Analytics is a key part of modern-day basketball, from the college to NBA levels. Theyโve impacted the sport in many different ways, from increasing three-pointers to reducing player injuries. Thereโs no doubt that analytics technology has transformed the basketball industry for the better; players are improving, coaches are more knowledgeable, and fans can stay up-to-date with all the latest stats.
This is barely scratching the surface, though, so letโs take a closer look at exactly how analytics are used in basketball today.
1. Smart Basketball Betting Models
Unless youโve been living on another planet for the past few years, youโll know that basketball betting is a huge deal. Each year, millions of fans place bets on college basketball games, NBA matches, and more. Some do it for fun, while others use it as a tool to test their knowledge.
Interestingly, smart betting models have started to change how fans decide which teams to bet on. For instance, sites like shotqualitybets.com use analytics to provide fans with all of the data they need, such as the projected results of basketball games.
Fans could then use this data as a blueprint for placing smarter bets that are more likely to be successful โ although nothing is ever guaranteed since anything can happen in the game! Still, itโs a simple yet effective process that highlights how analytics arenโt just helping the players โ theyโre helping fans too.
2. In-Depth Statistics
Thanks to analytics, players, coaches and fans alike now have access to in-depth statistics on teams and individual players โ whether for their university games or NBA matches. In particular, the NBA website provides publicly available statistics for every game since 1946. Website visitors can interact with these statistics, access specific shot videos, and lots more. Naturally, this has led to a huge increase in fan engagement since 2013.
Of course, some analytics arenโt available to the public. These analytics are kept in-house by coaches and fitness trainers so that they can improve how their players perform out on the court. They often collect analytics on their players by using wearables and other smart technology. These wearables shed light on some amazing analytics, such as player fatigue levels and jump shot accuracy.
3. Better TV Coverage
People all around the world watch NBA games on TV and streaming services, from ESPN to the official NBA website. While watching the games, theyโre provided with in-depth analysis from commentators.
These commentators have access to real-time analytics, allowing them to let fans know about a range of factors, such as how likely a player is to score a free throw before they take it.
4. Improved Scouting
Last but not least, analytics are used by basketball scouts so that they can make better decisions about players. Itโs especially common to use analytics during drafts and when looking at young, up-and-coming players.
Analytics provide genuine insight into a playerโs potential and the key areas in which they can benefit a team. This is incredible, especially when you compare it to the old days when coaches and scouts were completely reliant on their own personal opinions and TV footage. Now, the analytics do all of the hard work and judgment for them!
Summary
So, youโve reached the end of the article. If you didnโt know anything about basketball analytics before, you do surely do now!
Moving into the future, analytics will continue to play a huge role in the sport. Plus, one day, itโs highly likely that youโll be able to watch NBA games using virtual reality (VR) technology while getting analytical insight from the games at the same time. This is something to be super excited about!
