Understanding Basketball Statistics

Overview

WOAC Report tracks a variety of basketball statistics to help you understand team and player performance. This guide covers both traditional counting stats and advanced analytics.

Traditional Statistics

These are the fundamental stats you'll see in every box score.

Scoring Stats

Rebounding Stats

Why rebounds matter:

• Offensive rebounds extend possessions and create second-chance points
• Defensive rebounds end opponent possessions and prevent extra chances

Other Stats

Advanced Statistics

These metrics provide deeper insights into performance by combining traditional stats in meaningful ways.

Earned Points Per Possession (EPPP)

EPPP measures offensive efficiency by calculating how many points a team earns from field goals per possession.

Formula

EPPP = (2 × 2PM + 3 × 3PM) / Possessions

Where:

• 2PM = Two-point field goals made
• 3PM = Three-point field goals made
• Possessions = Estimated possessions (see Pace)

Why EPPP Matters

EPPP focuses on "earned" points from actual shooting, excluding free throws. This tells you:

• Shot selection quality - Are they taking good shots?
• Execution - Are they converting opportunities?
• Pure offensive efficiency - Independent of foul drawing

Interpreting EPPP

Example Calculation

A team scores:

• 20 two-pointers (40 points)
• 8 three-pointers (24 points)
• In 55 possessions

EPPP = (2×20 + 3×8) / 55
     = (40 + 24) / 55
     = 64 / 55
     = 1.16

An EPPP of 1.16 is exceptional - this team earns 1.16 points per possession from field goals alone.

EPPP vs Points Per Game

A team might have high PPG but average EPPP if they:

• Play very fast (more possessions)
• Get to the free throw line often
• Have inconsistent shooting

Conversely, a team with lower PPG but high EPPP:

• Plays deliberately (fewer possessions)
• Maximizes each opportunity
• Has excellent shot selection

Possessions and Pace

Possessions are estimated using this formula:

Possessions = FGA - ORB + TO + (0.44 × FTA)

Pace normalizes possessions to a 32-minute regulation game:

Pace = Possessions × (32 / game minutes)

For more details, see Understanding the Pace Metric.

Offensive Production Rating (OPR)

OPR combines efficiency and pace to show total offensive output:

OPR = EPPP × Pace

This tells you how many earned points a team expects to produce per game. For more details, see Understanding OPR.

Per-Game Averages

Most stats can be viewed as totals or per-game averages:

• PPG = Points Per Game
• RPG = Rebounds Per Game
• APG = Assists Per Game
• SPG = Steals Per Game
• BPG = Blocks Per Game
• TPG = Turnovers Per Game

Per-game averages help compare players and teams who have played different numbers of games.

Splits and Contextual Stats

We provide stats broken down by context:

Home vs Away

How does performance differ based on location?

• Home splits - Stats when playing at home
• Away splits - Stats when playing on the road

Many teams perform better at home due to:

• Familiarity with the court
• Crowd support
• No travel fatigue

Conference vs Non-Conference

How does performance differ by opponent type?

• Conference splits - Stats against WOAC opponents
• Non-Conference splits - Stats against outside opponents

This helps assess how a team performs against their primary competition.

Using Stats Effectively

Context Matters

Always consider context when evaluating stats:

1. Pace affects volume - Fast teams have more possessions, which means more opportunities for everything (points, rebounds, turnovers)

2. Competition level - Stats against weaker opponents may be inflated

3. Playing time - In high school, we don't have official minutes, so per-game stats may vary based on how much a player was on the court

4. Sample size - Early in the season, averages may be skewed by a small number of games

Combining Stats

The best analysis combines multiple stats:

• High points + low FG% = Volume scorer who takes many shots
• High assists + low turnovers = Efficient playmaker
• High EPPP + low pace = Methodical, efficient team
• High pace + moderate EPPP = Up-tempo team that creates opportunities

Where to Find Stats

Team Pages

Each team page shows:

• Season averages for all traditional stats
• Advanced metrics (EPPP, OPR, Pace)
• Home/Away and Conference/Non-Conference splits
• Game-by-game results

Player Pages

Individual player pages display:

• Season totals and per-game averages
• HG-TPS Performance Score
• Game log with stats from each game
• Career statistics (when available)

Box Scores

After each game, box scores show:

• Individual player stats for that game
• Team totals
• HG-TPS scores for standout performances

Analytics Page

The Team Analytics page (/teams/analytics) provides:

• Side-by-side comparison of all teams
• EPPP, OPR, Pace, and HG-TPS metrics
• Sortable columns to find league leaders

Common Questions

Q: Why don't you show player minutes?

A: High school box scores typically don't include official playing time. Our analytics are designed to work without minutes data by using team-level and per-game metrics.

Q: How is FG% calculated?

A: Field Goal Percentage = FGM / FGA × 100. This includes both 2-point and 3-point attempts.

Q: What's the difference between FGM and "2-pointers made"?

A: FGM includes all field goals (2s and 3s combined). "2-pointers made" (2PM) specifically refers to shots inside the three-point line.

Q: Why might stats differ from other sources?

A: All our data comes from woacsports.com. Minor differences with other sources may occur due to timing of updates or different data entry methods.

Related Help Articles

• Understanding the Pace Metric - Deep dive into game tempo
• Understanding OPR - Offensive production explained
• Understanding the Performance Score - HG-TPS for evaluating complete performances

Need more help? Contact our support team with any questions about statistics.