Data Psyc Doc

An effort to integrate psychology, sports, and data that help move fans and media from feelings toward evidence based analytics!

[Data Psyc Doc @DataPsycDoc]

Psychological Observation: A large part of #WNBA fans have a strong 'gatekeeper mentality'. They can't agree to disagree; they feel a moral obligation to shutdown alt views. How to spot? Look for words like real fans, casuals, and bandwagon, paired w/ #adhominem ridicule. For more on fan feelings read https://t.co/qg7HeEnCbo

[Data Psyc Doc @DataPsycDoc]

https://t.co/er4RwVL3ST

[Data Psyc Doc @DataPsycDoc]

@heffer8228 b/c meritocracy is a foreign concept. Culture war media, politics, and academia has taught critical thinking in terms of identity first, then interpret through that lens!

History will not look kindly on the obtuse, intellectually shallow convo in today's discourse!

[Data Psyc Doc @DataPsycDoc]

Academia has pushed identity politics as the very first critical thinking question to ask...then, everything else is interpreted through that lens.

History will look back and judge how obtuse and willfully ignorant colleges/universities were in preparing next gen students!

[Letstalkksports @letstalkksports]

The biggest threat to the WNBA isn’t Caitlin Clark. It isn’t Sophie Cunningham. It isn’t the fans.

It’s the media and former players who have decided accountability depends on WHO is being criticized.

When Caitlin Clark or Sophie Cunningham makes a mistake, there’s an army of analysts ready to dissect it, explain it, condemn it and turn it into a league-wide conversation.

But when other players—INCLUDING Black lesbian players—cross the line, suddenly the same people who preach accountability discover context, nuance and excuses.

That double standard is destroying credibility.

You cannot demand “sisterhood” while selectively defending certain players. You cannot preach equality while applying completely different standards based on race, sexuality or popularity.

If it’s wrong when Caitlin does it, it’s wrong when anyone does it.

If the WNBA wants to grow, stop protecting certain players from criticism and stop making Caitlin Clark, Sophie Cunningham and the Indiana Fever the scapegoats for everything that goes wrong.

Accountability isn’t supposed to have a race, sexuality or jersey number.

The media needs to stop picking teams and start telling the truth.

[Data Psyc Doc @DataPsycDoc]

@PsychologyNba Final point, for you to understand my context...I approach this from a psychological perspective first, then data. Legacy W and other fans have LOST their minds when it comes to analyzing Clark. I won't apologize for it, it is a particular phenomenon I am researching!

[Data Psyc Doc @DataPsycDoc]

BEWARE of data bias! #CaitlinClark stats, quick glance, 15 games +.500 teams -> 19.4 PPG | 7.4 APG | 1.63 AST/TO | 45.7% FG | 36.3 3P%.

My guess, he used 3P% to eliminate CC.

Note, CC played least min/game and was on a min restriction in 3 games.

Hate exposed!

[I talk hoops 🏀 @trendyhoopstars]

The three best-performing guards against .500+ competition:

1. Olivia Miles:
21.0 PPG | 6.3 APG | 1.84 AST/TO | 48.6 FG% | 44.0 3P%

2. Jackie Young:
18.9 PPG | 6.5 APG | 2.74 AST/TO | 46.9 FG% | 37.5 3P%

3. Paige Bueckers:
18.9 PPG | 5.1 APG | 2.39 AST/TO | 49.8 FG% | 41.8 3P%

✨

[Data Psyc Doc @DataPsycDoc]

I agree w/ most of what you say. You can see how she is set on the CC/KM minutes rotation. I do give her credit, w/ a quick leash on Lexie.

But yes, much of her coaching is based on her established norms, not the context of the game.

As a long time Steeler fan, this was my critique of Mike Tomlin...his system was always the default and in his later years, it became antiquated to an evolved game...but he stuck to it. It gave him a lot of +.500 win seasons, but they were not considered a real contender most of the time.

