Can't believe this thread hasn't been made already. Anyway, this thread is for all news, discussion, tweets, articles, speeches, etc from the 2014 MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference from today, February 28th, 2014 - March 1. I'll start it off with a link to the research paper finalists who are competing for a $20,000 grand prize: http://www.sloansportsconference.com/?page_id=462
Some tweets from Morey's presentations today: <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Daryl Morey lauds Adam Silver for being forward-thinking and willing to tinker with the NBA. Expect changes to the game. <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23SSAC14&src=hash">#SSAC14</a></p>— Ben Gaines (@benjamingaines) <a href="https://twitter.com/benjamingaines/statuses/439401283003621377">February 28, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Morey discussing the inconvenience of the "foul timeout foul timeout" endings of close games. Looking for better alternatives. <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23ssac14&src=hash">#ssac14</a></p>— Mason Ginsberg (@MasonGinsberg) <a href="https://twitter.com/MasonGinsberg/statuses/439401526294224896">February 28, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Daryl Morey says rule changes in the NBA need enough owners on board, but honestly they don't listen <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23ssac14&src=hash">#ssac14</a></p>— Steve Kyler (@stevekylerNBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/stevekylerNBA/statuses/439405301289463808">February 28, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Daryl Morey: the idea of 7 game series hurts the NBA. (they're talking about heightened interest with single elimination) <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23ssac14&src=hash">#ssac14</a></p>— BBALLBREAKDOWN (@bballSource) <a href="https://twitter.com/bballSource/statuses/439406517788639232">February 28, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Morey's hardest sell to his coach: "The loss of control." <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23SSAC14&src=hash">#SSAC14</a></p>— Jordan White (@JordanSWhite) <a href="https://twitter.com/JordanSWhite/statuses/439409830483464192">February 28, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Daryl Morey says Dwight Howard in their offense does know when he is going to get the ball unlike plays he got in Orlando <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23SSAC14&src=hash">#SSAC14</a></p>— Steve Kyler (@stevekylerNBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/stevekylerNBA/statuses/439409934749696000">February 28, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Morey & Karl both emphasizing how slow playing offenses are inefficient. Quick decisions before D is set far more successful. <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23SSAC14&src=hash">#SSAC14</a></p>— Mason Ginsberg (@MasonGinsberg) <a href="https://twitter.com/MasonGinsberg/statuses/439411462608814080">February 28, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>NBA guys asked was any way to stop fouling at the end of games... Morey says make one foul shot worth 2 points. Karl says FTs huge <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23SSAC14&src=hash">#SSAC14</a></p>— Steve Kyler (@stevekylerNBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/stevekylerNBA/statuses/439412177167208449">February 28, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Daryl Morey just said the difference btwn fouling when up 3 versus just defending the possession isn't very great. <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23ssac14&src=hash">#ssac14</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/CoachLok">@CoachLok</a></p>— BBALLBREAKDOWN (@bballSource) <a href="https://twitter.com/bballSource/statuses/439413187159801856">February 28, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Morey: "We have to get rid of the marginal incentive to lose. Two thirds of teams weren't trying to win towards end of last year." <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23SSAC14&src=hash">#SSAC14</a></p>— RotoAnalysis.com (@RotoAnalysis) <a href="https://twitter.com/RotoAnalysis/statuses/439413951110332416">February 28, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>According to <a href="https://twitter.com/dmorey">@dmorey</a> the most efficient play in the NBA is a random screen after a play breaks down <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23SSAC14&src=hash">#SSAC14</a></p>— Darby Reive (@darby2337) <a href="https://twitter.com/darby2337/statuses/439429657323388928">February 28, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>.