Morey's annual Dorkapalooza event is here and taking place over the next two days. I just wanted to give a heads up that Morey is doing a panel with Nate Silver that's supposed to be live streamed Saturday morning (9:15 CT) and you can get your questions in if you have any: <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Have a question for <a href="https://twitter.com/NateSilver538">@NateSilver538</a>? Post here: <a href="https://t.co/b1s2E3SW5J">https://t.co/b1s2E3SW5J</a> Tune in for live stream on our FB page Sat. 10:15AM! <a href="https://twitter.com/dmorey">@dmorey</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SSAC16?src=hash">#SSAC16</a></p>— Sloan Sports Conf. (@SloanSportsConf) <a href="https://twitter.com/SloanSportsConf/status/706534379950964736">March 6, 2016</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
I'm at the conference and will post anything interesting I hear that's Rockets-related. Here's a fun quote from JVG: "I had players that would stay out all night (Sura, Barry, Wesley) but would still be able to practice in the morning. Today's players stay out all night but then want to take the day off"
Another gem. Someone asked JVG if he ever got into a fight with Daryl about analytics. He responded with a story about Steve Novak, who was clearly a player Daryl liked and wanted to see in the lineup. "We cut Scott Padgett to create minutes for Steve Novak. Then I still didn't play Novak. Actually I played him one game against Utah and Boozer had him bent over, with 12 rebounds in a half. After that I put in Chuck Hayes and said ok, we're going back to two bigs."
it might be a good conference for those involved in the industry, but for the public it's a waste of time 1. everything is proprietary so nothing interesting is revealed 2. you have to pay a bunch of money to watch most of the content; screw that
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Getting players to accept analytics & pushback on info being paralyzing? JVG says "dumb gets you beat. Intelligence is undervalued" <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SSAC16?src=hash">#SSAC16</a></p>— Sloan Sports Conf. (@SloanSportsConf) <a href="https://twitter.com/SloanSportsConf/status/708305681892446208">March 11, 2016</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">"It's still not cool to be hip to the math." -<a href="https://twitter.com/ShaneBattier">@ShaneBattier</a> Still less than 50% players using analytics. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/analyticsinaction?src=hash">#analyticsinaction</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SSAC16?src=hash">#SSAC16</a></p>— Sloan Sports Conf. (@SloanSportsConf) <a href="https://twitter.com/SloanSportsConf/status/708306382521540609">March 11, 2016</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">"You gain that edge by making players go out of comfort zone. Numbers do that." <a href="https://twitter.com/ShaneBattier">@ShaneBattier</a> on selling analytics to <a href="https://twitter.com/KingJames">@KingJames</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SSAC16?src=hash">#SSAC16</a></p>— Sloan Sports Conf. (@SloanSportsConf) <a href="https://twitter.com/SloanSportsConf/status/708307410826436608">March 11, 2016</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Most important thing all weekend: "Let the plan fail you. Don't fail the plan." <a href="https://twitter.com/ShaneBattier">@ShaneBattier</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AnalyticsinAction?src=hash">#AnalyticsinAction</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SSAC16?src=hash">#SSAC16</a></p>— Sloan Sports Conf. (@SloanSportsConf) <a href="https://twitter.com/SloanSportsConf/status/708309476747694080">March 11, 2016</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Coaches being willing to take accountability, like JVG, gives the players freedom to follow the game plan <a href="https://twitter.com/ShaneBattier">@ShaneBattier</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SSAC16?src=hash">#SSAC16</a></p>— Sloan Sports Conf. (@SloanSportsConf) <a href="https://twitter.com/SloanSportsConf/status/708310172251377664">March 11, 2016</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">On rest: "Sometimes Shane's cortisol is high.. mine is higher. We need to practice not rest. There's no award for Most Rested" - JVG <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SSAC16?src=hash">#SSAC16</a></p>— Sloan Sports Conf. (@SloanSportsConf) <a href="https://twitter.com/SloanSportsConf/status/708312198435708928">March 11, 2016</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/ESPNNBA">@ESPNNBA</a>'s Jeff Van Gundy on more player rest in <a href="https://twitter.com/NBA">@NBA</a>. "Stop playing video games until two." <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SSAC16?src=hash">#SSAC16</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/SloanSportsConf">@SloanSportsConf</a></p>— Ben Cafardo (@Ben_ESPN) <a href="https://twitter.com/Ben_ESPN/status/708311647224332288">March 11, 2016</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">"The persistence to be great is more important than the program we put him on." -Jeff van Gundy <a href="https://twitter.com/ShaneBattier">@ShaneBattier</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SSAC16?src=hash">#SSAC16</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/analyticsinaction?src=hash">#analyticsinaction</a></p>— Sloan Sports Conf. (@SloanSportsConf) <a href="https://twitter.com/SloanSportsConf/status/708313250987900928">March 11, 2016</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">How invasive is too invasive? “I’m glad I retired before they found out I had 2 bottles of wine on my off day” <a href="https://twitter.com/ShaneBattier">@ShaneBattier</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SSAC16?src=hash">#SSAC16</a></p>— Sloan Sports Conf. (@SloanSportsConf) <a href="https://twitter.com/SloanSportsConf/status/708313442298556416">March 11, 2016</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/ShaneBattier">@Shanebattier</a> says his 7-year old is pulling up a foot behind the line & launching 3s (and making them!) @ the YMCA <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ItsARevolution?src=hash">#ItsARevolution</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SSAC16?src=hash">#SSAC16</a></p>— Sloan Sports Conf. (@SloanSportsConf) <a href="https://twitter.com/SloanSportsConf/status/708315576129687552">March 11, 2016</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">8 from the Kings - they all brought their resumes. RT <a href="https://twitter.com/KnicksVU">@KnicksVU</a>: A rough headcount of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBA?src=hash">#NBA</a> attendance at <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SSAC16?src=hash">#SSAC16</a>. <a href="https://t.co/pJy6ehLEGl">pic.twitter.com/pJy6ehLEGl</a></p>— Bill Simmons (@BillSimmons) <a href="https://twitter.com/BillSimmons/status/708326064355803136">March 11, 2016</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">On stage, Daryl Morey listed signature accomplishments of Sloan's first decade. Real Plus-Minus first on his list. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SSAC?src=hash">#SSAC</a></p>— Henry Abbott (@TrueHoop) <a href="https://twitter.com/TrueHoop/status/708280951370096640">March 11, 2016</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SSAC16?src=hash">#SSAC16</a> "San Antonio shows that you can play good offense w two bigs on the floor. Play to your roster composition" JVG</p>— Leigh Klein (@leighalanklein) <a href="https://twitter.com/leighalanklein/status/708315420021944321">March 11, 2016</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">"The only way u improve in the NBA is if u have a leash to fail" - Battier <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AnalyticsInAction?src=hash">#AnalyticsInAction</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SSAC16?src=hash">#SSAC16</a></p>— Mitch Howe (@RealMitchHowe) <a href="https://twitter.com/RealMitchHowe/status/708314129707245568">March 11, 2016</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SSAC16?src=hash">#SSAC16</a> "until you have the freedom to try something and fail in a game- can you add things in your game" Shane Battier</p>— Leigh Klein (@leighalanklein) <a href="https://twitter.com/leighalanklein/status/708314238616469504">March 11, 2016</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">"We did body fat testing, and if you were fat, you rode a bike forever." Jeff Van Gundy. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SSAC16?src=hash">#SSAC16</a></p>— Nicholas W. Goss (@NickGossNESN) <a href="https://twitter.com/NickGossNESN/status/708313509965205504">March 11, 2016</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Shane Battier's concern about analytics during his playing days was how the data might be weaponized to lower his value. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SSAC16?src=hash">#SSAC16</a></p>— Positive Residual (@presidual) <a href="https://twitter.com/presidual/status/708313455820988417">March 11, 2016</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SSAC16?src=hash">#SSAC16</a> "Curry's persistence to be great- the mental makeup is what's the difference" JVG</p>— Leigh Klein (@leighalanklein) <a href="https://twitter.com/leighalanklein/status/708313186030776320">March 11, 2016</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">VanGundy points at Battier " He might have been chuggin two bottles of wine a night, but he came ready to play." <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SSAC16?src=hash">#SSAC16</a></p>— Carl Backman (@carlbackman) <a href="https://twitter.com/carlbackman/status/708313049141284864">March 11, 2016</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">JVG: "they're sending Embiid to Qatar. I don't give a **** about that. I want him to play." <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SSAC16?src=hash">#SSAC16</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/analyticsinaction?src=hash">#analyticsinaction</a></p>— Brendan Jackson (@jacksobd) <a href="https://twitter.com/jacksobd/status/708312052620771328">March 11, 2016</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">"There's no medal for Most Rested Team at the end of the season." - Jeff Van Gundy on practice over rest through the season <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SSAC16?src=hash">#SSAC16</a></p>— Timothy Lawson (@TimLawson21) <a href="https://twitter.com/TimLawson21/status/708311500000247808">March 11, 2016</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">JVG: Rest is sleep. Just giving a guy the game off doesn’t help if they’re out clubbing all night. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SSAC16?src=hash">#SSAC16</a></p>— Benjamin Gaines (@benjamingaines) <a href="https://twitter.com/benjamingaines/status/708311419603779584">March 11, 2016</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
#SSAC16, a reporter asked Morey a question in his panel, what kind of analytic data you gathered from this Rockets season epic failure? The whole place was silenced for 20 minutes.
What you can gleam from those JVG quotes is the concept of "accountability." Being accountable to your team and to yourself to be great.
Haven't watched it yet but I assume Morey talks about how talent trumps all and about how chemistry and continuity are useless because there are no buttons for them on his calculator.
DM on trading for Shane: "With Tracy and Yao in their prime we thought Shane was the perfect fit on the offensive and defensive end. Also part of our thinking was his ability to throw an entry pass to Yao. We treated that like throwing 100 in skee ball." DM on underperforming this year: "We've had a tough year - we're not going to get them all right. It's mostly about execution. One of the dangers of having success is it makes you think you did everything right. In reality a lot of things went our way last year (e.g., San Antonio losing on the last day of the regular season and the Clippers being a home series not a road series). At the same time when you don't succeed it doesn't mean you did everything wrong." "Our defense is bad, our transition defense is bad. If it was simple we'd fix it. We feel we can absolutely pull it together. We feel we can match up with most of the teams in the league we could face in the first round but not all of them. If you advance it means you're playing well and good things can happen from there." On team building: "We know how to build 40+ win teams. We're trying to go beyond that and make big bets to try to win a championship. That philosophy pre-dates me and goes back to the Clyde Drexler trade when we were already champs." On chemistry: "I don't agree at all that we have bad chemistry. No one was writing last year that we had great chemistry so it's just a convenient storyline for the writers. The reality is that we have players who performed last year who aren't performing this year. We had a lot of opportunity and things go our way last year that aren't going our way this year." On the Sixers: "I agree 100% with their strategy."