New thread topics you'd like see this summer?

[Crow]

What thread topics would you like to see? You don't necessarily have to initiate that thread or even participate beyond reading... but what do you think would be interesting / valuable to read?

[Mike G]

Wanton proliferation of threads is not desirable. Topics that go nowhere, or are redundant, just bury those with analysis and discussions.

[NateTG]

I'd like to know about ways to get access to the raw SportsVU data.

Will we ever see objective standards for blocks and assists (including 'hockey assists') using something like the SportsVU data?

Can we do injury prevention and detection with the SportsVU data?

In general, I'm much more interested in testable predictive statistics than the tautological explanatory stuff.

Anything that deals with stuff that happens off the ball and away from the rim.

The Cavs did a good deal of deliberate clock management in the finals. Can we tell if it mattered, how often does that happen, and which teams do it the best?

What's the most efficient way to scale up player minutes for the playoffs? Can time outs and deliberate fouls be used to help with that?

[Crow]

I share an interest in using timeouts and fouls strategically to keep stars on court and not overly winded.

Perhaps it is somewhat more beneficial to have other guys good at getting to the line on court getting usage with star after he has been out there 6-8 minutes than primarily shooters. Perhaps you want to do some run n gun early, but not crazy too much, then bring in stouter defense and maybe slow it down a bit. Fouls given before the shot are a resource to be used wisely and preferably not so early.

Even if you ultimately use a similar total set of other players and play decisions over a game, when you use them can have impacts on star energy/productivity and the team results.

[NateTG]

I share an interest in using timeouts and fouls strategically to keep stars on court and not overly winded.

Perhaps it is somewhat more beneficial to have other guys good at getting to the line on court getting usage with star after he has been out there 6-8 minutes than primarily shooters. Perhaps you want to do some run n gun early, but not crazy too much, then bring in stouter defense and maybe slow it down a bit. Fouls given before the shot are a resource to be used wisely and preferably not so early.

"Not overly winded" seems like it's aiming a bit low when you could be looking for optimal advantage or optimal performance. A fun thing to consider is whether, a home team that thinks they have a conditioning and depth advantage might call an immediate time-out at the start of the game to pre-empt the mandatory time-out. Of course, if it were available one of the things to start with would be to see how players' abilities change in response to exertion and rest in the SportVU data.

[Crow]

What changes to PER, WS, BPM, EWins or RPM would have made them perform better last season, or more importantly, next season? Some formulas have stayed the same and / or not predicted is well as hoped. Some have shown willingness to change and change intelligently. How good did DRE do?

Further predictive testing sputtered out again but retro testing is still available and easier & quicker.
Not as certain to guide the way forward but probably could give some helpful guidance.

Blended metrics remain an available option that might be wise to see and use more often.

[Crow]

Yes, one can try to conserve / frugally use your key clogs and minimally necessary depth and / or work parts of the opposition harder. Breaking out of typical rotation pattern could allow some of one or both.