unfortunately, a categorical dismissal for that sort of reason is misguided. No analyst worth their salt looks at one stat to reach a conclusion about one player versus another. That is called "turning off your brain." You can't even say "player X has more PPG, therefore he is a better scorer." Because context matters.
Instead, good analysts view stats in context -- in combination with other stats, testing hypotheses with empirical facts, and watching basketball. If you see a guy who seems to do little things right that helps the team win, but do not show up on standard box score, check out RPM and other plus/minus. Do they support your hypothesis? If so your hypothesis is strengthened. If not, are there other ways the guy is hurting your team that offset the positive things he is doing? People look at Gobert and see a game changing defender. DRPM backs this up. People looked at Hayward and believed that he was a solid defender and DRPM said he was consistently mediocre. Do you conclude he is mediocre and stop thinking? Of course not. This is where analysis STARTS, not ENDS. So you ask why? You watch games more closely. Are things he is doing on defense shutting down his cover but are his rotations inferior? Does he miss boxouts and does this lead to easy baskets that hurt his team? Are you biased in a way that affects your point of view? Or is the statistic misleading for certain types of players? Why might that be? Think, test, rethink, retest. it's a cool process.
By thinking and viewing a set of statistics and observations, you build insight. Give it a shot!
