Amanda Knapp
In basketball, a player's efficiency is a commonly used statistical benchmark for comparing the overall value of players. The most widely used metric for this is the Player Efficiency Rating (PER), developed by ESPN basketball statistician John Hollinger. However, the calculation for PER is very complex. As a result, a common alternative is the EFF, which is a quicker way to calculate a player's efficiency. This is calculated by adding up positive statistics (points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks) and subtracting negative statistics (missed field goals, missed free throws, and turnovers).
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Full Form | Player Efficiency Rating (PER) |
| Creator | John Hollinger |
| Purpose | To put an all-encompassing value on a player's production |
| Calculation | Sum of positive stats minus negative stats, adjusted to a per-minute basis |
| Positive Stats | Field goals, free throws, 3-pointers, assists, rebounds, blocks, steals |
| Negative Stats | Missed shots, turnovers, personal fouls |
| Average PER | 15.00 |
| PER Applications | Comparison of players across seasons, evaluation of role players, determining impact of injuries |
| Limitations | More focused on offense than defense, not suitable for historical comparisons |
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What You'll Learn
Positive and negative actions
Positive actions refer to a player's accomplishments, such as points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks. These are the offensive actions that contribute to a team's success. For example, points are awarded for successful field goals, free throws, and 3-pointers. Rebounds refer to a player's ability to recover a missed shot, either by their team or their opponents, which can provide another scoring opportunity. Assists are passes that enable a teammate to score, demonstrating a player's ability to create scoring chances for others. Steals and blocks are defensive actions that can lead to scoring opportunities or prevent an opponent from scoring, respectively.
Negative actions, on the other hand, detract from a team's performance and include missed shots, turnovers, and personal fouls. Missed shots, including missed field goals and missed free throws, indicate a player's inability to convert scoring opportunities. Turnovers refer to when a player loses possession of the ball, either through a poor pass, a violation, or having the ball stolen by an opponent. Personal fouls are infractions of the rules that can lead to penalties, free throws for the opposing team, or even ejection from the game.
Efficiency ratings, such as the Player Efficiency Rating (PER) and the simpler Efficiency (EFF), aim to quantify a player's overall contribution by summing up their positive actions and subtracting the negative ones. This results in a single number that represents their performance, adjusted for playing time and the pace of the game.
While these metrics provide valuable insights, they have limitations. For instance, they may overweight offensive contributions over defensive ones, and they don't always account for the varying styles of play and team strategies. As a result, efficiency ratings should be considered alongside other performance indicators to fully evaluate a player's impact on the game.
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Adjusting for pace
The pace factor formula helps estimate the number of possessions per 48 minutes by a team. It is calculated as 48 * ((Tm Poss + Opp Poss) / (2 * (Tm MP / 5))), where Tm Poss is the team's possessions, Opp Poss is the opponent's possessions, and Tm MP is the team's total minutes played. By considering the number of possessions, the pace factor accounts for the different styles of play and game speeds.
The estimated pace adjustment formula further refines the PER calculation. It is calculated as 2 * lg_PPG / (team_PPG + opp_PPG), where lg_PPG represents the league points per game, team_PPG represents the team's points per game, and opp_PPG represents the opponent's points per game. This adjustment accounts for the scoring environment and the pace at which points are scored.
Additionally, the PER calculation takes into account both positive and negative results. Positive results include field goals, free throws, 3-pointers, assists, rebounds, blocks, and steals. On the other hand, negative results such as missed shots, turnovers, and personal fouls are subtracted from the positive statistics. By considering both positive and negative contributions, the PER provides a comprehensive evaluation of a player's performance relative to the pace of the game.
The final step in adjusting for pace is standardizing the PER to set the league average to 15.00. This standardization allows for comparisons between players across different seasons and teams, ensuring that players on faster-paced or slower-paced teams are evaluated consistently.
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PER vs EFF
The Player Efficiency Rating (PER) is a statistic created by former Memphis Grizzlies Vice President of Basketball Operations, John Hollinger, that attempts to boil down all of a basketball player's contributions into one number. It measures a player's per-minute performance, taking into account positive and negative results, including field goals, free throws, 3-pointers, assists, rebounds, blocks, steals, missed shots, turnovers, and personal fouls. The formula adds positive stats and subtracts negative ones through a statistical point value system, with the league-average PER set to 15.00. This allows for comparisons of player performance across seasons.
EFF, short for Efficiency, is another metric used to assess a basketball player's total performance. It is calculated by adding up the positive actions (points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks) and subtracting the negative actions (missed field goals, missed free throws, and turnovers). Like PER, it is often used to assess a player's performance over a season or their entire career. However, one drawback of EFF is that it is heavily focused on offense and does not provide much insight into a player's defensive capabilities.
While both metrics are useful in evaluating player performance, they have distinct advantages and limitations. PER provides a more comprehensive view of a player's contributions by considering a wider range of factors and adjusting for pace. On the other hand, EFF offers a simpler and quicker way to assess a player's efficiency, particularly on offense.
When comparing players from different generations using PER, it is important to consider rule changes and differences in statistical data collection across eras. For example, some players like Wilt Chamberlain and Bill Russell played before the introduction of the three-point shot, blocks, and steals as official statistics. Therefore, direct comparisons using PER between players from different eras may not be entirely accurate.
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Calculating PER
The Player Efficiency Rating (PER) is a per-minute rating developed by ESPN.com columnist John Hollinger. It is a method of determining a player's impact on the game by measuring their per-minute performance. In Hollinger's own words: "The PER sums up all a player's positive accomplishments, subtracts the negative accomplishments, and returns a per-minute rating of a player's performance."
The PER is computed using a detailed, complex formula that, in essence, adds positive stats such as rebounds, assists, and steals, and subtracts negative stats such as missed shots or turnovers. The formula is considered too complicated by some, and John Hollinger's book, 'Pro Basketball Forecast', is a resource for those seeking a more in-depth look at PER calculation.
Despite the complexity, the PER is one of the best basketball stats available. It provides a snapshot of where players stand in relation to one another, and top players can typically be found near the top of the list. It is also useful for determining the value of injuries. For example, it can be used to assess the impact of a player's absence on the game and betting line.
The PER has some limitations, however. One common criticism is that defensive specialists are often undervalued due to the lack of reliable defensive stats in the formula. Additionally, the PER is an individual metric, which can be challenging to apply to a team sport like basketball.
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PER applications
Player Efficiency Rating (PER) is a per-minute rating developed by ESPN columnist and former Memphis Grizzlies Vice President of Basketball Operations, John Hollinger. It is a one-number measure of a player's per-minute productivity, which sums up all of a player's positive and negative accomplishments. The league-average PER is always 15.00, which permits comparisons of player performance across seasons.
PER is computed using a detailed, complex formula that adds positive stats such as rebounds, assists, and steals, and subtracts negative stats such as missed shots or turnovers. It takes into account positive results, including field goals, free throws, 3-pointers, assists, rebounds, blocks, and steals. Negative results include missed shots, turnovers, and personal fouls. The formula adds positive stats and subtracts negative ones through a statistical point value system.
PER is a useful tool for players, coaches, and analysts to evaluate a player's performance and potential contribution to the team. It is also used to compare players from different generations, although some critics argue that it gives undue weight to a player's contribution in limited minutes and undervalues players with a diverse skill set.
While PER is a popular metric, it is not without its limitations. For example, it largely measures offensive performance, and the defensive statistics it incorporates, such as blocks and steals, can produce a distorted picture of a player's defensive abilities. Additionally, it may reward inefficient shooting and favour players whose teams play a fast-break style with more possessions and offensive opportunities.
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