Challenge: Who was the best offensive player in the NBA during the 2011-2012 regular season?
There are two important ideas that you will need to define before you can begin working on this challenge.
The first idea to define is “offense.” In its most simple form, offense means points scored. But there are many other aspects to an effective offensive game. Offense could also include assists, offensive rebounds, drawing fouls, or avoiding turnovers. You will have to decide how you think it makes the most sense to define offense. What statistics need to be considered?
The second idea to define is “best.” How do you decide what makes a player the “best”? Is this a player who does one or two things better than anyone else, or someone who does many things at a high level? Does it make a player better if their offensive game is completely unique, unlike the contributions of anyone else?
Looking at some statistics may help these ideas take shape, but a coherent argument can’t be constructed if you haven’t decided what these ideas mean to you.
More Hints:
- Data Resources - Links to statistical websites that may help in answering Challenge #1
- Getting Started - A guide for beginning to locate statistics, helping you choose and support an answer for Challenge#1
- Digging Deeper - Some more complex variables to consider in selecting your answer, and providing supporting evidence
Back to Challenge #1
