Rondo's incredible defensive turnaround

[Boris Badenov]

This is, of course, the part where we echo your parents. If all your friends jumped off a cliff wilfully ignored some seriously noisy data, would you do it too?

I don't think that analogy works for several reasons, one of them being the definition of noisy data. Your definition of noisy data is "Oh, well I don't like how this looks, so let me make an excuse for this particular game so the data better reflects my viewpoint". With your current logic, anyone could come up with an excuse for a game.

Example: "Oh wow, the Mavs lost to the Suns on a back-to-back and let them put up 124 points! Obviously I need to take this game out!"

You are confusing "ignoring noisy data" and "cherrypicking."

[Lucky17]

If we're talking about "post hoc, ergo propter hoc," here's a different hoc to fixate on:

Jameer Nelson's DRPM this season: -0.70

Can we therefore not posit that replacing a net defensive negative with virtually any replacement-level player might yield similar improvements to Dallas' overall team defense? Why or why not?

Put differently, is the perceived improvement attributable directly to Rondo's arrival, or Nelson's departure?

[BTW, I think DRPM is a similarly noisy stat.]

[LatterDayCelticsfan]

Or we wait for the sample size to grow another 10 games or so and see how things look then.

[goCeltics]

rondo played here for 8 years and lead the team to the finals, think ppl here are well aware what kind of player he is

[Rhyso]

Just curious, those denying Rondos defensive impact on the Mavs, have you actually watched any of the Mavs games? If so, how many?

I have watched 6 of the 8 games, and eye test tells me he has mostly been playing excellent defense (he did get torched by Schroder though). After just seeing these numbers, it backs up the eye test so far. Obviously he is making more of an effort on the defensive end now being on a contender again, and if he keeps this up he may make another All-Defensive team this season.

Jarret Jack 6-16
Irving 2-9
Wall 4-7
Wetsbrook 6-23
Bledsoe 6-19 Dragic 10-17 (Not sure who he guarded)
Schroder 9-15

I'm not saying he is the sole reason for the impact on defense, but to assume that putting anyone not named Jameer Nelson at PG would yield the same results is, well, silly 

[4THQTR]

http://www.mavsmoneyball.com/2015/1/2/7479739/rajon-rondo-dallas-mavericks-statsketball