<a href="https://twitter.com/dmorey">@dmorey</a> pushes value of unpredictability on offense despite rough transition with players <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23SSAC14&src=hash">#SSAC14</a></p>— Second Spectrum (@SecondSpectrum) <a href="https://twitter.com/SecondSpectrum/statuses/439409895734247424">February 28, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p><a href="https://twitter.com/dmorey">@dmorey</a> uses example of <a href="https://twitter.com/DwightHoward">@DwightHoward</a> for versatility. Instead of set plays, went to free flowing system. Hard to sell but effective <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23SSAC14&src=hash">#SSAC14</a></p>— Andre Snellings (@ProfessorDrz) <a href="https://twitter.com/ProfessorDrz/statuses/439410103872413696">February 28, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p><a href="https://twitter.com/dmorey">@DMorey</a> at <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23SSAC14&src=hash">#SSAC14</a>: <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23JeffVanGundy&src=hash">#JeffVanGundy</a>'s most effective off play with <a href="https://twitter.com/rockets">@Rockets</a> was "random" - broken plays made up through player improvisation.</p>— Alvaro Martin (@AlvaroNBAMartin) <a href="https://twitter.com/AlvaroNBAMartin/statuses/439411252272832512">February 28, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p><a href="https://twitter.com/dmorey">@dmorey</a> : Can't beat defenses by slowing it down. Defenses too well designs. Have to move quicker, make quick/good decisions <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23SSAC14&src=hash">#SSAC14</a></p>— Andre Snellings (@ProfessorDrz) <a href="https://twitter.com/ProfessorDrz/statuses/439411167820521472">February 28, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Lol <a href="https://twitter.com/dmorey">@dmorey</a> suggests trust falls with all other NBA GMs to build up trust in a group that tends to hold cards close to the vest. <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23SSAC14&src=hash">#SSAC14</a></p>— Worth Wollpert (@mtgworth) <a href="https://twitter.com/mtgworth/statuses/439489629751095296">February 28, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>"Wearable tech is the forefront of new data in sport.. hopefully we'll be able to use it on the floor w/ Commish Silver" - <a href="https://twitter.com/dmorey">@dmorey</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23SSAC14&src=hash">#SSAC14</a></p>— Alex Cervasio (@cvas) <a href="https://twitter.com/cvas/statuses/439440661411274752">February 28, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
I wasn't aware of that, but there is lots of tweeting of information going on. For example: Andre Snellings ?@ProfessorDrz 3m Next up is panel I've been waiting for: Basketball Analytics: @SteveKerrTNT Stan Van Gundy, Brad Stevens, Mike Zarren @ZachLowe_NBA #SSAC14 Ben Gaines ?@benjamingaines 2m Stan Van Gundy: “Fitting it to your personnel. . . is the one thing that’s lost in this whole [analytics] thing.” #SSAC14 Van Gundy saying that it’s easy to say “FT Rate! eFG!” but you need to work with the skill sets that are on your roster. #SSAC14 Andre Snellings ?@ProfessorDrz 2m Van Gundy piggy-backed on Kerry's point. Long 2s are bad, analytically. But Celtics 2008 won shooting lots of them, knowing team fit #SSAC14 Andrés Alvarez ?@NerdNumbers 2m Stan Van Gundy has it right - you use the analytics around your personnel, not other way around. #SSAC14 Jacob Rosen ?@WFNYJacob 3m "More teams are going to play like Houston." - @ZachLowe_NBA #ssac14 devin kharpertian ?@uuords 2m SVG's argument that analytics must fit personnel falters when you consider Spurs, who told Kawhi to practice corner 3's on day one. #SSAC14 Ben Gaines ?@benjamingaines 2m “We have so much information. And you get in at 3 AM and you play the next night. . . how much of that can you use?” -Brad Stevens #SSAC14 Rachel Lauren ?@Rachel92Lauren 2m Brad Stevens: As teams are trending toward an ideal style of offense, defenses are trending toward stopping it. Ideal may be fluid. #SSAC14 Ben Gaines ?@benjamingaines 1m Van Gundy says essentially that shooting 33% from three rather than 47% from two means more missed shots which has psych. impact. #SSAC14 Andre Snellings ?