MadMax, what you call "fantasy hypos" is what others would refer to as "analytics". Or the analysis of game situations using statistical tools. The reason why there are "right answers" is because the data says so. You don't need 20 years grinding in the NBA to get those answers, just a good head on your shoulders. Now I am not saying analytics is full-proof, or that Morey didn't consult the many brilliant and experienced basketball minds that he has come in contact with over the years to validate his findings. In fact I can guarantee that he has. But if you believe that type of stuff holds little value, then you will be disappointed to find that it is a big part of the direction the team is going in. An even bigger part now that Adelman, a detractor of it, is gone. Not that you are necessarily wrong, since we still do not have results. But plenty of good teams around the league are proponents of this, including the Dallas Mavericks, which seems to have served them well.
Let's get a computer to coach the team, then. If it's simply a matter of playing the stats every time....then experience is completely irrelevant. Just plug in a computer and have at it. There are not right answers to questions with a massive number of undefined variables...maybe there is in the bubble of a conference room...but not in the context of what we'd call "real life." That's where experience matters...to me at least. What I understand you guys to say is that there are right answers because some formula has determined that. Of course that depends entirely on the context of the makeup of the team in question. My answer for what to do in a crucial situation changes, for instance, if Michael Jordan happens to be wearing my uniform.
You're exactly. I completely agree. Don't get me wrong; I like the article and I am not against Coach. All I'm saying is some personalities, like in Politics and Business, will be analytical to the degree of being overly-complicated, but are still the best for the job. The art of doing the interview. l'm also saying, like durvasa and MadMax, we shouldn't read too much into the end-game hypotheticals. Answers to hypotheticals aren't the best way to measures a person real-time decision-making -- processing all the options and picking the right one in 20 seconds. Knowing all the options is not the same as the proven ability to pick the right one. When Morey makes a big deal about, "It made me realize how smart he is and how he knows his stuff. ... Believe me, he'll know what to do at the end of game." that reads like "we are not worried about that aspect of him, anymore." It also reads like maybe Morey didn't really know the answers, because Adelman and staff never told him. And he had the most fun talking to McHale. Anyhoot...one other point: There is a possibility that McHale called Ainge for advice on what to expect from a stats dude like Morey. And Morey tipped him off to what stats he analyzes the most. Then it is elementary to prepare for end game situation questions.
Because NO ONE is saying analytics alone is good enough. That however does not mean it is useless. "Undefined" variables? Or variables you personally cannot define? I guess if the variables were really undefinable then there would be no answers at all. In reality, anything that has an impact on the game can be quantified. There are plenty of variables, and they are plenty definable for those who know how to define them, and there are plenty of right answers to those who know how to ask the right questions. What exactly does "experience" mean to you? Is it not just an accumulation of data in the human brain over years of repetition? Any computer can do that easily. The hard part is knowing the right questions. How are you assuming that the "context of the makeup of the team", "crucial situation changes", and "Michael Jordan in your uniform" can't be inputs in the formula? Let's stop and think for a second. No one is saying it is as EASY as making a formula. That is like saying making money is as easy as creating a program to trade stocks. However, could it be that you and me are simply not very good at formula-making? That there are very smart people out there, maybe from very smart places like MIT, who are capable of making formulas for questions that you seem to deem as un-formula-makeable?
That those end of game situational analysis aren't THAT crucial, but simply reassures them of what they saw as McHale's weak points? Yea, I think that makes sense.
A leader (HC) doesn't try to yell at an opposing player while he shoots a 3 point shot. That's what I saw Casey do last night. Just sayin..
You seem way too defensive of Morey. Experience is the ability to make the right decision at the right time, given contradictory possible solutions. Knowing all the possible solutions is useless if you can't pick the right one in game situations. That's the difference between someone who studies coaches and someone who makes the decisions and invents the solutions.
I'm not saying anyone is saying that. That's not the subject of this discussion. The discussion was centered around Morey's comments that he knew McHale was the right candidate when he heard him give answers to hypothetical game situations. I have repeatedly posted the reasons why I think that's ridiculous. That's awesome. But in the context of an interview...if you're asking someone what they'd do in situation X...there are so many variables that it makes the discussion nearly meaningless. I can only assume that the most important variable...who is on your roster...was resolved by saying, "assuming our current roster." Because my answer is entirely different if I have the Heat's roster, for instance. In addition, I'd want to know who has a hot hand that night....where's he been hitting from. Those are "undefined" variables, because for the purpose of an interview, you haven't sat there and watched a team perform for 47 minutes that day....the entire context of the game leading up to the crucial point is non-existent. this is where we'll part. I think it is a lot easier to simulate and talk about when the heat isn't on you in the moment. If you've been through it...that's experience. Guys with experience in those coaching situations are the ones I want evaluating the answers to those hypotheticals. Of course they could. So do you think it's a productive use of time in an interview to ask him what he'd do if MJ were in his lineup? This isn't even remotely responsive to the discussion I'm having. You're arguing the big picture here with respect to statistical analysis. That's not the subject of what we've been discussing here, aside from it being tangential.
Jesus ****ing Christ. Justice didn't even write out McHale's response and the exchange between McHale and Morey and you people are already complaining because of the topic of the discussion? Of course, there are a number of variables to be considered (for example, do you go for 2 or 3 when down 3 with 50 seconds would depend on, among other things, (a) whether you have good 3 pt shooters on the team, (b) how well your offense/defense is operating against the opponent that night, etc.) and I'd bet those factors are part of the discussion, as well as what you should do as a rule of thumb given certain basic parameters.
missing the point cxbby is concerned with what was specifically asked, and that's where the discussion evolved to...but that's not how this discussion started.
If that is the case then I apologize. But it seems to me that you are saying there is no way for Morey, a non-basketball guy, to know what the "right answers" to his questions are. While I am saying you do not have to be a "basketball lifer" to analyze situations, through statistical analysis, and figure out those answers.
If i'm interviewing for accounting position, i may talk to the sales guy, about sales. this is my problem with the set up, morey is there to make personnel decisions. and that's great, i like morey, i like what he has brought to the organization. however, being the gm he is, and the credentials he brings, his relationship should be more of a working relationship not a top down management. morey is not a coach, that is not a knock on him, that is simply a fact.
