| Dean Oliver | Dean Oliver is a former player, coach, and scout, now serving in the front office of the Denver Nuggets. His longtime website, Journal of Basketball Studies, and subsequent 2003 book, Basketball on Paper, brought him recognition as a principal leader in the field. His research into the importance of pace and possessions, how teamwork affects individual statistics, defensive statistics, and the importance of a player's ability to create their own shot has been groundbreaking. His development of the Four Factors of Basketball Success (field-goal shooting, offensive rebounds, turnovers and getting to the free-throw line) also helps provide a useful framework for evaluation of players and teams. |