Amanda Knapp
Basketball is a sport with continuous scoring, and one way to measure a player's or team's efficiency is by calculating their points per minute (PPM). This metric helps coaches and analysts understand the pace of scoring and can be used to compare performances across different games or seasons. While PPM is most commonly used in basketball, it can also be adapted for specific analysis in other sports. The formula for calculating PPM is to take the total points scored and divide it by the total minutes played. This can then be normalised to a 36- or 40-minute scale, depending on the length of the game. Normalising stats allows for a fairer comparison between players by placing data on an equal scale.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Purpose | To calculate a player's efficiency during a game, which helps coaches and analysts understand the pace of scoring and can be used to compare performances across different games or seasons |
| Formula | Points per 40 = Total Points / (Total Minutes played / 40) |
| Other per-minute stats | Per-36 minute stats, per-possession stats, per-100-possession stats |
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What You'll Learn
Points per minute (PPM)
For example, let's consider two players, A and B, who play for 20 minutes each but have different point totals. Player A scores 10 points, while Player B scores 15 points. To calculate their PPM, we divide the total points by the time played:
For Player A: 10 points / 20 minutes = 0.5 points per minute
For Player B: 15 points / 20 minutes = 0.75 points per minute
So, Player B has a higher PPM, indicating they are scoring at a faster rate than Player A. This metric helps coaches make informed decisions about player rotations and strategies to improve the team's overall performance.
PPM can also be calculated for a full 40-minute basketball game. In this case, the formula would be Points per 40 minutes = Total Points / (Total Minutes played / 40). This calculation accounts for players who may not play the full game, providing a standardized metric for comparison.
It's worth noting that PPM is just one of many advanced statistics used in basketball. Others include per-36 minute stats, per-possession stats, and per-100-possession stats, each offering a different perspective on player and team performance. By analyzing these statistics, coaches and analysts can gain valuable insights to enhance decision-making and improve the team's competitiveness.
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Per-minute ratings
When it comes to basketball, per-minute ratings are an important way to evaluate players' performances. They provide a normalised scale to compare players' contributions, especially when they have differing playing times. This is useful for coaches and analysts to understand the pace of scoring and player productivity.
There are a few different ways to calculate per-minute ratings. One common method is to use a points per 40 minutes formula, which helps to account for the fact that players have varying minutes available to them to score points. The formula for this is Points per 40 = Total Points / (Total Minutes played / 40). For example, if a player scored 20 points in a game and played for 30 minutes, their points per 40 minutes would be 26.67 (20 / (30/40)).
Another popular per-minute rating is the Player Efficiency Rating (PER), developed by John Hollinger. This rating attempts to collect all of a player's contributions into one number, taking into account both positive and negative results. The positive results considered include field goals, free throws, 3-pointers, assists, rebounds, blocks, and steals, while the negative results include missed shots, turnovers, and personal fouls. The formula for PER is not publicly available but is said to be pace-adjusted and per-minute, allowing for comparisons between players with different playing times. The league-average PER is always set to 15.00, which permits comparisons across seasons.
Other per-minute ratings include per-36 minute stats, which are calculated by dividing 36 by the number of minutes played and then multiplying all of the player's stats by this number. However, these stats are less precise and can be unstable, especially for players who play more than 36 minutes. There are also per-possession stats and per-100 possession stats, which are more precise when comparing players, especially across different eras.
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Normalizing stats
One common method of normalizing stats in basketball is to calculate points per 36 minutes. This involves dividing 36 by the number of minutes a player actually played and then multiplying all of their stats by that number. For example, if Player A played 20 minutes and scored 10 points, their points per 36 minutes would be calculated as follows: 36/20 = 1.8, and then 10 x 1.8 = 18 points per 36 minutes. This normalization method is particularly useful when players have played more than 36 minutes, as it provides a more accurate comparison of their performance.
Another approach to normalizing stats is to use per-possession or per-100-possession statistics. By focusing on the number of possessions a player was involved in, these methods eliminate the differences in pace of play between teams or eras. Per-possession stats can be calculated by multiplying the per-possession number by 100. For example, if Player A was involved in 50 possessions and scored 100 points, their per-100-possession stat would be: 100 points / 50 possessions x 100 = 200 points per 100 possessions. This normalization method is especially useful for comparing players across different eras, as the pace of play has varied significantly over time.
In addition to points, other statistics such as blocks, rebounds, and assists can also be normalized. For example, when calculating blocks per 40 minutes, the total number of blocks is divided by the total minutes played and then multiplied by 40. This allows for a more accurate assessment of a player's contribution, particularly if they have played significantly fewer or more minutes than their peers.
Overall, normalizing stats in basketball is important for making meaningful comparisons between players, teams, and eras. By adjusting for factors such as playing time and pace of play, these normalized stats provide a more accurate representation of a player's or team's performance and impact on the game.
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Per-possession stats
There are a few different ways to calculate possession in basketball. One formula estimates possessions based on both the team's statistics and their opponent's statistics, then averages them to provide a more stable estimate. This formula is: 0.5 * ((Tm FGA + 0.4 * Tm FTA – 1.07 * (Tm ORB / (Tm ORB + Opp DRB)) * (Tm FGA – Tm FG) + Tm TOV) + (Opp FGA + 0.4 * Opp FTA – 1.07 * (Opp ORB / (Opp ORB + Tm DRB)) * (Opp FGA – Opp FG) + Opp TOV)).
Another way to calculate possession is to count every time a player:
- Attempts a field goal
- Misses a shot and does not get the offensive rebound
- Turns the ball over
- Goes to the line for two or three shots and either makes the last shot or does not get the rebound of a missed last shot.
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Per-game statistics
There are several different types of per-game statistics. One of the most common is per-36 minutes, which is the easiest to calculate but also the most imprecise. To calculate per-36-minute stats, you divide 36 by the number of minutes the player actually played, then take that number and multiply all of the player's stats by it. This type of stat is typically used when players play more than 36 minutes.
Another type of per-game statistic is per-40 minutes, which is used as an alternative to "per game" statistics. The formula for calculating points per 40 minutes is: Points per 40 = Total Points / (Total Minutes Played / 40). This type of stat can be useful for understanding a player's contributions in relation to the time they have to make those contributions. For example, a player might have a low points per game statistic, but when you look at their points per 40 minutes, you can see that when they play, they score.
Other types of per-game statistics include per-possession stats and per-100-possession stats. Per-possession stats are considered more precise when comparing players, especially across eras, as they are not subject to the same sample-size problems as 36-minute stats. Per-100-possession stats are also normalised and are calculated by multiplying the per-possession number by 100.
In addition to points, there are several other per-game statistics that are commonly tracked in basketball, including rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks. A player who makes double digits in a game in any two of these statistics is said to make a double-double; in three statistics, a triple-double; and in four statistics, a quadruple-double.
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Frequently asked questions
The formula is Points per 40 = Total Points/(Total Minutes played/40).
Calculating points per 40 minutes provides a measure of a player's efficiency during a game. It helps coaches and analysts understand the pace of scoring and can be used to compare performances across different games or seasons.
Other common per-minute ratings used in basketball include per-36 minute stats and per-possession stats.
To calculate per-36 minute stats, you divide 36 by the number of minutes played and then multiply that number by the player's stats.
Yes, one drawback is that minutes played may not always be the most accurate measure of activity in a basketball game. Additionally, per-minute stats can sometimes overlook other important factors such as a player's passion, teamwork, and impact on loose balls.
