Shooting for proficiency - The Fans Speak Out - Letter to the Editor

Basketball Digest, May, 2002 by Rick Deguchi

With all the various statistics that are published, I wonder why no one ever publishes adjusted field-goal percentages. Adjusted field-goal percentage is a more accurate barometer of a player's shooting proficiency.

For example, players such as Dan Majerle are consistently derided for their poor shooting percentages. However, I would rather have a player who attempts all three-pointers shoot 40% than a player who shoots 50% without taking any three-point shots.

Adjusted field goal percentage is calculated by crediting 1.5 field goals made for any three-pointers made (add half of a player's three-pointers made to the number of total field goals made).

For example, say Wally Szczerbiak was 414-0f-803 from the floor, for a 51.6% shooting percentage and had made 53 three-pointers. Szczerbiak would be credited with 26.5 additional field goals and an adjusted field-goal percentage of 440.5-of-803, or 54.8%.

Rick Deguchi
Covina, Calif.

Rick, adjusted field-goal percentage makes a lot of sense, as the three-point shot is making an ever-bigger impact on the game. It's surprising that in the stats-mad sporting world, this additional "true" field-goal percentage is overlooked. Note our survey of 10 top three-point shooters and how their adjusted field-goal percentages rise.

A Look at Adjusted Field-Goal Percentage
HERE'S A LOOK AT 10 TOP THREE-POINT SHOOTERS IN 2001-02, AS RANKED BY
THEIR adjusted field-goal percentages.

          Player   Team                     Adjusted FG%   3PT%    FG%

     Brent Barry   Seattle SuperSonics               622   .443   .508
       Jon Barry   Detroit Pistons                   591   .455   .473
   Wesley Person   Cleveland Cavaliers               579   .466   .500
      Steve Nash   Dallas Mavericks                  563   .472   .491
   Scott Padgett   Utah Jazz                         554   .463   .477
 Eric Piatkowski   Los Angeles Clippers              547   .459   .431
    Michael Redd   Milwaukee Bucks                   543   .442   .472
     Steve Smith   San Antonio Spurs                 543   .495   .454
Wally Szczerbiak   Minnesota Timberwolves            540   .476   .503
    Hubert Davis   Washington Wizards                535   .452   .448

Note: Statistics are through games of March 12.