Points over expected vs true shooting percentage

What is the difference between points over expected and true shooting percentage?

True shooting percentage asks how efficiently a player scored. Points over expected asks how much he scored above what his shots were worth. The first is an efficiency rate, the second is a residual against a model, and they disagree whenever a player's shot diet is unusually easy or unusually hard.

True shooting percentage (TS%)

Points per scoring attempt, counting free throws at a fixed 0.44 weight.

TS% = PTS / (2 x (FGA + 0.44 x FTA))

Side by side

Points over expected vs true shooting percentage: what each measures
Yes, every attempt is priced by location and contextNo, a layup and a stepback count the same
Prices shot difficultyYes, every attempt is priced by location and contextNo, a layup and a stepback count the same
Values free throwsYes, above the rate the situation usually producesYes, but at a fixed 0.44 weight per attempt
BaselineThat season's own league rateNone; it is an absolute rate
UnitPoints per 100 possessionsPercent

Which should you use?

Use true shooting to ask who scored efficiently. Use points over expected to ask who beat the shots they took. A high-TS% rim finisher and a high-POE pull-up shooter are doing different things.

What neither measures

Neither separates a player from his team's spacing or playmaking, and neither measures defence.

Definitions: Points over expected per 100 possessions.

Over Expected is a basketball shot-value platform covering NBA, EuroLeague, EuroCup, Liga ACB, Lega Basket Serie A, Basketball Bundesliga, Greek Basket League, ABA Liga, WNBA.