Nylon Calculus

April 3, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers center Robert Sacre (50) attempts a shot against the Portland Trail Blazers during the second half at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

The Most Unlikely Performances of the Year by Daily RAPM Estimate

Nylon Calculus 202

The Evening Redness in the West: The Demise of the Portland Trail Blazers

Derrick Rose is a Different Player When he’s Rested

Jan 16, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward Dante Cunningham (44) drives the basket and collides with Philadelphia 76ers guard K.J. McDaniels (14) during the second half at Wells Fargo Center. The 76ers defeated the Pelicans 96-81. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

Every Little Bit Helps – Rim Protection From All Angles

Jun 16, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) and forward Draymond Green (23) celebrate during the fourth quarter of game six of the NBA Finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Quicken Loans Arena. Warriors won 105-97. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports

Guest Tech Post: EvanZ’s Battle RAPM (a How To)

Jun 25, 2015; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Frank Kaminsky (Wisconsin) greets NBA commissioner Adam Silver after being selected as the number nine overall pick to the Charlotte Hornets in the first round of the 2015 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

The Charlotte Hornets Probably Should Have Taken the Picks

May 17, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin (32) and guard Chris Paul (3) walk on the court during the fourth quarter against the Houston Rockets in game seven of the second round of the NBA Playoffs at Toyota Center. The Rockets defeated the Clippers 113-100 to win the series 4-3. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

A Further Look at Rest and Shot Difficulty

Mar 20, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Paul (left) drives the ball defended by Washington Wizards guard John Wall (right) during the fourth quarter at Staples Center. The Los Angeles Clippers won 113-99. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports

Some Fancy Passing Stats

NBA Players Need Their Rest: A Look at Shot Difficulty

Mar 16, 2015; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Heat center Hassan Whiteside (21) dunks during the third quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers at American Airlines Arena. Miami Heat defeated against the Cleveland Cavaliers 106-92. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

Scoring Efficiency by Touch Frequency

Apr 30, 2015; San Antonio, TX, USA; San Antonio Spurs power forward Tim Duncan (21) waits to enter the game against the Los Angeles Clippers in game six of the first round of the NBA Playoffs at AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports

Traditional Big Men and Three Point Shooting

May 17, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Los Angeles Clippers center DeAndre Jordan (6) reacts after a play during the second quarter against the Houston Rockets in game seven of the second round of the NBA Playoffs at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

NBA Iron Men 2015

Apr 14, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indiana Pacers forward Paul George (13) misses a game winning three pointer at the end of the first overtime against Washington Wizards center Marcin Gortat (4) and forward Rasual Butler (8) at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Indiana defeats Washington 99-95 in double overtime. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

An NBA Player’s Comfort Zone

Apr 15, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Denver Nuggets guard Ty Lawson (3) drives in against Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson (11) during the second quarter at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

Ty Lawson and James Harden Will Be Driving the Houston Rockets

Jun 3, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors center Andrew Bogut (12) sits on the bench during practice prior to the NBA Finals at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

NBA Players Need Their Rest

Jun 16, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Leandro Barbosa (19) shoots against Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) during the first quarter of game six of the NBA Finals at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports

A Random Walk Through NBA Variance

May 27, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Houston Rockets forward Josh Smith (5) drives to the basket past Golden State Warriors forward Harrison Barnes (40) during game five of the Western Conference Finals of the NBA Playoffs at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

The Impact of Changing teams: The Josh Smith Edition

May 14, 2014; San Antonio, TX, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Tim Duncan (left) hugs Portland Trail Blazers forward LaMarcus Aldridge (right) talk after game five of the second round of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at AT&T Center. The Spurs won 104-82. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports

Do the Pieces Fit? Let’s Not Crown the San Antonio Spurs Prematurely

Jul 14, 2015; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Jahlil Okafor (8) moves the ball against New York Knicks forward Kristaps Porzingis (46) during an NBA Summer League game at Thomas & Mack Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports

Nylon Notebook: Overheard at Summer League

Apr 1, 2015; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Chicago Bulls center Joakim Noah (13) dives for the loose ball during the second quarter against the Milwaukee Bucks at BMO Harris Bradley Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

Can’t Knock the Hustle, But Can We Measure It?

Jun 16, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr reacts prior to game six of the NBA Finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports

A Quarter at a Time, Part I

Jun 25, 2015; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Kristaps Porzingis (SPN) reacts after being selected as the number four overall pick to the Miami Heat in the first round of the 2015 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

How Bad Are Rookies?

Apr 4, 2015; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Detroit Pistons guard Reggie Jackson (1) does an interview after the game against the Miami Heat at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Pistons beat the Heat 99-98. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports

NBA Free Agent Market: It Pays to Play

Apr 27, 2015; Portland, OR, USA; Memphis Grizzlies forward Tony Allen (9) attempts to steal the ball from Portland Trail Blazers forward LaMarcus Aldridge (12) during the second quarter in game four of the first round of the NBA Playoffs at the Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Craig Mitchelldyer-USA TODAY Sports

Gambling for Steals: What’s the expected payoff?

Apr 12, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indiana Pacers guard C.J. Miles (0) holds a pose after making a three pointer against Oklahoma City Thunder guard Dion Waiters (23) at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Indiana defeats Oklahoma City 116-104. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

Replacement Level: Role vs Quality

TeamSPACE: The Spurs, Reloaded

Mar 27, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Portland Trail Blazers forward LaMarcus Aldridge (12) celebrates with center Robin Lopez (42) after making a basket against the Phoenix Suns during the second half at US Airways Center. The Trail Blazers won the game 87-81. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

Robin Lopez and Rebound Value