d in six consecutive goals and a four-point win for Geelong.Both Taylor and Henderson have performed the role of swingman in the

What made Bill James, the father of modern sabermetrics, so effective as a writer? There are plenty of plausible answers, from the revolutionary nature of the way James interpreted statistics in the 1980s to his way with words and biting wit.In the last edition of his Baseball Abstract series, however, James offered a different explanation.The secret of the success of this series, James wrote, was that I was dead in the center of the discussion. I was writing about exactly the same issues that everybody else was talking about, only in a different way.Thats sort of how I feel about ESPNs new analytics vertical. If youre interested in viewing sports a different way, as James put it, this is a new place to find a common style of thinking across different writers and specialties.At the same time, the topics youll find here are the same as on the sport index pages elsewhere on ESPN.com, both because this is a home for articles also published there and because were still trying to answer the same questions as everyone else.Ive written before that what statistical analysts do in sports has as much to do with history as it does with math. When theres a question worth asking (How will the Golden State Warriors perform with Kevin Durant? How will LeBron James age? Were the Philadelphia 76ers wise to tear down their roster?), what were often doing is using statistics to sift through basketball history in the same way we naturally do in an anecdotal way.The rationale is not about the numbers per se so much as the ability to avoid some of the perceptual biases that cause our memory to overstate certain examples while ignoring other potentially relevant ones.Take, for example, projecting the development of players based on similar predecessors. Finding comparisons for young players has been a part of the scouting process as long as its existed. Alas, even for someone aware of the potential for bias, that process can be unduly influenced by irrelevant factors like the players race, the hand he uses, or where he happened to go to college. A statistical comparison tool like my SCHOENE projection system doesnt consider any of those things.Of course, statistics have always played a role in that process.Weve got this buzzword, analytics, says Boston Celtics coach Brad Stevens. Maybe we have more access to data than we had in the past, but certain people have been using statistics and what they can get their hands on forever. Its not necessarily a new concept, right?And its not necessarily more complex, either. Oftentimes, what we call advanced statistics are really anything but in the traditional mathematical sense. Metrics like effective field goal percentage and points per possession arent really any more complex than traditional field goal percentage or per-game stats.The advancement lies in the fact that these new statistics better reflect what happens on the court. Basketball knowledge, not math knowledge, is required to understand and develop these measures.And thats why Id appreciate it if everyone stopped saying that statistical analysts are smart. Its well-intentioned, certainly, and often accurate -- depending on your definition of the term. But engagement with statistical analysis doesnt mean youre smart. Likewise, those who ignore statistical analysis are not by definition dumb, and the latter reflects the real problem here.Talking about how smart statistical analysts are gives the appearance of closing off the field to anyone who doesnt self-identify as smart because they didnt do well in school, or worse yet were told they werent smart or good at math. And the same goes for anyone who doesnt place a great cultural value on math ability.Instead, its better to think of statistical analysis the way we think of any other field of knowledge, one that requires and improves with study. That process is surely easier to navigate if you think about the world in mathematical terms or are familiar with the mathematical field of statistics. However, it doesnt require a diploma from an Ivy League school to begin.Consider the case of Houston Rockets analyst Ed Kupfer, who didnt finish high school in his native Canada. Kupfers interest in basketball statistics was an outgrowth of trying to win debates on NBA Usenet discussion forums. That led him to a discussion group about advanced statistics that became the APBRmetrics message board.There, Kupfer learned about the growing field of basketball statistics with the help of forerunners like Dean Oliver, while also teaching himself the formal mathematical principles of statistics and how to use programs like R in addition to Excel to calculate metrics. Those lessons paid off when Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey hired Kupfer as an analyst shortly after joining the Rockets in 2006.If analytics are a field to be learned, then hopefully this new home is the first step for some, necessary review for others, and reinforcement for those who already consider themselves experts.Now, if you dont mind, weve got some questions to answer.Cheap Authentic Puma Shoes . This should be celebrated because it will not always be this way. With the amount of money given to players by their clubs these days, it is a wonder that so many of those teams allow the sport to continue to take away many of their assets so they can play for a different team in the middle of their season. Puma Shoes Uk Sale . "I was fortunate to play many years at this level with a great organization and unbelievable teammates," said Hejduk in a statement. http://www.cheappumauk.com/ . Once again Jordan Cieciwa (@FitCityJordan) and I (@LynchOnSports) go head to head in our picks. Last weekend at UFC Fight Night 32 my #TeamLynch got the best of #TeamJC by a score of 9-6. Let us know which side youre on for UFC 167 use the hashtag #TeamLynch or #TeamJC on Twitter. Cheap Puma Shoes Free Shipping . Dallas hasnt ruled out the star quarterback for Sunday nights game against Philadelphia, but all signs point to Romos back injury pushing Kyle Orton into the starting role after two years of limited play as the backup. Surely Ortons name isnt the first that comes to mind for fans wanting a change after years of damaging interceptions, fumbles or, most infamously, the field goal flub when Romo dropped the snap on a kick that could have won his first playoff game in 2006. Cheap Puma Shoes Uk . Mats Zuccarello and Derek Stepan scored shootout goals, and backup goalie Cam Talbot earned his second win in two nights as the Rangers shook off a late tying tally and beat the Maple Leafs 2-1 Monday night.Harry Taylor and Lachie Henderson could be unleashed in Geelongs forward line during the AFL finals, having helped swing Sundays game at the MCG.Cats coach Chris Scott shifted key defenders Taylor and Henderson into attack against Richmond, desperate for a spark after his side managed just 4.13 in the opening three quarters.Coupled with some dominance in the midfield, it resulted in six consecutive goals and a four-point win for Geelong.Both Taylor and Henderson have performed the role of swingman in the past but not during this season.Dont be surprised if Scott uses the ploy again this year.Horses for courses a little it, he said, when asked if it could happen in September.Its an option that weve talked about a lot. Im sure well continue to talk about it.We train it a little bit because were reticent to throw things at the team that we havent practised.Although we did a few things against Richmond that we havent necessarily talked about. The pleasing thing for us is the players showed the willingness to adapt in a pretty high-pressure situation.Scott conceded he should have tried to mix things up earlier in the contest, with the Tigers stacking numbers in defence aand Alex Rance negating the impact of Cats spearhead Tom Hawkins.ddddddddddddWhat we changed in the last quarter probably could have happened a little bit earlier, he said.We know Harry Taylor can play forward and weve very confident that Lachie can play forward for us as well.Those two made a difference. It opened up a little bit for Hawkins.Taylor, who kicked a clutch goal in his 200th game, relished the chance to lock horns with gun defender Rance.Because he is a fantastic defender and just to get to learn a few of his tricks, Taylor said.I often watch him on the vision but dont often get the opportunity to play on him so from that point of view it was a really good learning opportunity.I took a lot out of that match up and hopefully I will be able to use it in my game.It was great to go up there albeit I was a bit limited with injury.Taylor expects he will be fit for the Cats clash with Brisbane at the Gabba on Sunday.I went back when playing forward and got crunched so it was a bit of a hip pointer, sore but I will be fine, he said. ' ' '