a team's roster is also a factor. In basketball, substitutions and rotations are common, and different players may have varying roles. Some players might be specialists brought in for specific defensive assignments, while others could be starters who play more balanced minutes. As a result, Minutes Played helps contextualize a player's defensive production and their overall contribution to the team's defense.
In summary, Minutes Played is a critical component in calculating Defensive Win Shares in basketball. It sets the timeframe for a player's defensive impact, influences their opportunity to accumulate defensive stats, and provides context for their overall defensive performance and contribution to the team's success.
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Frequently asked questions
Defensive win shares (DWS) are a player statistic that attributes credit to players based on their ability to prevent opposing teams from scoring.
A player’s defensive win share is calculated by estimating the number of points allowed per 100 defensive possessions. This is a complex calculation that involves other statistics, including minutes played, league points per possession, defensive rating, defensive rebounds, steals, and blocks.
Marginal points per win is calculated using the following formula: 0.5 * (division points per game) * ((team pace) / (division pace)).
Win shares are a comprehensive metric used to evaluate the overall impact of a basketball player on their team’s success. Defensive win shares are one aspect of this, alongside offensive win shares.
Defensive win shares do not take into account certain defensive contributions such as contested shots and forced turnovers. Additionally, prior to the 1973-74 NBA season, the league did not track defensive rebounds, steals, or blocks, so allocating defensive credit for seasons prior to this is more difficult.











































