Pistons hire Ken Catanella as Director of Basketball Operations
by Mike Payne on Dec 5, 2011 4:31 PM EST
in Detroit Pistons News
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PrintThis afternoon, Joe Dumars announced that the Pistons have hired Ken Catanella as the Director of Basketball Operations, a new role that didn't exist in Detroit last season. Catanella will round out the team of Joe Dumars and Scott Perry, focusing on salary cap management and basketball analytics. Catanella is no stranger to crunching numbers for basketball teams, having worked with the New Jersey Nets, the Philadelphia 76ers and the German League 99ers in an analytics capacity.
Prior to joining the German Bundesliga's Cologne 99ers as assistant GM, Catanella played for the team after a college career at Amhurst. Catanella also spent time on Wall Street after working as a graduate assistant to the Duke Blue Devil's mens basketball team.
Catanella has ties with new Pistons coach Lawrence Frank, having worked with the New Jersey Nets between 2006 and 2008, developing and managing their statistical scouting systems. Ken was involved with the decisions of the 2008 NBA draft, where the Nets selected Brook Lopez 10th, Ryan Anderson 21st, and Chris Douglas-Roberts 40th. Each of these players have outperformed their draft positioning, which could reflect the value of having a guy like Catanella on staff.
Curious, however, is the similarity in titling between Joe Dumars and Ken Catanella. Ken Catanella is the Director of Basketball Operations, Dumars is the President of Basketball Operations. The question is where this hiring will leave VP of Basketball Operations Scott Perry in the pecking order, and whether or not this hiring will place additional pressure on Dumars to adequately improve this roster.
There is plenty of pub about Ken Catanella available online, including this 2008 interview with Henry Abbott of TrueHoop. In that interview, Catanella discusses a bit about his process:
My background is in valuing companies for investment banks or mutual fund companies. It's making a projection based on past performance, trying to answer the question "what here really indicates likely future success?"
Figuring that out really starts in conversations with the coaching staff, and trying to get a sense of what kinds of stats could be important. I did a lot of that when I was on Coach K's staff, and I'm lucky enough to work with Lawrence Frank.
Then, based on those insights, we do a bit of regression, which helps to project how different players' careers might play out in the NBA.
What goes into the mix is not any one magic number, though.
There are typical efficiency stats. There are anthropometric ratings like wing span, body fat, vertical leap, standing reach and the like. There are strength of schedule ratings. There is looking at who they were on the court against, and who they were on the court with. There are +/- numbers. The numbers really run the whole gamut. You try to find anything that you can measure that might be helpful, and put it all in the mix.
Welcome to Detroit, Ken, many of us have been hoping for a guy like you for years...
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I’ll be interested to see if they disclose in any detail what types of metrics they’re using and if they’re publicly available or proprietary.
But regardless of what metrics are or aren’t employed, I’m happy we’ve finally got someone with some authority who bases decisions on evidence, not gut feeling.
"With logic he attacks. With statistics he defends."
this part blew me away
If you read that interview with TrueHoop, Catanella talks about how he selects and uses his stats for different settings, but not precisely which stats he uses. What blew me away is that he doesn’t use box score stats for his own teams— the Nets employed a video team that would review each individual play and build their own box scores, stat lines, +/-, etc.
The boxscore is lacking on that front. With the right people doing the charting, and the right methodology for collecting all the data, that can be powerful.
It’s objective and subjective. The people charting the information have to know how to view certain plays. And you have to factor in how a certain play was coached. Was the defender told to hug Dirk Nowitzki on the pick and roll? If Nowitzki scores, whose fault was that?
I’d love to see how Catanella’s box scores compare to the official NBA box scores, which we’ve all seen to be incorrect at times.
"Mike Payne is a walking-talking-hate-spewing-fire-breathing example of how exactly NOT to use supposed "statistical" analysis in the game of basketball."
Yes fanbase, we know that Villanueva doesn’t look good on “traditional” box scores. But on our own secretly-developed box scores, he’s really tearing it up.
No, uh… wait. I had this upside-down. Hmm… okay. No, yeah… he sucks on ours too. Who signed this f*cking guy?
by TDP on Dec 5, 2011 5:36 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
This could be the most significant hire of the Gores/Frank era.
