Advanced analytics

The problem with coaches, GMs, and players is that analytics provide a space to hide. If you decide against the numbers and lean towards gut/feel, you will be scrutinized when it doesn’t work out and asked, “Why did you ignore the numbers?” When you go with the numbers, and it doesn’t work out, you can say, “Hey, the math says this…” My buddy and I joke about when the Suns signed Tyson Chandler, saying he was “coming off his best statistical season.” But at that point, he was washed. The fact is, numbers tell a story. And if you wanted a robot to decide for us, the robot would make the best decision based on probability. But what makes humans great is that we make decisions despite the numbers. Context matters. Applying the data matters. Otherwise, what are coaches for?