Who is Better?

The Ultimate Question

When it comes to sports, especially the NBA, all most people want to know is "Who is better"? If we honestly analyze all the bar talk and discussions and debates and arguments we have encountered in our lives, they almost entirely center on this question.

The Science of It

Unfortunately, this question cannot be answered scientifically. Many people will disagree with this and point to various stats and analytics, but they do not have sufficient data or the right kind of data to scientifically analyzed.

So how can we deal with this question?

The analysis must be performed using the limited data we have, and then we just have to admit that our correlations and interpretations are highly subjective. However, that doesn't mean some interpretations are not more informed or more accurate than others.

Fortunately, we have a lot of video, especially of the more modern eras, that we can look at and gain knowledge from. And while the stats we have are unreliable from a purely scientific standpoint, there might still be value in them if it is approached and interpreted carefully.

Video is the best when available

If there is video available regarding a topic in the NBA, it is the best source for analysis. There is almost no need for anything else. Too many people experience basketball through highlight clips and box scores, which make discussions and debates very difficult. So uncut game video will always be the most reliable "data" in any analysis involving the NBA. Use it.