A MARGINALIZED JOD. BRING IT TO ME.
by -PS- on Dec 5, 2011 5:17 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
Is this the future we were dreaming of?
What if everything we wanted to happen is slowly taking place?
…I’m going to keep a spare set of pants around just in case
Welcome... to the Wallace-hood
Is this the future we were dreaming of?
If only we had some sort of time travel device to learn the truth…
My federal building is way cooler than your federal building.
by bugman222 on Dec 6, 2011 8:02 AM EST up reply actions 4 recs
As to the conflicting postions of Perry and Catanella
I’m hoping after every bonehead move JoD mulls over in his head, Perry and Catanella get together and construct an informative statistic laden powerpoint presentation for him which still manages to be colorful and full of animations to keep his interest, and afterwards give him a complimentary deepfried snickers bar. He’ll ink their deal in no time
We didn't lose the games, we just ran out of time -- Bobby Layne
Lol
What’s up with all those titles? Holy Bureaucracy, Batman!!!
Isn’t Director and VP kind of the same thing? Isn’t Director and Pres kind of the same thing?
I’d be surprised if CofC isn’t Dumars/Perry/Cantanella, considering who is responsible in evaluating talent is which capacity. But, it’s confusing and laughable at the same time.
This is DBB, and this is what we do.
My opinion has been that Dumars should continue to be the face of the franchise, but people who use more objective evidence for decision making should actually make the decisions.
It looks like this is a step in that direction. I’ll take it.
"With logic he attacks. With statistics he defends."
At the very least, this means that Dumars will be receiving advice from someone using and understanding analytics.
by Birdman84 on Dec 6, 2011 11:13 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Isn't That
Attacking with statistics and defending with logic? Just sayin’…
This is DBB, and this is what we do.
by V. on Dec 6, 2011 3:28 PM EST up reply actions
He drafted Ryan Anderson?
Sign me up!
How's that for a slice of fried gold?
by Thom not Tom Gores on Dec 6, 2011 1:29 PM EST reply actions
Not sure if sarcastic
I’d take dude in a heartbeat if I wanted an off-the-bench stretch. Dude is what I had hoped Charlie V would end up being. Crazy enough, Anderson was 8th in the league in per minute win shares last season, a solid rebounder and lights out perimeter shooter.
"Mike Payne is a walking-talking-hate-spewing-fire-breathing example of how exactly NOT to use supposed "statistical" analysis in the game of basketball."
Thought we were bros, MP! You should know better!
I love Ryan Anderson. The guy was easily the 2nd best player on the Magic last season, and I would’ve pointed out his per-minute win shares if you hadn’t. He’s basically a better version of Rashard Lewis. Dude even rebounds better than Shard.
How's that for a slice of fried gold?
by Thom not Tom Gores on Dec 6, 2011 2:39 PM EST up reply actions
A Conversation
I envision this Citronella guy being like James Spader on The Office. I refuse to look at a picture of him. It’s true for me.
Caron Butler: Hey, you wanted to see me?
Citronella: Right. Karen Butler
Caron Butler: It’s Caron
Citronella: We’ll see. What do you need to be a Piston?
Caron Butler: 4 yrs. $30M
Citronella: You realize I could buy 50 Tuscan villas for that, right?
Caron Butler: Um…
Citronella: It doesn’t look like you can shoot. Is that true?
Caron Butler: Shooting is not my strength.
Citronella: Okay, and we are talking now about the game where one team tries to outscore the other?
Caron Butler: Ideally, yes.
Citronella: By putting a ball through a hoop?
Caron Butler: Correct.
Citronella: I also see you don’t rebound.
Caron Butler: I’m a bit short for that.
Citronella: So you do not put the ball in the hoop, nor do you go get the ball so that others may put it through the hoop?
Caron Butler: All I do is win. I’ve got championship experience.
Citronella: How many championship games have you played in?
Caron Butler: None, sir. It’s about attitude.
Joe Dumars: popping out of the closet You see why I like this guy? Attitude.
Citronella: Joe, here’s a $20 bill. Go get yourself some sub sandwiches.