@ProfessorDrz 2m Van Gundy on same concept: making 2 treys in 5 attempts same points as 3 buckets, but psychologically those misses bother the team #SSAC14 leigh Klein ?@leighalanklein 1m #ssac14 #poll buckets "Psychological impact of scoring to team confidence and how it carries over to the team's defense -impactful". SVG MIT Sports Conf. ?@SloanSportsConf 1m @ZachLowe_NBA poses question: do the people recording this data actually understand bball? are the stats accurate/useful? #SSAC14 #BUCKETS Second Spectrum ?@SecondSpectrum 1m #svg resoundingly says he does not trust #data in basketball #SSAC14 Mason Ginsberg ?@MasonGinsberg 2m SVG: "The numbers say that the Knicks isolate 17% of the time? I'm watching the game & they isolate half of the time!" #SSAC14 Stan Van Gundy cont'd: "There is no substitute for watching the games over and over again." #SSAC14 Scott Cullen ?@tsnscottcullen 1m Stan Van Gundy: no substitute for watching film. Only numbers I trust are ones my people keep. #SSAC14 Andrés Alvarez ?@NerdNumbers 2m "People give me analytics sometimes and I say what the hell am I gonna do with that?" - SVG #SSAC14 Ben Gaines ?@benjamingaines 2m SVG tearing into the “miles run” metric that is en vogue when we’re defending Gordon Hayward. “What would I DO with that?!” #SSAC14 Steve Kyler ?@stevekylerNBA 6m Great comment told to @ZachLowe_NBA by Brad Stevens, watch how frequently Dirk Nowtizki talks, touches and embraces his teammates #SSAC14 Stevens said he was amazed at how enthused Dirk Nowitzki is during games. #SSAC14 Celtics Assistant GM Mike Zarren recalls Danny Ainge expression the best ability is availability - can't help if you can't play. Celtics spending a lot of time and learning and understanding injuries and cause, said they can now measure load on a players knees Zarren says they can't see inside a players knee during games, but can measure impact and overall load. #SSAC14 MIT Sports Conf. ?@SloanSportsConf 2m @ZachLowe_NBA asks SVG how he would respond if #SportVu data said his key player shouldn't suit up that night? #SSAC14 #BUCKETS Jacob Rosen ?@WFNYJacob 2m SVG says "one of hardest decisions to make in coaching, certainly in NBA, is balance between work and rest." #ssac14 Ben Gaines ?@benjamingaines 2m SVG: Travel is easier, these guys are more pampered than ever, but we’re supposed to believe they can’t play as many minutes as MJ? #SSAC14 Jacob Rosen ?@WFNYJacob 2m SVG says MJ averaged 38 minutes per game at 35 years old. Now? Coaches criticized for that quickly. #ssac14 Andrés Alvarez ?@NerdNumbers 2m SVG has a very simple insight - playing your good players fewer minutes loses games. #SSAC14 Jacob Rosen ?@WFNYJacob 2m SVG says one of reasons Thibs is winning is because he plays his best players more. #hotsportstake #ssac14 Ben Gaines ?@benjamingaines 2m SVG letting loose: “I think these minute restrictions are bulls***. It’s a cover-your-a** thing.” #SSAC14 Mason Ginsberg ?@MasonGinsberg 3m .@ZachLowe_NBA asks what a front office should look like. How many people? What do you need? #SSAC14 Ben Gaines ?@benjamingaines 2m Colangelo: If you’re not spending $250-500K and don’t have 2-3 FTEs on analytics right now, you’re behind the times. #SSAC14 Mason Ginsberg ?@MasonGinsberg 6m Stan Van Gundy (about being at #SSAC14): "I'm just trying to get a job!" Jacob Rosen ?@WFNYJacob 6m "Most important thing you do is decide who's going to be on your team." SVG wants teams to invest in people to watch every NBA min. #ssac14 Second Spectrum ?@SecondSpectrum 1m Colangelo admits that he tried to tank before the Anthony Davis and Damian Lillard draft #SSAC14 Jacob Rosen ?@WFNYJacob 8m SVG wants to get rid of draft and making everyone a free agent. Knows he won't get support for that idea. #ssac14 Mason Ginsberg ?@MasonGinsberg 7m SVG: "I like any solution that takes away the intention to lose." He wants to eliminate the draft, make everyone free agents. #SSAC14 Jacob Rosen ?@WFNYJacob 8m SVG says what Philadelphia is doing right now is "embarrassing" to the NBA. #ssac14 Paul Campbell ?@paul_m_campbell 6m SVG going hard at the Sixers for tanking at #SSAC14. Sixers GM in the room. #awkwardturtle (for my friends in NJ)
I've never understood why people still doubt a fast paced offense. Just from recreational play, one can tell it's much easier to score, if you push the ball. I know a lot of recreational players aren't in great shape, so it's assumed that's why there's an advantage, but there are speed differences in the NBA, as well. Single elimination games don't sound like a good thing. I do think 7 games is too much, but we need at least 3.
