Sports and Technology Have the Power to Change the World

CHAPTER 1The Impact of Advanced Data Analytics: 2013 NBA Finals: Miami Heat vs. San Antonio Spurs

In 2013, tensions were high as the Miami Heat and San Antonio Spurs squared off for Game 1 of the NBA Finals. The energy in Miami, a town known for its love of basketball, was high. The fans were ready and came out in droves to support their teams, breaking attendance records to rally behind their beloved teams. The two Titans had met in the Finals just two years earlier, with the Heat coming out on top in a thrilling seven-game series. The echoes of past showdowns between these two titans resonated in the air, leaving basketball aficionados craving more of the heart-stopping drama they witnessed just a short two years earlier. This time, however, there was an added element of competition. Both the Heat and the Spurs had embraced the cutting-edge advancements of advanced data analytics and video technology at their disposal, and both teams were better prepared than ever before. Each side was armed with a team of extremely skilled data analysts in addition to their quota of coaching staff. These data analysts provided important insights to the coaching staff on decisions that could mean the difference between deploying a reverse layup or a power layup. The data provided by the analysts affected the starting lineup and substitutions during the game. These advanced data analytics could mean the difference between a win and a loss. Every decision mattered, and the information provided ...