Category: Blog

by Kenny Blankenship

What are the Game Score, WAP, GAPE, and Hero stats all about?

If you are a Grinder who has said to himself, “Man – this website we have is tits, but I don’t get what some of these dumb stats OMJ posts on here are.” Then this blog is for you!

WAP (aka “What’s a Pass?”) (aka %TmFGA)

Formula: Field Goals Attempted/Total Team Field Goals Attempted (FGA/TmFGA)

Why highlight it? We like to highlight guys who shoot a lot.

GAPE (aka Grinders Analytical Performance Evaluation… or something like that)

Formula: (Points+Rebounds+Assists+Steals+Blocks-Turnovers-Air Balls – Missed Shots)

Why highlight it? This is the Grinders version of the NBA’s Player Efficiency Rating stat.

Hero (aka %TmGAPE)

Formula: (GAPE/TmGAPE)

Why Highlight it? This stat generally highlights the Grinder who ends up being the “go-to-guy” on a team. In theory, you could use this stat to help indicate who the most valuable players are to their teams.

Examples of Hero’s:

Last week, Chris Cole had a GAPE of 19. Not bad! His team had a total GAPE of 22. That’s bad! Chris was the hero of the week because he literally was the only guy who did anything for his team, statistically speaking (19/22 = 86.4%). That’s an unusually high Hero% though.

Most season leaders have been slightly over .500 (Tall Justin, Curtis, Gersitz, etc – all-around excellent Grinders).

Game Score (aka GmScore)

Formula: The average of:

  • FG%/.500
  • Pts/20
  • Rebounds/10
  • (Assists+Steals+Blocks-TOs-Air Balls)/10

Why highlight it? The highest Game Score = Best individual all-around performance, based on benchmarks for each of the above.

Example 1:

In a typical “good OMJ game”, he goes 3/4, 6 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists and 3 turnovers – his Game Score:

  • .750/.500 = 150%
  • 6/20 = 33.3%
  • 4/10 = 40%
  • (2-3=-1) -1/10 = -10%
  • GmScore = Average of 150, 33.3, 40, and -10. = 53.35
  • That’s fine, but not great.

Also – a Grinder can sometimes just be really good at everything. The example below – Chaz shoots 40% from the floor but scores a ton and does a lot of other good stuff.

Example 2:

  • Chaz shoots 12/30, for 30 points (he hits 6 threes), has 20 rebounds, throws in 1 block, 2 steals, 7 assists, has 4 turnovers, and air balls 2.
  • 12/30=40%, 40%/50%=80%
  • 30/20 = 166%
  • 20/10 = 200%
  • (1+2+7-4-2)= 4, 4/10 = 40%
  • GmScore = Average of 80, 166, 200, and 40. = 121.5
  • That’s really excellent, despite the turnovers and airballs.

Here’s more examples in Table form:

Check it out for yourself. Grinders are ranked in order on the stats leader pages based on this stat. Check out the career stats, or previous season stats. I feel pretty good about the order the top guys are in (and the bottom guys for that matter), as far as who was the best and worst. Of course – there is always going to be debate, but this stat without fault puts the top guys at the top.

by The Beat Writer Staff

Week 5 Power Rankings, Thoughts & Stuff

GRINDERS MID-SEASON POWER RANKINGS, THOUGHTS, AND STUFF

The Grinders beat writers are back! Felt uninspired last week but now that we are 5 weeks in and at the halfway point of this session, we had to bring an updated power rankings, with some other talking points and things of interest. Word around town is that a lot of “you people” were impressed with the last write up, which is awesome! That said, this one will be a little toned down – less recapish, more looking forwardish. Let’s get into how the power rankings have been shaken up!

GRINDERS BEAT WRITER POWER RANKINGS

6. Team Tirado, 0-5 (6)

Let’s get the easy one out of the way. After receiving the basketball equivalent of a lobotomy from team Pauly P, Tirado’s “team” started off hot against Team KO, and then completely fell apart in the second half for no reason to lose by 17. On the season, they have just 2 of their 6 players shooting over 30%, and only 2 with a double digit GAPE. Will the league run the table with them for a winless season? You’d be hard pressed to argue against it, but their best chance may come this week against Team Pauly J… and even then, I wouldn’t be fully confident. Both Josh’s have been underwhelming, Richie’s been hurt, Peyton slumping, captain Tirado’s leadership skills have been questioned, and Witt has informed the Signal chat to start sending trade offers. Maybe they’ll figure it all out, but time is quickly running out. 

5. Team Paul J, 2-3 (5)

Some rumblings about this team being as high as 2nd in these rankings stirred up after their upset victory over Team KO, but then they fell to Team Al 57-64. I said last time that Chaz will carry this team as far as he can take them, but the MVP candidate really can’t do it alone. For what it’s worth, his supporting cast has not been terrible – just inconsistent, and Alec may be the only other guy capable of finding his own shots (even if those shots are 30 footers). Perhaps Pauly J will find his rhythm to alleviate some of the load. Bobby and Boccio can continue playing their roles, but inconsistent scoring from them two can hold this team back. Barring any shocking developments, they should find themselves in the playoffs, just likely not for very long. 

