Dummy RAPM: Representing Low-Minute Players in Regularized Adjusted Plus-Minus

Abstract

Regularized Adjusted Plus-Minus (RAPM) uses stint-level lineup indicators to estimate player contributions to scoring margin. When low-minute player columns are removed, their stints remain in the data, but the design matrix no longer represents the complete lineup. Dummy RAPM restores this information using five indicators for the number of excluded players on each lineup side. Across 16 NBA seasons, chronological validation selects a 10-minute-per-appearance threshold and a dummy-to-player penalty ratio of 2.2. On held-out March-April games, Dummy RAPM reduces mean season game-margin RMSE from 12.897 to 12.856 and achieves lower RMSE in 13 of 16 seasons. The average reduction is 0.042 points, or 0.30%. Although the improvement in game-level predictive accuracy is small, it is consistent: RAPM performs better when it records how many excluded players are on each side.