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Dean Oliver @deanolytics.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Best WNBA's by quarter. (I always find this interesting)

Dean Oliver @deanolytics.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

The Sixers have a lot of "super-users", players who shoot a lot. The NBA history of teams with so many of them has a lot of LeBron teams. What can we see in that history? www.espn.com/nba/story/_/...

espn.com

NBA preview 2026-27: Can the 76ers solve their 'super-user' puzzle?

LeBron, Maxey, Brown, Embiid. Can the 76ers' high-usage stars make it work? Here's what history reveals.

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Dean Oliver @deanolytics.bsky.social · 26/06/2026

These are the key players who had synergy with LaMelo Ball last year. Knueppel and Bridges shot markedly better on passes from him vs from Coby White. Miller was the opposite. But shot quality was higher for all on passes from Ball.

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Dean Oliver @deanolytics.bsky.social · 11/06/2026

The Spurs hot starts vs the Knicks steady climb back, by quarter. - Towns is at his best in Q2/3 - Wemby does well in Q1, struggles in Q2 - OG is Q4 hero

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Dean Oliver @deanolytics.bsky.social · 11/06/2026

Series MVP after each game - It was KAT after each of the first three games - Now it's OG, who was 2nd after G 3 espnanalytics.com/nba-award-le...

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Dean Oliver @deanolytics.bsky.social · 11/06/2026

The Spurs shot quality was 44% in the second half. It was the lowest they've posted in any half all year long. (GeniusIQ, QSQ)

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Dean Oliver @deanolytics.bsky.social · 04/06/2026

Echoing Greeny's point on Get Up, Josh Hart came out just ahead of KAT as having the most net points last night...despite scoring only 3 points. espnanalytics.com/nba-box?id=2...

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Reposted by Dean Oliver

Ben Alamar @benalamar.bsky.social · 29/05/2026

If you like sports data, be sure to check out espnanalytics.com @deanolytics.bsky.social @sethwalder.bsky.social and the entire ESPN Analytics team have put together some very cool and insightful data products.

espnanalytics.com

ESPN Analytics

Models and data visualization from ESPN Analytics. NBA & NFL Draft, schedule analysis, receiver scores and more.

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Dean Oliver @deanolytics.bsky.social · 27/05/2026

The original reference for stats and lampposts was this from Andrew Lang: "Most people use statistics like a drunk man uses a lamppost; more for support than illumination." I try to use stats for illumination. It actually bugs me when people look to stats only for support.

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Dean Oliver @deanolytics.bsky.social · 27/05/2026

Since the Knicks' players-only meeting on January 19, the Knicks' starters improved a lot on defense. Brunson declined some on offense, but was overall improved.

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Dean Oliver @deanolytics.bsky.social · 27/05/2026

From the time the Spurs were up 8 in Q1 to the end of Q2 when OKC was up 11, this is the list of contributors. Caruso had most of his value in that run.

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Dean Oliver @deanolytics.bsky.social · 27/05/2026

In the halfcourt, Wemby's matchups are shooting 19/37 from 3 in this series (GeniusIQ). He's obviously contributing in other ways on D, but that is relevant. Most of that is Caruso, with some Wallace. In SA wins, the team allows an 86 DRTG with him on. In losses, it's 118.

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Dean Oliver @deanolytics.bsky.social · 27/05/2026

If the Thunder had won the series 3-2, Alex Caruso would be the MVP. But it's not over. espnanalytics.com/nba-award-le...

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Dean Oliver @deanolytics.bsky.social · 22/05/2026

The Knicks' starters last night all had positive Net Pts on both sides of the ball. That happened in 27 other games across the league this year. The Knicks have 6 of those 28, most in the league, all but one since February Their starters are gelling. espnanalytics.com/nba-box?id=2...

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Dean Oliver @deanolytics.bsky.social · 21/05/2026

Last night's Hero, MVP, LVP, Cleanup Crew, Glass Cleaner. With the injuries, though, we may need to add awards for the trainers, who do an amazing job and usually quietly. We'll see who can play next game. espnanalytics.com/nba-box?id=2...

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Dean Oliver @deanolytics.bsky.social · 21/05/2026

I found this quote from SGA interesting: "Every team has their identity. And when they impose their identity more than the other team does, they usually win." "Identity" = things you do well enough that you can fall back on them. Good teams spend a long while building that.

