True Shooting %

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Coachc853
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Joined: Thu Oct 03, 2013 8:36 pm

True Shooting %

Post by Coachc853 »

I am a basketball coach at a college were we focus on a high volume very fast paced offense. I have read that we are able to calculate true Shooting % using the .44 number however I have the ability to use our play by play data for a more accurate number.That number might help in making some decision making in some very close position battles as conference rolls around. We where 5th in the nation in PPG and I am sure as many of you guys know that is because of our style of play, but we still had 4 shooters shooting between 31 and 35 percent. Good problem to have I guess.

Simplified question
"How do I calculate true shooting % using play by play information to get a more accurate number. Please and Thank you!
Mike G
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Joined: Fri Apr 15, 2011 12:02 am
Location: Asheville, NC

Re: True Shooting %

Post by Mike G »

Coach: A player's True true shooting% is his points per scoring attempt, divided by 2.
The .44 multiplier on FTA just estimates scoring attempts in the NBA.

There's still an ambiguity: A player attempting to score may not even get the shot off, if he turns it over. That would be a separate stat, what is known as Offensive Rating, or points per possession used.

With play by play, you should know a player's points and his scoring attempts. Whether it's a FGA, a FG + a FTA, 2 or 3 FTA -- these count as one scoring attempt in the denominator.

A technical FTA, or FTA and the ball out, do not count as a possession used.

EDIT: In college, you still have the 1-and-1, right? In this case, I guess a missed 1st FT is zero points from one scoring attempt. And this might be the biggest distinction between the estimated (.44*FTA = scoring attempts) and the actual.
Statman
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Re: True Shooting %

Post by Statman »

Coachc853 wrote:I am a basketball coach at a college were we focus on a high volume very fast paced offense. I have read that we are able to calculate true Shooting % using the .44 number however I have the ability to use our play by play data for a more accurate number.That number might help in making some decision making in some very close position battles as conference rolls around. We where 5th in the nation in PPG and I am sure as many of you guys know that is because of our style of play, but we still had 4 shooters shooting between 31 and 35 percent. Good problem to have I guess.

Simplified question
"How do I calculate true shooting % using play by play information to get a more accurate number. Please and Thank you!
I simply use Pts/(2*FGA+FTA) for college for the TS% I post in my college player rankings.

Referencing the bolded quote, honestly there's no reason to get THAT particular on the FTA value (.44, .47, or my .5) when looking at player performance with such a small sample size. You know the player's shooting form and tendencies (ability to draw fouls, create their own shot, effective range, etc) - it is very possible for a kid in ten games to be, say, 55% - and in the future be a much more efficient scoring option than a kid at 60% after 10 games. Sample size.
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