Results 1 to 6 of 6
  1. #1
    Veteran SpursFan86's Avatar
    My Team
    San Antonio Spurs
    Join Date
    Apr 2013
    Post Count
    5,159
    http://espn.go.com/espn/feature/stor...ytics-rankings

    Spurs were one of 4 franchises that were put in the "All-in" category for the NBA. Here's what they said about us:

    During his diatribe against analytics on TNT earlier in February, Charles Barkley asked, "What analytics do the Spurs have?"


    The answer, Barkley might be surprised to learn, is plenty. Quietly, the Spurs have been leaders in applying and integrating analytics for years.


    The Spurs' famously fluid style of play comes in large part from the wisdom provided by the numbers. The Spurs get into their offense quickly and relentlessly seek out open shots from the 3-point line and at the basket. No team has attempted more corner 3s than the Spurs over the past decade, and under Gregg Popovich they've also excelled at taking away 3-pointers and shots at the rim, forcing opponents to the midrange.


    General manager R.C. Buford explained at the 2013 MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference how the Spurs had, years earlier, married Popovich's coaching instincts to analytics: "I think Pop got interested when he saw areas that weren't traditional basketball philosophy that were important to him supported by the data. He started asking different questions."


    The Spurs relied on consultants for years, and one, Gabe Farkas, was eventually made director of basketball analytics. The Spurs have one other full-time analyst and are known to utilize a number of outside experts and data services.


    The Spurs were early to recognize the value in SportVU player tracking, as one of the four original teams to install cameras in their arena and have used the data extensively. They also have been leaders in health, often resting players by cutting minutes and recording exertion in practice using Catapult Sports' GPS tracking technology.


    As an illustration of the depth of the Spurs' process, Buford explained how the team adjusted to the data and improved their defense after slipping to 11th in defensive rating in 2011-12:


    "I think we were valuing some things that weren't nearly as important as what the data showed. We learned from the Celtics on defensive rebounding. While they were really high in defensive efficiency, they weren't very high in defensive rebounding. It made us question, 'Is that really where we should be paying attention?' Those were discussions that were then brought to Pop from our coaches and from our analytics team. Some great discussions came from that that then led us to re-evaluate what's important for us."

  2. #2
    Less is More
    My Team
    San Antonio Spurs
    Join Date
    Jan 2012
    Post Count
    2,113
    Im pretty sure he means offensive rebounding in that last quote as Spurs are generally in the top of the NBA in defensive rebounding percentage and bottom in offensive %.

  3. #3
    "We'll do it this time" Bartleby's Avatar
    My Team
    San Antonio Spurs
    Join Date
    Apr 2008
    Post Count
    2,678
    It's cool how the moneyball approach has helped level the playing field for a small market team like the Spurs, but other teams seem to be catching on (which isn't surprising when you consider how many former Spurs people are either coaching or managing other teams).

  4. #4
    Believe. Malik Hairston's Avatar
    My Team
    San Antonio Spurs
    Join Date
    Nov 2009
    Post Count
    11,370
    Well, ya, this has been common knowledge to everybody except genetic lottery winners like Barkley, tbh..

    Barkley's stupidity is consistent, but it was never more evident then when he attempted to use the Spurs and Heat in an anti-analytics argument..

  5. #5
    Veteran
    My Team
    San Antonio Spurs
    Join Date
    May 2006
    Post Count
    6,645
    lmao at Lakers and Phil being in the bottom ten

  6. #6
    Veteran milkyway21's Avatar
    My Team
    San Antonio Spurs
    Join Date
    Nov 2004
    Post Count
    10,988
    http://espn.go.com/espn/feature/stor...ytics-rankings

    Spurs were one of 4 franchises that were put in the "All-in" category for the NBA. Here's what they said about us:
    Spurs won

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •