[Basel A]

Originally Posted by Ed Law

Numerically, DPR = OPR - CCWM (calculated contribution to winning margin). A team will have high DPR if their CCWM is low or negative comparing to OPR. Low DPR means a team is good in defense. Basically it means they do not allow their opponents to score much.
I do not agree with low DPR is a result of opposing alliance's inability to score. Over a number of matches, those teams with low OPRs will also cause other teams to experience the same thing. A team's DPR will only be higher or lower based on how they perform on average comparing to other teams. Remember OPR, DPR and CCWM are all calculations of that team's calculated contribution.

The problem with DPR is that when teams do not play defence, DPR can be unpredictable. While it will take into account offensive hoarding by the team (if applicable), this is not always significant compared to mostly-random fluctuations, including schedule.

Occasionally, DPR will take into account non-random factors other than the team's robot, though. In 2011, a team's human player could play a significant role in determining opponents score. A human player's output (# of tubes thrown) and accuracy (% of tubes picked up by own alliance) definitely affect opponent score, for example. A human player who threw many tubes or wasn't very accurate could result in a team having a high DPR.

In 2012, human players aren't a factor, but hoarding as an alliance strategy certainly is (note that an alliance could control 15 of the 18 balls at a time). A low DPR by a team not playing defence would probably be indicative of such a strategy.