"Analytics" and the 76ers
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"Analytics" and the 76ers
John Mitchell, Inquirer Staff Writer
Even though we’ve heard a lot of talk coming from the 76ers these days about their plans to infuse more analytic analysis into evaluating all things, you don’t get the feeling that they are by any means going to go off the deep end with it.
During the team’s search for a new general manager, there was much talk of adding a guy experienced steeped in applying analytics (think baseball’s Billy Beane and “Moneyball”) to the front office. However, we now know, with the hiring of Tony DiLeo the Sixers still value the tried-and-true talent evaluator to handle the day-to-day operations of their front office.
This is not to sell the analytic’s role short, not at all. When DiLeo had the second of two interviews for the position with team owner Josh Harris, Harris made it abundantly clear that the front office would incorporate and place significant emphasis on hiring someone to ascribe value to draft picks, free agents and anything else player related that goes beyond pure talent evaluation.
“I have a formula that I have been using,” DiLeo said, “but what we are planning will take it to a whole different level of advanced analytics. That’s the approach the ownership group has. They want to make sure that our front office has every advantage. It’s important to them to make sure that nobody is better prepared to make decisions.”
Analytics will play a large role in making the more nuanced decisions. For instance, making the trade for Bynum, a giant 24-year-old, two-time all star capable of 20 points, 10 rebounds, two blocks and multiple changed shots per night (and the fact that he’ll require nightly double teams in the center-poor Eastern Conference), probably didn’t require a whole lot of deep thinking and numbers crunching by the Sixers to determine the benefits of adding him.
“You can’t let it dominate your decisions; there has to be a happy marriage,” is how DiLeo described it.
DiLeo says that throughout the league there are teams who use analytics to a very high degree (he pointed to Houston and Oklahoma City as the top proponents) and some who use it to a much lesser degree.
While DiLeo did not give a time frame for bringing in this person, it is clear that the team is focused on making this happen much sooner rather than later.
What I'm getting from this is that Josh Harris is the fan of advanced metrics, thus the likes of Tom Penn,Mike Zarren, and Jeff Bower added to the mix (underlings contributing analytics to their GMs) of interviews with Danny Ferry...BEFORE going back to the choice of DiLeo, who will no doubt add that capability to the brass...DC's using his own metrics this season, in the fact that slam dunks and made three's are tremendous shot values...Go Sixers!— bearsfriend- With all due respect as long as they DO NOT HIRE Steve Toll from the Philadunkia website, more power to them.
My only concern with this roster is the SF/SG situation may be tough to play out. Turner, D.Wright, J.Rich, N.Young, T.Young. You have 96 minutes to divide among 5 above average players. DC demands players play D to get minutes. While someone may be left out of the rotation it's encouraging that between N.Young, Rich and Wright we should always be able to have a knock down shooter on the floor at all times. Something we haven't been able to say over the last 2 years. Also with the 1 and 2 year deals given to Kwame, Hawes, Wright and Young, money/expiring contracts can be dealt along with another player(Thad or Jrue) for possibly another impact player whose team is not playing well and wants to shed money. Call me a dreamer but why wouldn't the Clips owner Donald Sterling have his usual bout with stupidity and trade us Chris Paul(soon unrestricted) for a package of Jrue/Thad and a couple expiring contracts? Of course we'd need assurances that CP(he couldn't wear 3 here) would sign an extension. But he'd be teamed with Bynum which is still attractive after being Griffin's teammate.
My bad, allow a grown man to dream!! But who would have thought getting Bynum was possible? Something tells me Joshua Harris has a pair and may go all in.
