Analytics in sports have become the next evolution in managing the efficiency of players in their respective leagues. Just like baseball, analytics have invaded almost every aspect of today’s NBA, altering once set in stone principles for newer ideas supported by percentages.
The 3pt shot thanks to players like Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors with the aid of computer generated analytics to support maximizing attempts outside of the stripe have minimized the importance of the mid-range shot. Watching a player other than a team’s center in the new analytics driven NBA attempt a 2pt shot seems about as foreign as watching a big man take a 3 pointer used to be before the trifecta revolution.
Although the use of analytics has definitely brought more entertaining and high scoring action, some players feel that its okay to simply take an open shot inside of the arc when its given. On Twitter new Brooklyn Nets star Kevin Durant challenged a staunch supporter of all things analytic with reasonable logic.
The debate started after Zac Lavine of the Chicago Bulls expressed that he would like to take more mid-range shots, which is an insult to those who live by the percentages that translate to mid-range shooting being a thing of the past.
Kevin Durant never one to hold his tongue had a few not so kind words at the end of that debate.
Flip through the pages to see the exchange between Kevin Durant and an analytics expert on Twitter.