Analytics are a big part of today’s NBA and the Los Angeles Lakers are trying to catch up with the rest of the league by expanding their operations. By having a bigger front office, it allows for employees to dive deeper on statistics to find areas of strengths and weaknesses.
However, Lakers legend Robert Horry does not seem fond of this newly-found analytical view on basketball as he thinks they should get thrown out the window, especially when it comes to the postseason.
“I’m a old school guy. I think if everybody look at what Kenny Atkinson said, they should throw analytics out the window,” Horry said on ESPN LA. “Because analytics only happens for 82 [games], analytics does not happen in the playoffs because you get a chance to lock in on a team for four games, five games, six games, whatever it may be. So, analytics need to be tossed out the window because I know how to stop your favorite play.
“It ain’t just one night when I’m coming off a back-to-back or I’m coming of a team who just came off playing someone I don’t really care about because think about how many times teams lose to teams that you’re like, ‘There’s no way in the world they should have lost to that team.’ So, analytics only counts for 82 [games], the analytics should never be applied in the playoffs. No, because I’m locked in on you for four games, maybe four or more games. Yes, that goes with me knowing what your favorite movie is. Me knowing like, ‘OK, did you have a fight with your kids? Did you have a fight with your wife? Did you have to worry about 30 tickets for this playoff game?’ I don’t trust analytics and analytics is just a way for some nerd to get a job that he could never play a sport. It’s everywhere, man.
“I tell you it goes back to where you give every kid a trophy and you cannot do that. You got to make someone want to fight to be better. Now if you kick my butt, you know what, I’m going to go home, I’m going to go analyze what you did. I’m going to think about it and I’m going to go get better. I’m going to the gym and get better to kick your butt. I’m going to keep finding a way. Nowadays, you kick my butt, I’m just going to go over here to another team. Oh, I’m just going to go over here to another team. I’m just going to move around because I’m uncomfortable and you got to be comfortable being uncomfortable and work out of that situation.”
It’s a long-winded answer on the wide world of analytics, but Horry does make a valid point when it comes to playoff basketball. It ultimately boils down to personnel, the mental battle that goes into preparation and a high level of determination to win 16 games.
Analytics can help determine strengths and weaknesses of a team, which head coach JJ Redick is extremely knowledgeable about. But connecting it to L.A.’s offseason, general manager Rob Pelinka needs to find role players who play with force as Horry said while having it backed by a play style that can flourish in today’s NBA.
Luka Doncic: Winning championship with Lakers is most important thing
Parity is at an all-time high with this season featuring an eighth new champion, showcasing how difficult it is to repeat. Teams like the Lakers believe they have a realistic chance to compete for a title given how much changes yearly in the NBA.
For Luka Doncic, he wants to win at a high level and he knows what is expected playing in Los Angeles. After his first full season in L.A., Doncic knows winning a championship is the most important thing at this point.
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