New research using professional basketball statistics shows the small forward is the make-or-break position in the NBA.
In the current issue of the Journal of Quantitative Analysis of Sports (http://www.bepress.com/jqas/), Brigham Young University statisticians compare the value of 13 box score statistics across the five player positions to see how much each contributed to winning games. Peeling back the complexity of the game, the study shines the spotlight on small forwards who serve up assists to their teammates and protect the ball.


I thought it was cool to see this come from my very own Brigham Young University. There were some other interesting conclusions reported. Here's the article:

BYU News - Release (http://byunews.byu.edu/archive07-Nov-NBAstats.aspx)

Here's the link to the report itself:

Journal of Quantitative Analysis in Sports (http://www.bepress.com/jqas/vol3/iss4/1/)

You have to click the download link to see the full report.

GO COUGARS!!! (AND PISTONS :MusicBigGrin:)

That's a facinating study, and I would think very valuable to NBA coaches.

But I do see a couple of inconsistencies in the results. If lots of assists and few turns at SF help a team win, and if Luke Walton is one of the best SFs in the League in dishing assists and protecting the ball, then why weren't the Lakers better last year.

The same goes for Josh Childress and the Hawks. If Defensive rebounding at SG is so important, and Chidress was the Leauge leader at that position, then why weren't the Hawks better?

Just playing devil's advocate...

Could be correct in what they say however

Show time was led by Magic and Kareem
Bad Boys in 1989-90were led by Zeke Joe D. and Laimbeer.
The Bulls were led by Michael and Pippen but mostly Michael
The Rockets in 1994-95 were led by Hakeem, Thorpe and Maxwell
The Spurs in 1999 were led by The Admiral and Tim Duncan
The Lakers in 2000-2002 were led by Shaq and Kobe
The Spurs in 2003 were led by Duncan and Parker
The Pistons in 2004 were led by Big Ben and C-Bill
The Spurs in 2005 were led by Duncan and Parker
The Heat in 2006 were led by Shaq and D. Wade
The Spurs in 2007 were led by Duncan and Parker

In the last 20 plus years in the NBA there has been only title team that was led by a small forward and Pippen's role in the playoffs those years more than came into question.

So there has been only one small forward in over the last twenty years who was been the second leading figure on that team the year they won the title, with no small forwards being the best player on that team that won.

Having at least one great guard along with a great #4 or #5 has been the winning NBA formula for at least the last 20 plus years except for the Jordan Bulls. Even though Pippen has been ranked as in top 50 all time, I have often wondered just how good history would have recorded his game if he hadn't played with Michael during the prime years of their careers.

:hoops:

Could be correct in what they say however

Show time was led by Magic and Kareem
Bad Boys in 1989-90were led by Zeke Joe D. and Laimbeer.
The Bulls were led by Michael and Pippen but mostly Michael
The Rockets in 1994-95 were led by Hakeem, Thorpe and Maxwell
The Spurs in 1999 were led by The Admiral and Tim Duncan
The Lakers in 2000-2002 were led by Shaq and Kobe
The Spurs in 2003 were led by Duncan and Parker
The Pistons in 2004 were led by Big Ben and C-Bill
The Spurs in 2005 were led by Duncan and Parker
The Heat in 2006 were led by Shaq and D. Wade
The Spurs in 2007 were led by Duncan and Parker

In the last 20 plus years in the NBA there has been only title team that was led by a small forward and Pippen's role in the playoffs those years more than came into question.

So there has been only one small forward in over the last twenty years who was been the second leading figure on that team the year they won the title, with no small forwards being the best player on that team that won.

Having at least one great guard along with a great #4 or #5 has been the winning NBA formula for at least the last 20 plus years except for the Jordan Bulls. Even though Pippen has been ranked as in top 50 all time, I have often wondered just how good history would have recorded his game if he hadn't played with Michael during the prime years of their careers.

:hoops:
Good points all.

And not only that, but the team that has dominated the NBA in the modern era, the Spurs, starts Bruce Bowen, who is a defensive specialist, and who doesn't register many assists.

I would guess that BYU's bball team will be a powerhouse now that they have figured out the secret.

I would guess that BYU's bball team will be a powerhouse now that they have figured out the secret.

We'll find out soon. Last exhibition game is tonight. :MusicBigGrin: