The Mavs were a very deep team last year. The accumulation of many quality players accounted for their salary cap figures. If you look closely at their roster, no one is overpaid. Quite the opposite.
It has already worked for us. However, moneyball is not supposed to bring you championship, it's supposed to build you a very good team. Whether that team would be a championship team depends on a lot of other things. To be frank, we are still in a position to deal for a star. And even if we do land a star, Dallas, Thunders... also have deep pockets and superstars already with similar moneyball strategy deployed. That is, we will be competitive but has no advantage at all if things progress well. It's not like moneyball is a secret weapon and we are the only one having that. It's working already and it's not supposed to be magical anyway, and we can enjoy competitive basketball along the way.
lul wut? Just because Dallas only had one superstar (lol, ONLY 'one' superstar) and a bunch of gritty role players/cast-offs doesn't mean they employed Moneyball. In fact, Cuban is known for spending generously to field a competitive team every year. They have had the one of the highest payrolls in the league since Cuban took over. Check yo facts foo.
It works, but it hasn't been that long since we were shackled to Yao's and McGrady's contracts. I believe we're better this season both in terms of the team on the floor and in terms of assets to offer in trade than we have been since Yao went down. We're improving gradually, it will just take time or a perfect trade or a huge stroke of luck to elevate us to the next level.
Again that becomes an issue of depth. The Mavericks have a very high payroll because they have a very deep team. Yes payroll is high, but moneyball isn't necessarily only about salary. Cuban's approach directly correlates to moneyball in many ways. Hell, he was even a speaker Sloan Sports Analytics Conference this year. Not one player on the roster is overpayed. Not one. Outside of Dirk, the Mavs won a chip with very low salary players. It's the reason he let Chandler walk. Its the reason he let Barea walk. Its the reason he picked up Odom who was outperforming his contract. Its the reason he signed Vince Carter to a 3 mil deal. Just because he doesn't mind paying luxery tax, doesn't mean it has anything to do with the inherent principles of moneyball.
I couldn't vote because my opinion isn't offered as a choice: "yes I agree with moneyball and it's working". As was mentioned by a few others earlier in this thread, the Rockets frustrating situation right now is a result of a couple of injured superstars. IMO - DM had a hell of a team put together, built around those two. The year we finally got out of the 1st round (against Portland), and took LA to 7 games in the semis, I think we were on our way to the next round of championship years. If it weren't for those injuries, I bet DM would have built himself a big three. Even if he weren't able to do that, even as constructed they could have been at least in contention into the foreseeable future. I think when you are investigating if this theory works or not, and make the arguement that the Rockets are always on the outside looking in as evidence that it doesn't, then it isn't entirely accurate. We do seem to be on the outside looking in a lot lately, but the moneyball concept can't be blamed alone, or really at all IMO. Thinking about it in a little bit wider scope will bring to light a more accurate understanding of what is actually happening.
Thats true, them using moneyball techniques is the reason they are considered a moneyball team. Total amount of money spent has nothing to do with the moneyball player evaluation technique. You are confused.
What kind of logic is that? Seriously? Odom was 6th man of the year last year at 8 million dollars. He was averaging 14ppg on 530% from the field. Do you have any idea how efficient that is for a combo forward? He was also rebounding 9 boards per game at that slot. 8 million for that kind of production is more than incredible. No one knew he would have emotional issues upon being traded. Had Cuban known, he most certainly wouldn't have traded for him. Why would you bring up his stats this year? It has nothing to do with the move to acquire him? What an absolutely dumb statement on your part. FAIL.
According to facts Cuban and his staff have indeed been using moneyball. Cuban has been a regular at the Sports Analytics conference thingy the past few years now. Not only that he employed the maker of 82games.com as an assistant coach, and he was able to provide the team with the lineups that were most productive. The Mavs have gone publicly saying $ball was a big instrument to their success numerous times. Why don't you check your facts before asking others to check theirs? I'll even do you a favor and link to this article: http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/post/_/id/30227/carlisle-pushed-all-of-the-right-buttons As for $Ball, the essence of it is using statistical analysis to determine the best players with the limited resources you have. Most of the time the limited resource is money/capspace, however Cuban is a billionaire who doesn't care about the Mavs' bottom line. In his case, money is an unlimited resource, and things like Dirk's longevity were prioritized more. When Cuban was writing all those checks, he already explained that he wasn't doing that because he was generous, it was because the previous system allowed you to fix everything with money, which is why he was fine taking gambles on vets and then paying them off if they didn't pan out. Now, he can't do that any more because of the new cap rules, which is why he didn't extend Tyson Chandler.
Unfortunately, moneyball does not take into account a player's tendencies and personality. Also, the Mavs traded basically nothing for Odom. It was a no-brainer at the time and any championship caliber team would be more than willing to take the reigning 6th man of the year for a pick and exception. You can pick out a lot of bad moves in hindsight, doesn't mean the move made initially wasn't a good one.
Absolutely correct. Thank you for putting it so bluntly. I swear to God....hardly anyone seems to know what Moneyball actually is, including the OP, yet everyone wants to talk out of their ass all the time....
Yes I believe in it and I think it works. I agree with mattrbowers in that this option isn't available. I don't think Daryl's analyzing incorrectly, i think that there is that "human element" that can't really be measured. Like JVG said, Daryl understands that numbers aren't the answer. I don't think the coaches are holding Daryl back, i think it's Les that's holding him back. Lastly, i think we've been getting good enough players for a relatively cheap price/low pick. i.e. Bud, Lowry, Parsons, and Scola just to name a few. So I would say "Yes, i believe in it, and it's working."
For those people who think eyeball is more reliable than computerized analytic, I wonder if they would also say the same thing with their physicians, airplane pilots, building engineers, etc. Heck, I wonder if they would tell the cop who stops them for speeding, "My eyeballs told me my speed was within legal limit."
