Thibodeau has embraced the world of analytics despite his old-school reputation. Demanding trainer, the 62-year-old manager treats net efficiency analytics as his most important barometer, combining the critical offensive stat with the critical defensive stat in one issue.
The theorem combines a team’s points per 100 possessions, minus the opponent’s points per possession. In their 3-1 preseason, the Knicks finished fifth in terms of net efficiency.
“Analytics has given us a lot of information,” Thibodeau said. “We always look at the numbers and we refer to our eyes, observation and what the coaches talk about and the numbers will confirm those things you are thinking or give you a pause to rethink things.
“When you think about it, net efficiency is probably the most important thing because you want to be strong on both sides of the ball,” added Thibodeau. “So you’re looking to be one of the top 10 teams in points for offensive possession and points for defensive possession.”