Promoted FanPost

I have respect for the idea of advanced statistics - of measuring underappreciated skills and giving us a better understanding of who really makes a team win. But I've always wondered if they're making any headway in basketball and I've never looked at them closely. I thought I'd have a look at Hollinger's PER ratings, and what I saw wasn't impressive. Clustered at the top are some no-brainers. LBJ has the top rating. Chris Paul, Dwyane Wade, and Kevin Durant rounding out the top 4. OK. So far the "advanced stats" aren't telling me something I wouldn't have guessed; they might be right, but they aren't finding diamonds the rough.

I keep looking down the list for the first Celtic. It's Kevin Garnett at 34, and Pierce at 49. I'm not sure I buy that, but maybe it's because they're looking at season-long stats. But what's really blowing me away is - no Rajon. Can't find him among the top 50 players. So I look only at PGs. And there is he is - ranked 21st-best PG in the NBA. Right behind the immortal Jordan Farmar. Who else is Rajon looking up at? How about Jarrett Jack, Goran Dragic, Jerryd Bayless, Ramon Sessions, and John Wall.

Have a look

There is no advanced statistic on the planet that would convince me, or any GM, that any of those PGs is better than Rondo. Hollinger doesn't tell us what's in his PER secret sauce, so we have to guess why he's got Rondo so low. All I can say is - Mr. Hollinger, have another look at your formula. When we get a surprising result from an advanced stat, it should be interesting and possibly true - not obviously wrong.