Need a question answered.....

[DesertDweller]

that has been bugging me for the longest time and I still haven't been able to figure it out.......

On Celtics.com they have a box score for each game. in that box score there is an item that reads (+/-). underneath this plus and minus are figures for each player like +6 or -12 and I have not been able to figure out what these numbers represent.
Can someone please explain how you read this particular stat so it makes sense.

Thanks,

[Roy H.]

It's the scoring differential when the player is in the game.

A +6 means for Sully would mean that the Celts outscored the opposing team by 6 points while he was on the game.

A -3 for Rondo would mean that the opposing team outscored the Celtics by 3 points when Rondo was in the game.

[DesertDweller]

It's the scoring differential when the player is in the game.

A +6 means for Sully would mean that the Celts outscored the opposing team by 6 points while he was on the game.

A -3 for Rondo would mean that the opposing team outscored the Celtics by 3 points when Rondo was in the game.

I get it but some of the plus and minuses are very deceptive because there are quite a few games I noticed that even though Rondo did real well in some games he was still getting minuses leading you to believe he wasn't doing well while in the game.

Thanks for the info

[Gainesville Celtic]

It's the scoring differential when the player is in the game.

A +6 means for Sully would mean that the Celts outscored the opposing team by 6 points while he was on the game.

A -3 for Rondo would mean that the opposing team outscored the Celtics by 3 points when Rondo was in the game.

I get it but some of the plus and minuses are very deceptive because there are quite a few games I noticed that even though Rondo did real well in some games he was still getting minuses leading you to believe he wasn't doing well while in the game.

Thanks for the info

my understanding is that +/- (plus-minus) is a stat better used over time -- sort of like batting average in baseball -- AND when expressed as on-court vs. off.

Sullinger might be -20 for a particular game, but that could be for any number of reasons (tough matchup, luck, shot not falling, etc.). It doesn't tell you much more than David Ortiz going 0-for-4 in a game.

But taken over a season it provides a greater picture of value.

Sean Grande points out in his interview with Jeff on the front page that Sullinger is +15 / -282 -- which means the Celtics have outscored their opp. by 15 points this season whe Sullinger is on the court but been blown out by 282 points when he's not on the court.

You could conclude - that for whatever reason - teh Celtics perform better with Sullinger on the court than not.

The reasons for this vary -- it could be b/c of Sullinger's direct impact, or it could be that his backup is so terrible that when he goes out there's a HUGE dropoff in talent, or some combination of these (and other) factors.

[cons]

It's the scoring differential when the player is in the game.

A +6 means for Sully would mean that the Celts outscored the opposing team by 6 points while he was on the game.

A -3 for Rondo would mean that the opposing team outscored the Celtics by 3 points when Rondo was in the game.

I get it but some of the plus and minuses are very deceptive because there are quite a few games I noticed that even though Rondo did real well in some games he was still getting minuses leading you to believe he wasn't doing well while in the game.

Thanks for the info

my understanding is that +/- (plus-minus) is a stat better used over time -- sort of like batting average in baseball -- AND when expressed as on-court vs. off.

Sullinger might be -20 for a particular game, but that could be for any number of reasons (tough matchup, luck, shot not falling, etc.). It doesn't tell you much more than David Ortiz going 0-for-4 in a game.

But taken over a season it provides a greater picture of value.

Sean Grande points out in his interview with Jeff on the front page that Sullinger is +15 / -282 -- which means the Celtics have outscored their opp. by 15 points this season whe Sullinger is on the court but been blown out by 282 points when he's not on the court.

You could conclude - that for whatever reason - teh Celtics perform better with Sullinger on the court than not.

The reasons for this vary -- it could be b/c of Sullinger's direct impact, or it could be that his backup is so terrible that when he goes out there's a HUGE dropoff in talent, or some combination of these (and other) factors.

this is interesting. i'm glad they dont have a similar stat for like everyday things - like job performance or marriage performance. i have a feeling i'd be a huge net negative in each of these. both probably go better when i'm not around
im not sure if its because i suck , or my backups are just awesome. yikes!
just kidding 

[DesertDweller]

Good stuff, thanks guys.