(11-21-2021, 04:33 AM)burekemde Wrote: With all the stats etc. we have discussed a lot the +/-. A "negative control" experiment is not having a player in the game. It is clear that the team is missing Luka Doncic. And it is also clear that Maxi's absence has been felt as well.
It does not control for anything having Luka miss these games. It is simply another KIND of data point. The issue has been that the TEAM has been unsuccessful this year (wildly for the most part) with Luka in his role as starter, etc. Having Luka out of a game completely, shifts ALL the roles and gives us a totally different set of data.
Is it helpful to see the data without Luka completely? I guess on some level, but no one wants to eliminate Luka from this team, so it is actually some of the least helpful data we have. What we all want is for Luka to play and for the TEAM to be successful in outscoring their opponents WHEN he plays. Because when we get to the playoffs, THAT is the reality we will have. So we need to have lineups AROUND Luka that help the team/him have great winning success.