+/- is not an indicator of anything.
Let's take a few scenarios.
A) Over a season Phil relegates Lamar to a specific role on the team. Odom plays 15 mpg total, no more, no less. But Odom's 15 minutes only come while Kobe sits on the bench. Phil has his reasons, but he remains cryptic and a bit creepy.
B) Over a season Phil relegates Lamar to a specific role on the team. Odom plays 15 mpg total. But Phil believes that Lamar plays better with Kobe on the floor. Lamar plays his 15 mpg only when Kobe is still in the game. Odom does not register a minute the whole season with Kobe on the bench.
In which scenario would Lamar Odom have the better +/-?
Is Odom's +/- dependent on how much Kobe plays?
Let's keep it simple. Let's keep Kobe constant. Say, when he is on the floor, the Lakers' defense is better.
In which scenario would Lamar Odom have the better +/-?
C/D) Jordan Farmer and even Sun Yae are injured for the second half of the season and the Lakeshow is forced to resign Smush Parker. Phil decides to experiment. He plays Odom either only with Derek Fisher or only with Smush.
In which scenario would Lamar Odom have the better +/-?
E/F) Phil is bored. He decides to experiment. Sometimes he plays Odom only with Bynum, sometime he plays him only with Pau.
G) Jeannie Buss has an idea. Phil decides to play along. She notices that Odom has a better +/- on dates with even days. Phil only plays Odom on even days.
H) Bloggers love +/-. So do fans. +/- gets so popular that ESPN adds it to the box scores. Lamar loves the box scores and begins to track his +/-. He loves it. He can't get enough of it. He devotes himself to improving his +/-.
