Yesterday I posted on how we can use offensive and defensive efficiency to evaluate a team and its players. In that post I said that I would begin offering evaluations of how teams have performed thus far in 2006-07. The first two teams I would like to analyze were involved …
The Best Offenses – RANKING REPORTED HERE Which team has the best offense in the NBA? If we look at points scored per game the top teams heading in the Christmas break included Phoenix, Denver, Washington, Golden State, and the LA Lakers. As the likes of John Hollinger and Dean …
Suspensions and injuries have decimated the New York Knicks. Once a team with an abundance of scoring guards, last night the Knicks played without the services of Quentin Richardson, Steve Francis, and Nate Robinson. Without these players the Knicks backcourt consisted of Jamal Crawford and Stephon Marbury. Consequently, Isiah Thomas …
In the December 18 issue of ESPN The Magazine, Ric Bucher penned an article entitled “Magic Prince.” In this article Bucher compares the Orlando Magic’s Dwight Howard to Shaquille O’Neal. Both players are large men (yes, Shaq is a bit larger) who were chosen with the first overall pick in …
The Week Fifteen Quarterback Rankings The Overall Rankings Pro Bowl Selections The NFL has announced the Pro Bowl participants for 2007. The AFC quarterbacks will be Peyton Manning, Philip Rivers, and Carson Palmer. The NFC will be represented by Drew Brees, Tony Romo, and Marc Bulger. Each of these players …
A few days ago I posted this at The Sports Economist. In posting this comment in this forum I thought I would add one more observation. The lesson Michael Lewis is teaching about decision-making in the NFL probably applies to all sports. There is a clear incentive to make decisions …
Yesterday I commented on the Iverson trade from the perspective of the 76ers. Because Andre Miller has historically produced more wins than Iverson, a result we are also observing this year, it looks like this trade improves the 76ers. Miller does not solve all the problems in Philadelphia, but coupled …
Marc Stein and Chris Sheridan of ESPN.com reported today that the Nuggets have acquired Allen Iverson. As of now the trade is Andre Miller, Joe Smith, and two first round draft picks for Iverson. Yesterday I thought that perhaps Billy King – Philadelphia’s president — was just keeping Iverson out …
In The Wages of Wins we note the difference between decision-making in most businesses and professional sports. In most industries if a manager makes bad decisions the firm can lose money and the decision-maker can lose her/his job. In sports, in addition to losing money and/or jobs, managers are also …
Yesterday the USF Cougars defeated the USF Cougars 23-19 to capture the 51st annual NAIA Football National Championship. Jason Dannelly reported that the victory completed a 14-0 season for USF. It was also a somewhat surprising victory, since USF only gained 214 yards while allowing USF to total 349 yards. …