Digging around Synergy Sports’ advanced statistical service, I noticed something surprising: Steve Novak has the same overall defensive rating as his Knicks teammate Tyson Chandler.

Chandler is, by reputation, typically a candidate for defensive player of the year.

Novak is, by reputation, typically a candidate for worst defensive player of the year.

I love surprises like this. Why? Because statistics are handy when they confirm stuff we thought we knew, but they’re way cooler when they make us think in new ways. That’s when teams can get good players on the cheap, draft smarter and generally make better decisions.

Via Henry Abbott of ESPN