If you’ve ever watched a basketball game, you may have noticed a statistic called “plus/minus” (or “+/-” for short). Plus/minus is a measure of a player’s on-court impact and is used to assess the value of a player’s performance. In this article, we are going to take a closer look at what +/- +20 means in basketball, how it is calculated, and how it can be used to evaluate players.
What Does +/- +20 Mean in Basketball?
In basketball, the +/- statistic is a measure of a player’s impact on the game. A +/- of +20 means that the player was responsible for 20 more points than their opponents when they were on the court. This means that the player’s team outscored their opponents by 20 points when the player was on the court. Conversely, a +/- of -20 would mean that the player’s team was outscored by 20 points when the player was on the court.
How is +/- Calculated?
Plus/minus is calculated by subtracting the score of the opposing team from the score of the player’s team while the player is on the court. The calculation is as follows:
Plus/Minus = Team’s Score – Opponent’s Score
For example, if a player’s team scored 100 points while they were on the court, and the opposing team scored 80 points while they were on the court, the player’s +/- would be +20.
How is +/- Used to Evaluate Players?
Plus/minus is a valuable tool for evaluating a player’s performance. It can be used to assess a player’s impact on the offensive and defensive ends of the court. For example, a player with a high +/- might be a great defender, since they were able to limit their opponents’ scoring when they were on the court. Conversely, a player with a low +/- might be a poor defender, since their opponents were able to outscore their own team when they were on the court.
Plus/minus also offers insight into a player’s ability to play in different situations. For example, a player with a high +/- in the fourth quarter of a close game might be a clutch player, since they were able to help their team outscore their opponents when the game was on the line. On the other hand, a player with a low +/- in the fourth quarter of a close game might not be as reliable in crunch time, since their team was outscored when they were on the court.
Plus/minus is not a perfect measure of a player’s performance, but it can be a useful tool for evaluating a player’s impact on the court. It is especially useful for evaluating players who do not have impressive traditional stats, such as points, rebounds, and assists.
Conclusion
Plus/minus (+/-) is a useful statistic for evaluating a player’s performance in basketball. A +/- of +20 means that the player’s team outscored their opponents by 20 points when the player was on the court. Plus/minus is calculated by subtracting the score of the opposing team from the score of the player’s team while the player is on the court. Plus/minus can be used to evaluate a player’s impact on the offensive and defensive ends of the court and can provide insight into a player’s ability to perform in different situations.