Latest Interview Explains Why Jim Buss Flunked Chemistry - Today's Fastbreak (blog)
In an interview with Eric Pincus of the Los Angeles Times , Jim Buss defended the Lakers use of analytics, revealing at the same time (albeit unintentionally) that he probably flunked chemistry in high school. The owner of the Los Angeles Lakers, often criticized for the franchise’s failure to adequately enter the modern age and even acknowledge the existence of analytics, much less employ them, had a few words for his critics. “There are parameters that I need to see on a guy but that doesn’t mean he fits the team. That’s where Mitch comes in, he knows the numbers, but he also sees if he’s a fit,” said Buss. “Then you go to Byron Scott, is this a guy that you like. Is this a guy that fits the team, does he complement the other players. “Analytics doesn’t really get to that human detail of, ‘Does he fit with this guy. ’ Percentage-wise and stat-wise he does, but you have personalities, style of play, coaches that have a style of play and you have to put that all together. “If I don’t like a guy statistically or analytically then I might come in and say I’m not in favor of this. If he passes my test, then I just let [Kupchak and Scott] figure out who is the better fit. I mean, basketball isn’t played on a spreadsheet, right. Does this guy fit with that guy. Just because two guys look good on a stat sheet doesn’t mean they’re going to play great together. Source: www.todaysfastbreak.com
