Sam Presti biting Daryl Morey or other way around?

Analytics works wonders when you have 4 top-5 picks in a span of three years and one of them, Kevin Durant, basically falls into your lap.

 

According to some poster here analytics isn't used by Championship teams

 

Everyone uses them, they are good for data points, but most do not make their final decision based upon strictly numbers.

I believe even Morey says it is only part of the equation.

DD

 

To answer the question:

Presti has always been a stats geek.
Morey has always been a stats geek.

Neither "bit" from the other - but both have a similar outlook/ way of running their teams (ie salary flexibility, maintain bargains, only go "all in" on an absolute blue chip).

The main difference is that Presti was handed Durant early on and was able to build around him.


Worth noting that OKC's building to 'contender' status took 5 years from Durant to playoffs - which is about as quick as one could hope.

 

If the Sonics had the 1st pick that year they would have drafted Oden.

 

Exactly and Pritchard would be the genious behind all the playoff glory that the Blazers received.

 

It's all about opportunities and being able to capitalize on them. As of now, Morey hasn't really had the opportunity to grab a game changing type of player.

Other teams have.

 

The clear trend is that more and more teams are using these advanced stats, for good reason. Whatever edge the Rockets hoped to have in that regard is consequentially becoming harder and harder to find.

 

I thought the Dallas Mavericks used them.

 

Presti may have done it 1st, but Morey has done a very good job without a star. As a matter of fact, we have always given OKC trouble.

 

They do. They've got the founder of 82games.com on their payroll. Cuban and Carlisle both have an affinity for advanced stats. Wayne Winston, a pioneer of adjusted +/-, was (is?) a consultant for the Mavs for many years.

I remember Cuban blogging about why he traded Harris for Kidd based on adjusted +/-.

 

This.

This is why I am behind Morey. He built a helluva team around Yao Ming...now only if Yao Ming was here to complete that puzzle.

To me if Morey can get lucky and get that superstar people are really going to see how good of a GM he is when he feels out the team with complimentary players.

 

I hear opposing teams use trains full of eyeballs rather than nerd stats like "per minute".

 

It works if you have a guy good at his job. Which means applying them to get actual players instead of a bunch of medium level players. Everyone agrees there is such a thing as level of performance among mathematicians as well as GM performance. Not just the use of the method itself brings success.

 

I've forgotten the details but long odds also cost them a great native son, Blake Griffin. Clips came through in the lottery.

 

Well he needs to step his game up. People are vetoing his trades, leaving for greener pastures, getting on other teams and becoming stars, ignoring him, and straight up syaing Houston is not a desirable place to be over others.

That my friends? That last part? Needs to stop if he is good GM. A good GM makes a place more desirable.

 

Yes I agree.

Seriously, if Morey wants to be in the ranks of elite GM he needs to build Hollywood in Houston ASAP otherwise Les should fire him.

I mean, we all know it's Morey's fault that Houston doesn't provide the glamor and limelight that stars like Paul and Howard covet.

 

Don't be too extreme - as if he needs to build Hollywood.

He simply needs to "glitz up" the city a bit. If he was to build an exclusive new shopping mall, transform one of the suburbs to a desirable estate, and perhaps put in a beach somewhere, that would be fine.

 

Good Article.