We truly believe here at FantasyLabs that we have the most unique tools and data available to DFS users. However, we also realize that those tools and data are only as awesome and helpful as our ability to effectively communicate how to use everything. As such, we will continually listen to feedback of what you need and try our best to teach our subscribers how to use all of the cool things we have to offer.

With this in mind, we’ve begun a “Trend of the Day” series. Every weekday we’ll walk our subscribers through an important trend for that day’s slate of games.

Recently, we released our new and enhanced “True DvP” or Opponent Plus/Minus in our NBA Player Models. Check it out, as today’s Trend of the Day will reference it.

Trend: Centers versus Chicago

Step 1: Time Filters > NBA Season > Select “2015-2016”

Step 2: Player Filters > Position > Select “C”

If you read the True DvP post linked above, you know that we added in position splits, which makes the data way more accurate and predictive. In the NBA, players don’t always play one singular position all the time — as a result, using one number for each player and each team is a flawed approach.

However, the data is still useful here because Trends can be manually adjusted where Player Models cannot. More on this in one second…

Step 3: Team Filters > Opposing Team > Select “Chicago Bulls”

As you can see, the Plus/Minus is already really good. But finally let’s throw a minute minimum and see what we truly have.

Step 4: Projections > Proj Minutes > Set to “25 to 48″

And then today’s match:

In our Player Models, Greg Monroe has an Opponent Plus/Minus of +7.77, which as you can see above, is exactly what the number is above in our Trends. The reason the number matches exactly is because Monroe has played 100% of his minutes this season at center; if he had played any at PF, we would adjust for that position split.

However, and this is just more of a musing on data sets than anything else, you should be wary of setting arbitrary lines. For example, that +7.77 Plus/Minus (ridiculous, by the way) gets even crazier when we move it to a 28-minute threshold — the Plus/Minus grows to +9.94.

This is where you can use Trends and Player Models in unison — projecting minutes can be tough (it’s sometimes more of an art than a science, especially depending on the team), so use the Trends to see how the data is affected by adjusting filters. Monroe already has an amazing Opponent Plus/Minus tonight, but it grows if you adjust for a slight minute bump, up to 28. It grows even farther if you keep on adjusting.

We have to set a cut-off in our Models — it’s the only way to have automated, daily data available to you. However, cut-off points are always tricky. For example, if you look at the 25-minute threshold Matt Freedman talked about in his article today, you’ll see that SFs perform poorly under 25 minutes and well over 25 minutes.

The issue, of course, is that 25 is just one number, not a magical point. The negative Plus/Minus for players under 25 minutes is likely being dragged down by players getting only three to four minutes; likewise, the over-25-minute trend is likely being dragged up by players getting close to 40 minutes. If you followed that as gospel, you would in theory never play a player projected for 24 minutes but you would gladly play one projected at 26. That’s obviously silly.

The point of all of this is to use our Player Models but also use our Trends tool in tandem — they’re useful individually, of course, but they’re so powerful together.

Good luck tonight!