Weighing Efficiency by Position

[delfam]

Hi All, First time poster. Just getting into statistics and had a question on weighing by position.

I use a simple formula to figure out how efficient an offensive player is:

[2PM(2)+3PM(3)+FTM] / [2PA(2)+3PA(3)+FTA]

this basically gets how efficient someone is with scoring. The thing is that Centers and Fowards are going to be more efficient as they score mostly in the paint.

Do you guys use a weighting system to compare players no matter their position, or is it just easier to compare players with the same position?

[Crow]

Hi. It depends on your objective. Probably best to look at / weigh both. Shooting efficiency is one thing. I'd look at scoring efficiency (with FTAs and makes) and overall offensive efficiency too (with at least turnovers and preferably with assists and offensive rebounds as well).

[Mike G]

That formula looks like Points in the numerator.
In the denominator, a 3-pt attempt counts as 1.5 FGA ? Why is a missed 3fga 50% worse than a missed 2fga?

http://www.basketball-reference.com/about/glossary.html
Check out the definition of TS%.

For more examination, look into ORtg.
As Crow mentions, Ast, TO, and OReb are also known offensive inputs.

[Crow]

I missed the fta & ftm, I guess.

[delfam]

That formula looks like Points in the numerator.
In the denominator, a 3-pt attempt counts as 1.5 FGA ? Why is a missed 3fga 50% worse than a missed 2fga?

http://www.basketball-reference.com/about/glossary.html
Check out the definition of TS%.

For more examination, look into ORtg.
As Crow mentions, Ast, TO, and OReb are also known offensive inputs.

Guess I should have been more specific, it was more of a shooting efficiecy and not just offensive. Just takes into account how possible points they scored and divided it by how many points they could have scored.

Why wouldn't TS% just be PPG divided by Possible Points Per Game?

[Mike G]

Taking only 3pt shots doesn't create more 'possible points' than taking some layups and dunks. The guy with a wide open layup should seldom pass it outside for a possible 3rd point on the play.
On avg, 3 pt shots are made at .353 and 2pt at .493. More FT are produced when taking (or attempting to take) a 2 ptr, and they are made at .767.

TS% simply scales all points/attempts to FG%, which is the avg likelihood that 2 points are scored in one scoring attempt. So a made 3 has a TS% of 1.500 -- it's a basket and a half.
On average, a FTA is about .44 of a scoring attempt (TSA)