PHILADELPHIA — One of the problems with all this analytics-driven coverage of sports — and, to be clear, there are many issues with the reduction of human beings into a math equation — is the lack of impartiality or context.
So you may see a stat and may think it’s relevant and important but, in reality, it was probably to confirm a bias or produced in a basement by somebody who doesn’t actually watch the games. It’s just gargling Basketball-Reference.com and spitting out numbers.
Take, for instance, the stat I’ve seen being passed around by media folks and fans on social media:
• Before Wednesday, the Knicks were 19-3 when Jalen Brunson took 20 or fewer shots. They are 14-13 when he’s attempted more than 20 shots.