The NBA and Data Analytics

Data analytics and statistics play a fundamental role in sports, and it will only keep expanding in the following years to come. Analyzing and comprehending data generally provides better business performances. Predicting, scouting, tracking, and comparing data delivers multiple advantages, and in addition, enhance opportunities in the world of sports. Big Data and Predictive Analytics are used by numerous companies to achieve a competitive advantage in their respective industry. An industry that contains a great amount of statistics and data is the National Basketball Association (NBA).

Three teams will be examined in detail for their big data and predictive analytics. Data assists teams in having a competitive advantage. The Boston Celtics, LA Clippers, and LA Lakers have a similar way of collecting data through various innovative technologies. Not only are the number of rebounds, assists, and shots made are calculated, but the number of fans attending the games, food resources, and those watching their favorite teams online is also vital to figure in the industry.

Boston Celtics

The Boston Celtics confirmed how data, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and digital content with the evolution of technology, play an important part in sports. From customer segmentation and fan engagement to revenue optimization and player performance, the Celtics believe data truly enhance a business. Analytics departments opened and guaranteed many jobs in the NBA. Entire conferences are dedicated to the analytics of the business and the basketball operations. New video technologies are now widely used to better analyze the overall team’s performance. However, not every team makes the most of big data. The Celtics understood its potential, which has a significant influence on the club’s goals. There is a lot of data in the industry to collect, and the more an organization gathers, the more competitive the industry is. It helps to achieve goals and move forward to expand. For the Celtics, it is strongly connected to the mission statement, and an essential aspect for the team to win championships.

The Celtics stated how data is vital to track revenue optimization. Considering the team cannot win every year in the NBA, tracking attendance to then think about creative strategies to attract fans is important. They have to stay on top of demand for tickets. The team has an analytics team that tracks pricing and demand to determine the right price and strategy to maximize the revenue. Consequently, engaging with customers and connecting with them help understand their needs through data collection. Like many teams, the Celtics use the Customer Relations Management (CRM) system to track customers. Customer service is one of the most significant aspects to satisfying fans’ needs, and to make sure they are eager to follow the team, despite the ups and downs in performance. Statistics are, therefore, vital on that aspect, along with data on players’ performances. Thanks to data maximization, the sports club can experience great improvement of the team overall to become more successful and stand out from other clubs in the league. The Boston Celtics are one of the top teams in the NBA because they take advantage of digital content and big data.

Los Angeles Clippers

Similar to all the teams in the NBA, the LA Clippers gather data from their team statistics. The stats that are gathered include the number of points, rebounds, games played, average free throws made, etc.… Collecting the stats allows the team to recognize what each of the players needs to work on. Not only do they collect their own stats, they collect other teams’ stats as well. Learning the tactics other teams are using, gives the LA Clippers an advantage and lets them know where to block, run, etc… The team also has outside consultants that assist them on providing fans a real time experience. The LA Clippers and Second Spectrum, a tracking video technology provider for the NBA, partnered with Amazon Web Services (AWS) for their main cloud computing, machine learning, and Clippers CourtVision.

Clippers CourtVision is an artificial intelligence provider that displays a live, expanding game-watching platform. The AI provider was created by the LA Clippers and the Second Spectrum. Those two companies use AWS for advance game analyses, and Second Spectrum uses cameras in all the NBA arenas to collect 3D data, which includes player, ball movements, and locations. All of this information is stored in real-time AWS. Clippers CourtVision has features that provide a live layout of basketball plays, to embed a shot by the shot probability of a blast making the hoop. These features allow fans to have a deeper understanding of the game, and delivers Clippers CourtVision a live game-watching experience. Because of innovations such as Clippers CourtVision, the LA Clippers franchise value significantly increased the last five years. Big Data and Predictive Analytics were not considered significant before 2014. Now, there are so many career opportunities in that field. In 2015, the LA Clippers started to really focus on data analytics and technological innovation. Bringing in Clippers CourtVision was truly a stepping stone for the team. Now, the LA Clippers make almost 2600 million U.S. dollars a year.

Los Angeles Lakers

The Lakers, compared to other teams in the NBA, started to understand and embrace data analytics a bit later. When ESPN published a ranking on the use of statistics by teams also considering the staff, the Lakers were not very well placed. In fact, at a statistics conference back in 2013, the team was the only one without a representative in the NBA, showing how the organization was a bit behind in that area.

A few years later, the team finally found out about the importance of the use of analytics and predictive analytics. They built a great team with smart and experienced professionals in the field with multiple degrees in mathematics and statistics. However, they are still discovering the power of analytics to compete with other NBA teams.

Conclusion

Sports have drastically changed since they first started becoming televised and watched by millions. Data analytics and statistics have improved the way we watch, engage, and root for teams. Not only has it improved the way the viewers experience the game, but it has also improved the way the game is played. Data analytics creates a playing field for both teams going against each other and promotes the decisions made by the coaches. The NBA is a billion-dollar industry, whose goals are to increase profits and expand. Many people love the sport of basketball, and the NBA will continue to make dreams come true through innovation and technological advancements. Lastly, it has been proven that data analytics and statistics have helped the NBA increase their profits. NBA revenue has been significantly increasing year after year. However, due to the recent coronavirus pandemic, the NBA, like other sports leagues, will suffer a revenue loss. The pandemic taught the business industry and the sports one indeed that providing content will be fundamental for fans focusing on increasing the data you developing new technologies to improve the industry’s performance overall. Thought to look at a business aspect and to enhance the precision of how they do business, the NBA will continue to thrive for generations.