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Dean Oliver @deanolytics.bsky.social · 21/05/2026

Last night was the Spurs worst defensive game of the playoffs. Not for lack of effort, for sure. It wasn't transition or putbacks, it was halfcourt. Worst G vs HC 2s 4th worst vs 3s 2nd worst DREB 3rd worst TOVs espnanalytics.com/nba-team-4FA...

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Dean Oliver @deanolytics.bsky.social · 19/05/2026

Last night, Wemby allowed 7/10 shooting and 6 three-pointers to Alex Caruso (per GeniusIQ) and he *still* had +5.3 defensive net points, which is in the top 1% of all player games. That is crazy help defense. espnanalytics.com/nba-box?id=2...

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Dean Oliver @deanolytics.bsky.social · 18/05/2026

Awards from yesterday: - Sam Merrill and Evan Mobley each had their 3rd best game of the year - Donovan Mitchell had his season high in passing net points yesterday with +3.1 - Jalen Duren had 6 of his worst 12 games in the playoffs espnanalytics.com/nba-box?id=2...

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Dean Oliver @deanolytics.bsky.social · 14/05/2026

These are the most inconsistent players in the playoffs, using +2 and -2 net points as delineation of good, average, and bad. - Highlighted players are still alive - Donovan Mitchell and De'Aaron Fox have been noticeably inconsistent - the first OKC player is at #81.

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Dean Oliver @deanolytics.bsky.social · 13/05/2026

This is the net points timeline for last night's game - You can see Wemby's first quarter burst - See Keldon Johnson in the second half of Q3 - See De'Aaron Fox, mostly for comparison

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Dean Oliver @deanolytics.bsky.social · 12/05/2026

Best and worst awards for the OKC win over the Lakers. - Ajay Mitchell gets MVP and Heater of the game - SGA gets the Contact Artist award - LeBron's double-double doesn't make the list espnanalytics.com/nba-box?id=2...

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Dean Oliver @deanolytics.bsky.social · 12/05/2026

Donovan Mitchell's Q3 was the second best Q in the playoffs, best offensive Q, producing +10.2 Net Pts overall and +9.1 on offense. But... Mitchell actually did it in under 8 minutes and it was the best performance in a Q per minute all year (minimum 10 possessions). That's a steep yellow line

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Dean Oliver @deanolytics.bsky.social · 11/05/2026

Embiid's perfect night shooting in combination with a +/- of -24 is rare. I found one case of at least 6 FGM&A, 20+ mins, and a worse +/- (Clint Capela, 2/11/22) in the last 8 years. The avg Net Pts for these players was +6.4. Embiid +1.4. Capela -4.0. espnanalytics.com/nba-box?id=2...

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Dean Oliver @deanolytics.bsky.social · 04/05/2026

The NBA Draft Lottery is May 10. The NBA Draft Lottery *simulation* is right now. You can have it play out randomly and see the chances of different teams getting high picks. Or you can control the lottery. espnanalytics.com/nba-draft-lo...

espnanalytics.com

NBA Draft Lottery - ESPN Analytics

Models and data visualization from ESPN Analytics. NBA & NFL Draft, schedule analysis, receiver scores and more.

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Dean Oliver @deanolytics.bsky.social · 01/05/2026

Simulating the NBA Draft Lottery. The real one is May 10, but you can see the odds count down in this version. You can use this one on lottery day to see the odds change. www.espn.com/nba/story/_/...

espn.com

2026 NBA draft lottery simulator: Play out the 14-team field

ESPN Analytics has released a 2026 NBA draft lottery simulator, which allows users to model the 14-team field and play out the lottery.

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Dean Oliver @deanolytics.bsky.social · 01/05/2026

OG Anunoby played 44 possessions in non-garbage time last night and had +15.7 total net points. - At +36.1, it was the most net points per 100 possessions in non-garbage time all year - Next best in playoffs is +23.0 (Paolo v CHA) - Next best overall is +35.0 (Grayson 11/10)

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Dean Oliver @deanolytics.bsky.social · 30/04/2026

In terms of points off live turnovers, the Cavs survived one of the worst games this year, allowing 19 points off 8 live turnovers.

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Dean Oliver @deanolytics.bsky.social · 30/04/2026

Yesterday's MVP, LVP, Spark Plug, Stopper, Hot Potato, and more espnanalytics.com/nba-daily-su...

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Dean Oliver @deanolytics.bsky.social · 30/04/2026

In the NBA, the leading scorer for the team that wins a game averages +6.1 net points in that game. Just +1.7 for the leading scorer on the losing team. 95% of leading scorers on the team that won the game had positive net points Only 68% of leading scorers on losing teams did.