5 days from camp! Let's Go Sixers!!! Clap clap, clap clap clap!!!— Facts before ignorance - Logjam for sure...some of it will be alleviated as Dc will move ET to the point (on offense) when Jrue gets rest, and although DC talked about Thad seeing some time at the 3 in exhibition season, I'm sure he didn't yoke up to 229 to play perimiter defense...With Bynum (or even Kwame), Thad at the 4 is not as silly as it did seem often late in games last year...Regarding your dream, I DON'T think it's far fetched at all, as DC LOVES Chris Paul...During the Olympics, he couldn't contain himself...Master of the lob, he's perfect for AB. — bearsfriend
- I heard EVERY Olympic comment DC made regarding CP. DC sounded like CP was his High School Sweetheart, lol. It would be something to have(not that this matters) but the #4 and #13 in the ESPN TOP 500 players acquired within a year of each other. So much for being cap friendly!! Thad will absolutely play better at the 4 with Bynum than with Brand as they we're both undersized. Also adding more length with Wright along with Turner hitting the boards should free Thad up to run a lot more on the break than last year. I read Hawes has added a couple extra shoulder muscles also. Last year and this years teams will play like night and day. We're more Indiana Pacer than GS Warrior.— Facts before ignorance
- Agree on the fact that DC is a heightist, and that the Sixers' inability to body up against the more physical teams in the league had to grate on him some...He likes the idea of being able to go either big or small, and it will be interesting to see if he tries to set the tone on how the Sixers play, or if he uses the flexibility more for countering opponent's rotations...Still leery a bit on the fact that I don't see the Sixers as safe with the ball (something that may get under DC's skin), as well as shot creation ability when the opponent brings the pressure on D...Last, getting to the line...a weakness last year WITH Lou Williams..Will we become a "live by the jumpshot,die by the jumpshot" type of team when opponents try to take out AB with doubleteams?— bearsfriend
- Agree on the fact that DC is a heightist, and that the Sixers' inability to body up against the more physical teams in the league had to grate on him some...He likes the idea of being able to go either big or small, and it will be interesting to see if he tries to set the tone on how the Sixers play, or if he uses the flexibility more for countering opponent's rotations...Still leery a bit on the fact that I don't see the Sixers as safe with the ball (something that may get under DC's skin), as well as shot creation ability when the opponent brings the pressure on D...Last, getting to the line...a weakness last year WITH Lou Williams..Will we become a "live by the jumpshot,die by the jumpshot" type of team when opponents try to take out AB with doubleteams?— bearsfriend
- I was impressed by Mitchell's assessment that some members of our loyal fanbase not only know the game, but follow it faithfully, and do more research than certainly your average fan, but also many beat writers (yeah, I added that last bit). So, in the spirit of new beginnings, I'll be gentle here and simply suggest Mitchell do more research: tell us what 5 of the most interesting indicators of the analytical method are. I've heard from someone in the circle, one of them is years in a strong college program, with a good coach (Coach K) versus a mere parole officer (Calipari). This guy said there are over 60 of these categories. Find 3 good ones, find 2 of the really bizarre ones, and clue us in.
Please.
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— Quixote II - Not trying to take fun out of watching basketball, but it appears shot values (it's better to take lots of threes, more effective however when spreading them out amongst several shooters...and that shots near the rim, or getting to the line are more effective than mid-range shots, and of course, the dreaded "long deuce") rule the game today...The whole idea I believe is to build a team greater than the sum of its parts...Last, teams will limit the role AND the number of initiators they have on the floor...wanting that shot near the rim, or kicked out to one of several three point shooter around the arc...This is the blueprint of the 2012-13 Sixers...Last, the "ratios" to maximize possessions (one of DC's faves) help a team that may not be as talented offensively, which was the Sixers' case last year...Wonder if these analytics take into account sexy cheerleaders or smelly mascots? — bearsfriend
- Well, yeah ... like, yunno, a 2nd degree correlation between non-silicone based cheerleaders and the ability to hit end of game 3s. With accurate statistics, visual aids - that kind of thing.
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- Dileo was confused when he mentioned he uses a formula; he thought they were talking about his hear and the Grecian Formula he uses to disguise the gray hairs. I am convinced that Billy Beane should be put out to pasture as the most overrated General Manager in the history of any sport (admittedly he got to meet Angelina Jolie when Brad Pitt played him in Moneyball). Here are my analytics: Shaq and Kobe; MJ and Pippen; LeBron, Wade, and Bosh; Westbrook, Durant, and Harden; Pierce, Allen, and Garnett; Parker, Ginobili, and Duncan. These new GMs can add, subtract, multiply, divide, use quadratic equations, physics, metrics, stand on their heads, but the bottom line: teams with superstars generally win in the NBA; teams without superstars do not!! Anayltic That!!!— chuckw
- Quixote: I wondered if you would throw in a JonKap reaction to this post; although he drove me nuts at times, he was not really wrong about superstars. — chuckw
- Who knew The JonKap Reality Principle would be violated by a trade for ... Andrew Bynum?
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- sorry, meant to say "talking about his hair"— chuckw
- Also meant to say: "Analytic That!!" I am so distressed at the dreadful Phillies season and likely dreadful Eagles season that I can no longer compose complete and accurate sentences. Perhaps I can get a job as a replacement ref somewhere.— chuckw
John Mitchell is in his second year covering the 76ers for the Inquirer after joining the paper in November 2011. He covered the Washington Wizards for the Washington Times from 1998 to 2008. He's also worked at the Philadelphia Tribune, the Wilmington News Journal, Courier-Post, Trenton Times and Elmira Star-Gazette.Born and raised in West Philadelphia - not too far from Will Smith - he graduated from Overbrook High School the same year the 76ers won their last championship. He's a proud graduate of Howard University and the proud father of two sons, Jared and Jordan.
ABOUT MARC NARDUCCI
Marc Narducci has served in a variety of roles with the Inquirer since beginning in 1983. He has covered the 76ers as a backup and a beat writer. In addition, Narducci has covered everything from the Super Bowl to the World Series and a lot in between. Narducci also has a true passion for South Jersey scholastic sports, which he has covered for many years.
