Former Los Angeles Lakers forward Robert Horry dismissed the growing reliance on advanced statistics, saying teams should abandon analytics when the postseason starts.
Speaking on ESPN LA during Clayton Kershaw’s “Ping Pong 4 Purpose” charity event, the seven-time NBA champion said numbers gathered over the 82-game regular season lose relevance in a best-of-seven series.
“Analytics only works for the regular season,” Horry told the station. “In the playoffs I’m studying one opponent for four, five or six games, so I already know how to shut down that team’s favorite actions.”
Horry added that playoff preparation reaches beyond data, noting that coaches and players track everything from an opponent’s preferred plays to off-court distractions such as family issues or ticket requests. According to the former forward, that detailed focus makes statistical models far less useful in May and June.
The 53-year-old also criticized what he called a “participation-trophy” culture, arguing that analytics provides jobs for people who have never played the game and encourages players to switch teams instead of improving their skills.
The Lakers have recently expanded their basketball-operations staff to strengthen their own analytics department, aligning with a league-wide trend toward data-driven decision-making. Horry’s comments highlight a continuing debate between traditional instincts and modern metrics inside NBA front offices.
Source: LakersNation.com
