Quote:
Originally posted by Snaqwells
Quote:
Originally posted by Camron Rust
You don't need game winning shots when you're not trailing by 1 on the last shot. I'll take someone who puts the game out of reach for the other team over someone who has to save it at the buzzer.
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Well put, Cameron. It's a classic example of a seemingly important, but in reality meaningless, statistic.
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Unfortunately, most sportscasts are littered with them.
Some other meaningless stats
Team X wins 90% of the time when they're ahead by 10 or more at the half.
Team Y wins when 95% of the games where they shoot over 50%.
Team Z wins 80% of time when they out rebound the opponents.
All of these are probably true for any team. Teams that are playing better in the middle of the game or beating their opponents in real statistical categories tend to win.
The most accurate one (I made it up but I'm surprised I haven't heard it come out of the mouth of Billy Packer):
Team Q wins 100% of the games where they score more than their opponents. 
[Edited by Camron Rust on Jun 2nd, 2004 at 06:22 PM]