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Dean Oliver @deanolytics.bsky.social · 30/04/2026

In the regular season, Cleveland won 83% of their games when Donovan Mitchell had positive net points. They won just 23% when he didn't. Last night, he was slightly negative and they won. espnanalytics.com/nba-box?id=2...

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Dean Oliver @deanolytics.bsky.social · 29/04/2026

Watching the Q4 unraveling of the Celtics was fascinating. It was everyone, maybe a little more Brown. It was a slow train wreck. For Philly, Grimes, Maxey, and Embiid carried them steadily upwards.

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Dean Oliver @deanolytics.bsky.social · 29/04/2026

Yesterday's heroes, MVPs, LVPs, juggernauts, and contact artists. espnanalytics.com/nba-daily-su...

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Dean Oliver @deanolytics.bsky.social · 28/04/2026

Yesterday's best and worst - Jamal Cain appropriately got Rim Shaker. His dunk was after Detroit totally disrespected him on the inbounds. - As facilitators, Jokic went from #109 to #28, Cade went from #108 to #121. espnanalytics.com/nba-daily-su...

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Dean Oliver @deanolytics.bsky.social · 27/04/2026

You can debate whether these last three games are Jokic's worst in a stretch. I went back to see if he had more than 3 bad games in a row and found one... right before the COVID pause. espnanalytics.com/nba-player-g...

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Dean Oliver @deanolytics.bsky.social · 27/04/2026

Yesterday's best and worst. espnanalytics.com/nba-daily-su...

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Dean Oliver @deanolytics.bsky.social · 27/04/2026

Just more stats about how incredible Wembanyama is: In his career, Wemby has led the league every year in effective FG% allowed on shots that he has contested. He has allowed 28% on shots he has contested. Next best (among those with 600 contests) is 32% (J Isaac).

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Dean Oliver @deanolytics.bsky.social · 27/04/2026

Collin Murray-Boyles posted a team-best +5.3 net points in yesterday's win over Cleveland. Including playoffs, CMB has been the best rookie since January 1 on a per-minute basis, mostly on the strength of really good defense, like yesterday.

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Dean Oliver @deanolytics.bsky.social · 27/04/2026

Summary of the Spurs-Blazers game by quarter

Table showing how bad the Spurs were in Q2, but how they roared back after halftime against the Blazers. A dramatic switch at halftime.

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Dean Oliver @deanolytics.bsky.social · 26/04/2026

If you want to see how NBA players are doing in the playoffs, you can get their net points values from this page. Set it to playoffs and change the date as appropriate. You can do totals, per-gane, or per 100 possessions. espnanalytics.com/nba-award-le...

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Dean Oliver @deanolytics.bsky.social · 24/04/2026

In recent years, Rudy Gobert's defense has taken a hit in the playoffs as teams played 5-out, drawing him from the middle. So far, Denver hasn't been able to solve Gobert as he has posted the most defensive net points in the playoffs. espnanalytics.com/nba-award-le...

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Dean Oliver @deanolytics.bsky.social · 24/04/2026

As with Detroit's shocking loss, Boston's loss in G2 had a couple unusual player performances - White's 3rd worst game of the year - Pritchard's 2nd worst - VJ Edgecombe's 5th best

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Dean Oliver @deanolytics.bsky.social · 24/04/2026

The awards for good and bad in the Atlanta 1-point victory over the Knicks. espnanalytics.com/nba-box?id=2...

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Dean Oliver @deanolytics.bsky.social · 24/04/2026

Jalen Brunson does really well on offense at the *end of quarters*. He has the biggest difference in the league between his offense at the end of quarters (+7.3 Net Pts/100) vs at the start (-0.3).

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Dean Oliver @deanolytics.bsky.social · 23/04/2026

In Game 1, the Magic had +11.8 offensive net points in transition, their 2nd best of the year. It was the Pistons' defensive worst of the year. In Game 2, Orlando's offense had -4.4 in transition, their fifth worst. It was the Pistons' defensive best of the year. espnanalytics.com/nba-team-4FA...

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Dean Oliver @deanolytics.bsky.social · 21/04/2026

The 13-point advantage for the Hawks in Q4, broken down by who added (or subtracted) how much?

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Dean Oliver @deanolytics.bsky.social · 20/04/2026

The Rockets had 21 offensive boards to the Lakers' 3 in Game 1. The Rockets lost, of course. I looked at how often a team outrebounded their opponents by 12+ net points and it was 75%. On the other hand, the Lakers won shooting by 30 net pts. Teams doing that won 100% this yr.

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