4. Team E, 3-2 (3)

I can hear the objections already… they were shorthanded last week, and they fall to 4? It’s unfair! It’s outrageous! And to that I say, what happened in Week 4 when they lost to a depleted Team Al? They are better than what they’ve shown the last two weeks, but even still, the only team you can make an argument for being below them is Team Al, they team they lost to and is on a 2-game winning streak. Cole has done his best to put the squad on his back and is still in MVP consideration. Sucks to say, but it’s true. E has been fine, but an uptick in scoring would help a lot. Cory and Chuck have been decent in their roles as well, bringing that floor general presence and 3-point ability, respectively. They have a tough matchup coming against KO, who they defeated earlier, but if they have a full squad this time around, I don’t see a way they repeat the same result. What will probably happen is they will defy all odds and ignore all the numbers and raise hell in the playoffs and make everybody sad. 

3. Team Al, 3-2 (4)

The last time I wrote about this team, I was very unkind. Granted, I think it was warranted, as they had been boat raced twice in a row. But they’ve rallied since, and looked pretty darn good with Tommy back last week. Shockingly, Bryant is shooting better than Garrett, and they both average 14.2 PPG. Al has been lights out with a 48% percentage to his name, and Kale has been finding his way somewhat, at the very least is getting it done with hustle and defense. No idea if Justin will ever debut, but for now, what they have been doing has been working. Still think a cold spell from Garrett or Bryant is enough to doom any game for them, but we might see who they really are when they go against Pauly P this week.

2. Team KO, 3-2 (2)

After a shocker at the hands of Team Pauly J, Team KO looked like they were on fraud watch 20 minutes in last week. Of course, they pulled it together and remembered they were not a bad team. Gersitz is still cheating, Jeff May is still scoring like there’s no tomorrow, KO and Danny are just stroking that thang, and Salvati has been the glue 5th holding it all together. Their top 3 of Gersitz, Jeff and Danny have been nightmares for opponents to guard, and they’ve been locking it down too, evident by their +49 point differential. When they have their usual starting 4 on the floor, I don’t think any team (besides maybe the #1) has a chance. Except for when Chaz puts his strong, oppressive D all over Gersitz. 

  1. Team Pauly P, 4-1 (1)

Without a doubt, easily the top team through 5 weeks. The top two of Curtis and Jimmy is head and shoulders above everyone else – even when Curtis doesn’t light up the scoreboard, he’s been outstanding on the boards and on defense. Pauly P has asserted himself as an absolute beast, and has been essential in the rare instance the top guys have an off night. OMJ and Dave have been a nice 1-2 combo, being a force inside and shooting threat outside. OMJ had a dazzling 16 points last week with Curtis and Jimmy out, what some would call a VINTAGE performance. They haven’t lost since the Week 1 tilt with KO, where they were missing Curtis. For the moment, they are the league favorites, and are a daunting matchup for just about every team, even the red hot Team Al they get this week. 

Thoughts & Stuff

Mid- Season MVP: There is a 3-way competition between Chaz, Gersitz, and Cole. Cole’s season would be good enough any other year, and Gersitz is shooting a blistering 70.3%! But, Chaz is the pick right now: leading in scoring, Hero% (Percentage of Team’s total GAPE), and Game Score. He’s also going to break a whole bunch of records this season – see below. This race will be fun as we get to the end of the season.

Coach/GM of the Year: Pauly P, and it’s not close right now. Somehow he was able to score Curtis and Jimmy in the draft – which should be good enough on it’s own. Pauly P is currently a top 5 player statistically – and picked up rookie Dave Walter on the cheap to round out the top 4 (Dave’s game is popping more and more every week in his virgin cherry red-hat season). OMJ has a higher FG% than Curtis Masich

Are there any Grinders Season Records in jeopardy? There are!

Game Score: Record – 113.2 by Mike Gersitz (2021.2)

  • Chaz Hooks currently has a 114.0 Game Score

Hero% (percent of team’s total GAPE): Record – 56.9% by Justin Rybinski (2022.1)

  • Chaz Hooks currently has 65.1%

3pm: Record – 35 by Malicki and Tirado

  • Chaz and newer guy Danny both already have 22!

Points: Record – 237 by Curtis Masich (2023.1)

  • Chaz has 127 half way through

Rebounds: Record – 135 by Gersitz (2021.3)

  • Chaz and Pauly P already have 80+
  • Gersitz is on pace to with 67

Assists: Record – 63 by Eric Boerdner and Tommy Hughes

  • Kellen Owen is going to be close, he has 31 half way through

Steals: Record – 36 by Boccio

  • Chaz has 18 and is on pace to equal the record

Blocks: Record – 19 by Jon Witt

  • Paul Palombo will threaten the record, he has 9 half way through the season.