WBB: Fivethirtyeight Article on Statistician Paul Swanson

Ignatius L Hoops

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http://fivethirtyeight.com/features/the-lynx-have-the-best-stathead-in-the-wnba/

Nice article on Paul Swanson who posted regularly on Sue Short's former WBB site. Swanson's info and thoughts concerning both women's basketball and volleyball usually sparked discussion. And he was a master of the informed put-down.

But for all of Minnesota’s obvious weaponry, it has a secret one as well: Paul Swanson — the reclusive, in-house statistician for the Lynx and Timberwolves who is integrated seamlessly into the Lynx coaching staff. “Swanny has this unique ability to provide us with stats I wouldn’t think to ask for,” said Reeve, who carries around pieces of paper full of what the coaching staff calls “Swanny Stats.” “There isn’t another team in the WNBA that has the resources to employ someone like him.”

Just as the Lynx aren’t any ordinary pro franchise, Swanson isn’t any ordinary stat geek. He entered analytical lore as the unofficial creator of the net plus-minus formula, which he unveiled in 2003 to demonstrate the legitimacy of Kevin Garnett’s MVP candidacy (which he lost to Tim Duncan). And since the beginnings of the WNBA, he’s been one of the few people breaking down and logging the advanced stats of an WNBA team and the league as a whole.
 




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