[Data Psyc Doc @DataPsycDoc]

I will offer one other point...my research dissertation I am working on is from the perspective that Caitlin Clark has become a major disruptor in the WNBA...culturally, economically, AND statistically.

There is already a lot of good data out there showing CC's exceptional accomplishments. Much of the posts we see on the TL is manufactured bad data...that's what I call out.

[Data Psyc Doc @DataPsycDoc]

@PsychologyNba Yes, I am CC fan, clearly. My posts are about bad usage of data, and be honest, you don't see a lot of bad data w/ CC, BUT you do see it elsewhere.

Someone else asked me to offer alternatives, but it is not my responsibility to offer another data when someone misuses analytics.

[Data Psyc Doc @DataPsycDoc]

@KimmmBrulee @SarcasmStardust It is what fits their narrative...the evidence is pretty clear...Paige has clapped a number of times, bumped officials, nothing...many do this...CC gets called...

The hatred for CC is so real...but we are still stuck in a society worried about being labeled, we can't speak up

[Data Psyc Doc @DataPsycDoc]

@PsychologyNba i for one, do not hold a second/third yr player to that standard yet. Stokes and Bell won championships, should we include them in convos of great players? This is commonly used to dismiss great players.

[Data Psyc Doc @DataPsycDoc]

@MiskaSapra_si Yes, yes she does...she may not have the situational awareness that many more eyes are on her, but it is what they have always believed!

[Data Psyc Doc @DataPsycDoc]

@PsychologyNba long term, maybe, sure...but go do research on the number of long standing records CC has already broken...

[Data Psyc Doc @DataPsycDoc]

@WadeWoodson3 @trendyhoopstars Nope!

[Data Psyc Doc @DataPsycDoc]

I COMPLETELY AGREE!!! We are in the age of guard play like the WNBA has never seen...I just can't stand sites like this that post metrics by arbitrary filter. Just other day, Lynx posted Miles moving to 4th in assists as rookie, that's cool, but blocked top 3 so you couldn't see CC at 1! Celebrate all of them, stop trying to exclude CC. You know that's what's happening, CC is the standard!

[Data Psyc Doc @DataPsycDoc]

@PsychologyNba data integrity and transparency mean something...if you don't think so, go do you...I will call out bias when I see it

[Data Psyc Doc @DataPsycDoc]

Finally! Someone who knows how to use WOWY! Great job @DayDreamThis 👏

WOWY is a lineup comparison, keep the other 4, just replace 1, KK for Mo.

Many in the SW/KM FC try to isolate 1 player to make a point, that's not what WOWY does!

Great analysis!

[Mily @DayDreamThis]

I don't see Billings getting her starting job back. KK is running that race and not looking back.

The early returns are game changing defense and offense

[Data Psyc Doc @DataPsycDoc]

@DayDreamThis Completely agree...I was on the fence but she is clearly getting more playing time b/c of that defense...Billings is a cone defensively and a liability.

[Data Psyc Doc @DataPsycDoc]

@TheAthletic @BuckinBoston I am conducting dissertation research on similar topics. Does paid subscription give researcher full access to recent and archival articles? How far back?

[The Athletic @TheAthletic]

Aaron Rodgers spoke out about Dr. Anthony Fauci. Sophie Cunningham spoke out about transgender athletes. Caitlin Clark chose not to weigh in.

Three different approaches, one common result: criticism.

@BuckinBoston on how athletes can't win on social media: https://t.co/01UMeVsouD

[Data Psyc Doc @DataPsycDoc]

It is used to promote a player MORE than it is an objective analysis. How can you, as an example, compare KM and CC with an ISO metric, and their playtime overlaps by 80% or more.

However, it IS a good metric if you want to compare KM and CC with the same 4 plyrs, then you have common variables.

[Mily @DayDreamThis]

We are truly watching a generational athlete at 24 years old.

My eyes are blessed.