Editor’s Note: This is the latest entry in our series on NBA Shot Quality by Seth Partnow, our NBA data analytics expert.
Why should we care about shot quality? Well, because “expectations” don’t show up on the scoresheet and there is no prize for best shot selection.
The answer illustrates the main dichotomy powering a lot of statistical debate and analysis; are we trying to describe what has already happened, or predict what will happen in the future? Obviously the former is much easier than the latter, but a lot of what we’re doing when breaking down basketball games, especially in the regular season, is trying to better understand the “why’s” of success and failure. With that knowledge in tow, one at least stands a better chance of determining what is likely to happen in the future.
