Sean Carroll's Mindscape: Science, Society, Philosophy, Culture, Arts, and Ideas 138 | Daryl Morey on Analytics, Psychology, and Basketball
Mar 15, 2021
Daryl Morey, President of Basketball Operations for the Philadelphia 76ers, shares his insights on the intersection of analytics and human psychology in sports. He discusses the evolution of the three-point shot and how data analytics transformed game strategies. Morey also explores player evaluation, team dynamics, and the complexity of decision-making in basketball management. The conversation delves into the unique impact of star players and the emotional connection fans have with sports, highlighting its role in community and happiness.
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The Sergey Lishchuk Trades
- Daryl Morey traded the rights to Ukrainian player Sergey Lishchuk five times.
- Lishchuk never played in the NBA, highlighting how draft rights can be used strategically.
Using Data to Make Better Decisions
- Use data to ground your intuition and correct for biases.
- Compare your models to objective measures like Vegas odds.
The Undervaluation of the Three-Pointer
- The three-pointer was initially undervalued due to its late introduction and perceived gimmick status.
- Teams actively avoided three-pointers, failing to recognize their statistical advantage.