With Stan Van Gundy's views on analytics, do you guys think that he can actually work with Morey? They seem friendly with each other socially but it's one thing to chat and it's another to work together.
No. SVG is a great coach, but I do not believe that he will cede strategy to Morey. SVG is all about defense. Morey wants a Ferrari offense (see RGV this season, Morey's experimental sandbox).
Looks like the Rockets are running their current system because of Morey. I think McHale gets way too much blame. Complaints about McHale's talk during huddle are also moot since the coach doesn't control much except for lineups. He's there more as a spiritual leader than commander. Are the players going to be able to adapt and adjust in the playoffs? Rockets might be doing well on talent and lack of opponent defensive effort in a regular season game, this may not be the case in the playoffs. This may well blow up in Morey's face. Let's hope his analytics will come through also in the playoffs.
I kinda think the days of the traditional coach (with perhaps one highly competent assistant) are over. McHale is backed by an army of analysts crunching data in realtime and feeding it to his bench coaches. It's a highly evolved division of labor. Yet, I do not believe McHale doesn't have any role - I'm sure they're not paying him millions to only be an empty suit. So I do wonder what exactly McHale's role in the organization.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Great conference coverage from <a href="https://twitter.com/TrueHoop">@TrueHoop</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/espn">@espn</a> <a href="http://t.co/2Gj1lfMjwz">http://t.co/2Gj1lfMjwz</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23SSAC14&src=hash">#SSAC14</a></p>— MIT Sports Conf. (@SloanSportsConf) <a href="https://twitter.com/SloanSportsConf/statuses/440174424747044864">March 2, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> Also a neat profile piece on Morey that I came across: <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p><a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23SSAC14&src=hash">#SSAC14</a> kicks off today. Meet the <a href="https://twitter.com/SloanSportsConf">@SloanSportsConf</a> founder: NBA analytics pioneer & <a href="https://twitter.com/NorthwesternU">@NorthwesternU</a> alum <a href="https://twitter.com/dmorey">@dmorey</a> <a href="http://t.co/2iNshO5E5d">http://t.co/2iNshO5E5d</a></p>— Northwestern mag (@Northwesternmag) <a href="https://twitter.com/Northwesternmag/statuses/439461902817587200">February 28, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
It's a little hard to implement if they keep trading. Chemistry is important and necessary. Morey should put all the pieces ASAP and let the players get used to it. If perfected, could be very lethal. Cool thread. Thanks!
I find it funny that everyone complains about the Rockets offense or lack of plays when they have one of the best offenses in the whole game. Miami just won two straight NBA championships running what is essentially the same type of free flowing offense with out a lot of plays.
Yeah. Tell me about it. I have been preaching that for a year and have gotten nothing but grief. But you are definitely right. http://bbs.clutchfans.net/showpost.php?p=8744886&postcount=152
Did anyone from clutchfans end up going? If they did thoughts on it? All the talk has been positive post Confrence, I think it's roughly 500 to go for non MIT college students. I'm intending on going next year then after it finishes heading over and following around wherever houston is playing, hopefully having a beer with a couple of you along the way
I could certainly be there. I have been retired for a decade and have yet to reach 60. I think it would be fun. But I might hold you back with the women, so maybe I should just stay home. LOL. I would certainly hate to dump water on your parade by my very presence. It would be tragic.
We're ranked #5 in offense (pts per 100 poss). Not sure if #5 is considered "one of the best" among 30 teams. It's obvious that our offense will work against bad defensive teams, but some huge data points suggest our offense won't be nearly as effective against good defensive teams (see our games vs Memphis and Indiana). At the same time though, those games where we crap out have something to do with our weaknesses being exploited, such as other teams forcing players other than Dwight/Harden to step up, or forcing the team to take more 2pt shots. Adding a third all-star player like a Kevin Love addresses so many of those issues.
You can only come if BMD is also their, I need some entertainment on the plane. I'm deffently going to atleast be coming to the rockets games next year from around jan-end of febish and the Sloan Confrence is a bucket list thing for me to do
Under the new CBA it is a balancing act to be sure. Add Love and then get rid of his $18M of salary in other players for 2015-2016? Miami has played that game for the past 3 years. Riley is a master. I honestly have no clue as to which direction Morey will go. His options are obvious.
