Nylon Calculus

Mar 12, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; New York Knicks president Phil Jackson in attendance in the first half during the game against the Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports

NBA dollars & sense — Part I: Player monetary value

Are the Houston Rockets headed for a terrible defensive season?

Offensive style breakdown: The speed of ball movement

Introducing foul drawn percentage

Nov 14, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant (24) and San Antonio Spurs forward Tim Duncan (21) react at Staples Center. The Spurs defeated the Lakers 93-80. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Retiring Stars: Breaking Down Kobe vs. Duncan (plus Amar’e too!)

Feb 20, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) shoots around New York Knicks forward Kristaps Porzingis (6) during the first quarter at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports

Towns, Porzingis, and Jokic: What to expect?

The myth of accelerated growth from Team USA experience

Nylon 101: Q&A with Emmanuel Perry on “Intro to R”

Jan 9, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Toronto Raptors guard Kyle Lowry (7) looks for an opening past the defense of Philadelphia 76ers guard Ish Smith (1) during the first quarter at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

Fairly plausible differences in offense and defense analytics

Apr 4, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; NBA former player Michael Jordan and NCAA president Mark Emmert during halftime of the game between the Villanova Wildcats and the North Carolina Tar Heels in the championship game of the 2016 NCAA Men

What if Michael Jordan had joined a super-team instead of the Wizards?

Apr 13, 2015; Charlotte, NC, USA; Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) and guard Jason Terry (31) looks at a tablet while on the bench during the first half against the Charlotte Hornets at Time Warner Cable Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports

NBA to host their first-ever Hackathon

Predicting Team USA’s Performance and the Pursuit of Lineup Fit

Apr 10, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers center DeAndre Jordan (6) and Dallas Mavericks center Zaza Pachulia (27) during the 1st half. Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports

Pachulia’s Rebounding not enough for Warriors post-Durant Signing

July 26, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; USA guard Kevin Durant (5) is congratulated by forward Draymond Green (14) behind guard Klay Thompson (11) against China in the first quarter during an exhibition basketball game at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

NBA Players at the Olympics

May 30, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30, right) is congratulated by Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant (35) after game seven of the Western conference finals of the NBA Playoffs at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Thunder 96-88. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Building a super team

May 11, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) hoists the MVP trophy before game five of the second round of the NBA Playoffs against the Portland Trail Blazers at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Introducing Dredge: A play-by-play derived metric

May 24, 2016; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) reacts after a play against the Golden State Warriors during the third quarter in game four of the Western conference finals of the NBA Playoffs at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports

Russell Westbrook is fixin’ to win the MVP

Jun 19, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) handles the ball against Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) during the third quarter in game seven of the NBA Finals at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

Guest Post: Mapping Ball Movement in the 2016 NBA Finals

Freelance Friday: Tracking 2016 Free Agency Movement

May 10, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers center DeAndre Jordan (6) shoots a free throw against Houston Rockets in game three of the second round of the NBA Playoffs. at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Is this the end of Hack-a-Shaq?

June 1, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Harrison Barnes (40) during NBA Finals media day at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

The Wake of the Black Falcon

January 5, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant (35) controls the basketball against Golden State Warriors forward Harrison Barnes (40) during the first quarter at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Thunder 117-91. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Does Durant make the Warriors a better shooting team?

May 26, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder Russell Westbrook (0) shoots the ball in front of Golden State Warriors Harrison Barnes (40) in the second half at Oracle Arena. The Warriors won 120-111. Mandatory Credit: Jose Carlos Fajardo-Pool Photo via USA TODAY Sports

‘Maniac Russ’ best suited for Oklahoma City

Freelance Friday: Birthday Bias in the NBA

Jan 25, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade (3) prior to a game against the Chicago Bulls at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports

Chicago Bulls: Unconventional, but not uninteresting

May 26, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) reacts after being called for an offensive foul against the Golden State Warriors in the fourth quarter in game five of the Western conference finals of the NBA Playoffs at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Thunder 120-111. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports

The Race For Russ: Westbrook Trade Suitors

May 15, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade (3) dribbles the ball up court during the second quarter in game seven of the second round of the NBA Playoffs against the Toronto Raptors at Air Canada Centre. The Toronto Raptors won 116-89. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports

Dwyane Wade and Rajon Rondo peaked eight years ago

Apr 23, 2016; Dallas, TX, USA; Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban react during the second quarter against the Oklahoma City Thunder in game four of the first round of the NBA Playoffs at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

State income taxes and NBA free agency advantage