Sports Statistics
by
Ximena Castañeda Benitez
Research: Data Tables
[Los Angeles Lakers Rosters and Stats]
Player [3POINT],[V1] [2POINT],[V2] Player [3POINT],[V [2POINT],[V
1] 2]
Lebron James 2.2 7.4 Alex Caruso 0.6 1.3
Anthony Davis 1.2 7.7 J.R. Smith 0.2 1.0
Kentavious 1.3 2.1 Quinn Cook 0.7 1.4
Caldwell-Pope
Kyle Kuzma 1.4 3.4 Troy Daniels 1.0 0.5
Danny Green 1.8 1.1 Dwight Howard 0.0 2.9
Avery Bradley 1.3 2.2 Markieff Morris 0.9 1.1
Dion Waiter 1.0 3.4 JaVale McGee 0.0 2.8
Rajon Rondo 0.9 2.0 Talen 0.7 1.7
Horton-Tucker
Research: Abbreviations and Source
● [3P]: [3POINTER: A three-point field goal is a shot that is made from beyond
the three-point line or arc. A three-point field goal is worth three points]
● [2P]: [2POINTER: A 2-pointer in basketball is a shot scored anywhere inside
the three-point arch. This includes the paint, midrange and at the rim. All of
these shots count for two points, unless taken from free-throw line for a foul
shot.]
● Website Link: [https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/LAL/]
● Date Accessed: 6/21/2025
Writing: Data Distribution, Variable 1
Variable 1 Histogram
Class Frequency
0 -0.4 3
0.5 - 0.9 5
1 - 1.4 6
1.5 - 1.9 1
2 - 2.4 1
2.5 - 2.9 0
3 - 3.4 0
The distribution is skewed to the right. More than half of the players
3.5 - 3.9 0
hit fewer than 1.5 three pointers.
Writing: Data Distribution, Variable 2
Variable 2
Class Frequency
0 - 1.9 7
2 - 3.9 7
4 - 5.9 0
6 - 7.9 2
- -
- -
- -
The distribution is skewed to the right. More than half of the
- - players hit fewer than 4 two pointers.
Writing: Box Plot Tables
Five-Number Summaries
Min Q1 Med Q3 Max
3 points made 0 0.65 0.95 1.3 2.2
2 points made 0.5 1.2 2.05 3.15 7.7
Discussion
IQR FOR V1 = 0.65
In the data set, the IQR is 0.65 and 0.65 (1.5) = 0.975. Upper fence = 1.3 + (1.5 * 0.65) = 2.275
Lower fence = 0.65 - (1.5 * 0.65) = -0.325
Because 2.2 <2.275, there are no outliers.
IQR FOR V2 = 1.95
In the data set, the IQR is 1.95 and 1.95(1.5) = 2.925
Upper fence = 3.15 + (1.5 * 0.65) = 4.125
Lower fence = 1.2 + (1.5 * 0.65) = 2.175
Because 7.7 > 4.125, 7.7 is an outlier.
Writing: Box plots
In the 3-point baskets, the
whiskers are about the same
length and the 2-point baskets
have longer whiskers to the
right. The 3 point list has no
Outliers, whereas the 2-point
list has both 7.4 and 7.7 as
outliers. Both 7.4 and 7.7 are
very far away from the other
values.
[Scatter Plot]
Writing: Scatter Plot Graph
Line of best fit: y =
3.8694649446494-1.309
963099631x
r - value: -0.3736
Writing: Scatter Plot Review
The correlation between the three point and two-point basket is almost -0.4, which
is moderate (towards weak) negative correlation. The slope of -1.309963099631
means that for every 3-points a player scores, he has hit -1.309963099631 of
a 2-pointer. But because you can have only a whole number of 2-points
scored, it makes more sense to round the slope to -1.3
There is a cluster at the bottom part (especially bottom left) of the plot, but it
is not an obvious cluster. The outliers are points (0.75, 7.4) and (1, 7.7)
Reflection
I wasn't really surprised that the data was skewed to the right, because it makes sense that the players
are better at shooting 2-pointers (since they're closer to the basket).
I didn't think the r-value would be that low. I knew the scores were pretty low in general, but the r-value
was way lower than I expected. But if a player shoots lots of 3-pointers, he´d probably score even more
2-pointers too.
Since i picked a professional team, their scores were obviously higher than what an amateur team would
get. Their scores might be more spread out and look kind a bell curve. If i picked a different pro team, the
scores might be a little different, but still skewed to the right. And a pro team probably wouldn't have an
outlier unless there's a player who's way better than the rest.
The coach could use the scatter plot to see how his team played and if the did what he expected. It could
also help him decide the order of players for the next game depending on how well the did. Like, if one
player scored way more points than everyone else, he'd probably be one of the team “leaders” and get to
play more than the others.
