As with anything new that I start, I like to give something of a mission statement. This site serves to provide a place of theoretical insight and analysis on the most intriguing sport that has yet to be invented: Basketball. An odd mixture of beastly athleticism, unique intelligence, amazing fluidity. A place where the improbable becomes commonplace (Because, realistically, how many people can dunk?), the seemingly simple becomes frustratingly difficult (Ask Nick Anderson about free throws.), and heuristics somehow dictate the illogical. (See: Kevin Martin's shot.)
In this, there is a careful balance of the logical side of things. There are the statistics, advanced statistics, algorithms to determine which hand you want LeBron to start driving on, and percentages determining how well you shoot from every spot on the floor. Then there is the stylistic, observation based side of things that statistics can never show you quite properly, like how demoralizing it is to be Michael Olowokandi, or how momentum shifts on a team when Amar'e Stoudemire throws down a dunk so hard that the rim seems angry that he hit it, or a mixture of how demoralizing it must be to be Michael Olowokandi when Amar'e throws down a dunk directly on his face. That is, at least, until someone comes up with a confidence +/- stat somehow...
This is a sport where the little things can mean so much, like Gilbert Arenas throwing his hands in the air before the shot ever touches net. This is also a sport where the exciting things can mean so little, like every single time Gerald Green ever scored, or a mid-season Warriors-Thunder game. A sport of extremes, like a 7'7 guy who weighs 185 pounds, or a 5'9 guy who can jump nearly four feet into the air with a ball in his hand. A sport where one can have breathtaking style, yet little substance. (See: James White) Also a sport where one can be basically devoid of excitement, but be supremely effective. (See: Tim Duncan)
The simple beauty and purity of the game is lost on some, corrupted by others, and appreciated by many, but all in all it's a game that continues to allure, draw us back like sailors on shore leave wandering back to that shady Japanese bordello. This is what draws me to write about it... and it is my devout hope that you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoy writing it.
