Net Equivalent Points
by CorpusJayhawk

CorpusJayhawk gives the following explanation for his NEP scoring system, which he created...

...as a way to try to distill all the readily available stats into a meaningful anaylsis. As far as I know I coined the phrase "Net Equivalent Points". It has good validity but is not intended to be a one stop shopping for statistics. If nothing else it is fun to look at and ponder on. I enjoy watching the game for it's strategy and finer points. NEP stands for "net equivalent points". The concept is based on the premise that scoring points is the ultimate goal. Therefore all stats represent some contribution toward scoring points. Each measurable stat is assigned a meaningful point value based on it's degree of contribution toward scoring points. The following stats are included;

Points scored (obviously), assists, turnovers, blocks, fouls, steals, offensive rebounds, defensive rebounds, missed shots, and missed field goals. Each stat is assigned an equivalent point value as follows:

POINTS-One point equals one NEP

ASSISTS-One assist=2 NEP's. An assist directly leads to 2 points. Therefore an assist is equivalent to scoring a basket. The most valuable of all statistics. (next to points scored of course)

TURNOVERS-A turnover does two things. It ends your teams possession and it gives the possession to the other team. The average team scores 0.8 points for every possession. Therefore a turnover = -1.6 NEP's. (you lose a possession therefore losing 0.8 points and the other team gains possession therefore realizing 0.8 points -on average a -1.6 point turnaround).

STEAL-Just the opposite of a turnover therefore a steal = 1.6 NEP's.

BLOCK-Blocking a shot creates a 50% chance your team will get a turnover. Obviously the assumption is 50% of the time you block shots you end up with possession. Since a turnover is worth 1.6 NEP, 50% chance means a block=0.8 NEP's.

FOULS-A foul allows the other team to shoot plus it jeopardizes a players potential playing time and/or effectiveness because of foul trouble. It is assumed every foul results in 2 foul shots (the non-shooting fouls are offset by the intangible of lost effectiveness etc.) and 70% of all foul shots are made. Therefore a foul results in a loss of 1.4 points thus a foul=-1.4 NEP's.

OFENSIVE REBOUND-It is assumed the defensive team should get every defensive rebound. Therefore an offensive rebound is like a turnover. It deprives the other team of a possession and gives your team a possession. Therefore an offensive rebound = 1.6 NEP's.

DEFENSIVE REBOUND-It is assumed you should get all defensive rebounds so you are not depriving the other team of anything they otherwise should have had. You are, however giving your team a possession which on average results in 0.8 points scored. Therefore a defensive rebound = 0.8 NEP's.

MISSED FIELD GOALS-High shooting percentage is a primary goal. Missed shots are a negative factor in scoring points. It is assumed the defensive team will get 3/4ths of the rebounds on your missed shots. Therefore it is like you have given the other team possession on two out of three missed shots. Since they score 0.8 points per possession a missed shot yields 3/4ths of 0.8 or 0.6 for the other team heance a missed field goal = -0.6 NEP's.

MISSED FREE THROW-It is assumed free throws come in pairs. Therefore a single FT represents 1/2 of a possession. Since the average possession is 0.8 points a single FT is worth 0.4 points. It is assumed all FT's should be made, therefore a missed FT = -0.4 NEP's.

NORMALIZED-The NEP can be total or Normalized. Normalizing is just prorating everything up to 40 minutes.

To summarize, then, the formula for NEP is as follows:

NEP =  [ Points + (Assists * 2) + (Steals * 1.6) + (Blocks * 0.8) +
       (Offensive Rebounds * 1.6) + (Defensive Rebounds * 0.8) ] -
       [ (Turnovers * 1.6) + (PF * 1.4) + (Missed FGA * 0.6) +
       (Missed FTA * 0.4) ]
Note: The formula used by CorpusJayhawk has been modified and is no longer the same as that used here.


Back to Brian's page