Joe Dumars: Alright. Welcome to the team, Karen. leaves
Caron Butler: Caron.
Citronella: I’m going with Karen.
Caron Butler: As long as you show me the money.
Citronella: I like your hustle. You’ll work with me.
Caron Butler: On my jumpshot?
Citronella: No. Dumars has five years of player profiles. I need someone to help explain what all these emoticons mean. Pay is $13.
Caron Butler: Excuse me?
Citronella: See Langlois in HR on the way out. He’ll get you set up in the system.
Caron Butler: Why, I never…
Citronella: semi-colon backslash. Is that what he thinks of the player or is it Popeye the sailor man?
by Kevin Sawyer on Dec 6, 2011 3:25 PM EST reply actions 8 recs
You Could Do One Of Those DIY Animations On This Convo
…now that would be awesome.
This is DBB, and this is what we do.
by V. on Dec 6, 2011 3:32 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
I wanna get excited
but we have no idea if whatever analytics this guy uses are valid or not. so we’re letting a draft class be the basis? college to pros has virtually no correlation.
how hard would it be for dumars to google win shares or wins produced, or even PER? or buy a basketball prospectus and use warp? or subscribe to synergy? there’s all these tools out there at anyone’s disposal, and things I think a lot of us believe in.
if the guy has good stuff I’m happy. if he’s getting paid to do what we all do in our spare time on a daily basis I’m jealous. if he’s getting paid to use his own kooky bad metrics I’m pissed. dumars probably just picked the stat guy that came up with a metric that says Ben Gordon is good and reinforces his beliefs.
time will tell. either way there’s no way this type of hire would have been made before.
by mcflies on Dec 6, 2011 6:06 PM EST via mobile reply actions 1 recs
College to pros translates reasonably well
Also, so long as the metric he’s using isn’t PPG, championship experience, length, smoothness or hustle, he is light years beyond where we are currently.
The metric should also include handsomeness. DET has struck gold two drafts in a row choosing the best beautifullest player available.
Greg Monroe and Austin Daye?
I mean, I dunno what dudes get into, but… I mean…
stop it.
Jonas Jerebko once killed a charging female rhinoceros in heat protecting its young with nothing more than a hook shot.
Love Beer? Me too! http://jimbobsbeerblog.wordpress.com/
Follow me on twitter: #JimBobsBeerBlog
Let's be real, I think you can "out-metric" Dumars after a couple weeks of reading this blog
We all know Dumars spent at least one draft looking at the metrics of length, smoothness, and strokability. Even if he’s got some crackpot metrics, they have to be better than what we have, and it has to get past Gores and his boys.
Welcome... to the Wallace-hood
The hardcore numbers guys use their own system
Houston, for instance, has entire teams dedicated just towards translating film into their own metrics
Without a doubt, squats are a cure for everything.
by bearded thundar on Dec 6, 2011 8:28 PM EST up reply actions
I like to my own system called “Gooder At Basketball Than U”. It hasn’t quite caught on yet, but when it does, WATCH OUT.
by garrettelliott on Dec 6, 2011 9:59 PM EST up reply actions 4 recs
you need to give it a number...
like version 3000…people will then think you’ve refined it at least 2,999 times and this is the latest most perfect version.
Jonas Jerebko once killed a charging female rhinoceros in heat protecting its young with nothing more than a hook shot.
Love Beer? Me too! http://jimbobsbeerblog.wordpress.com/
Follow me on twitter: #JimBobsBeerBlog
by The Boourns on Dec 7, 2011 1:29 AM EST up reply actions 3 recs
I use two different metrics that I've personally developed.
Fundamental Aptitude Related Tracking and Player Over Oppositional Performance
FART is the one that I prefer, but then again, who doesn’t love their own brand?
POOP, while often more solid, can be a little nutty at times.
by TDP on Dec 7, 2011 11:05 PM EST up reply actions 4 recs
I agree with this.
However, as long as it’s not some homegrown, proprietary metric that is immune from any third party criticism, it’s at least a step in the right direction.
Even PER, the worst of the worst publicly available, popular metrics, is better than Jod’s gut feelings.
"With logic he attacks. With statistics he defends."
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