Okay, here is a blog post about my experience recording player stats from a Golden State Warriors vs. San Antonio Spurs game:
So, I’ve been wanting to get better at tracking stats during basketball games. I’m a huge NBA fan, and I always thought it would be cool to analyze the numbers myself. I figured the best way to learn was to just jump right in, so I decided to record all the player stats from a recent Golden State Warriors vs. San Antonio Spurs game.
First, I got myself set up. I grabbed my laptop, a notebook, and a pen. I pulled up a blank spreadsheet on my computer and got ready to input a bunch of data. I also had the game on TV so I could watch and record at the same time. I’m not gonna lie, I was a little nervous at first, figuring it would be tough to keep up with the action and jot down every point, rebound, and assist.
The game started, and let me tell you, it was intense from the get-go! Both teams were really bringing the energy. Early on, it seemed like Golden State was trying to match the Spurs’ intensity, with four of their guys, including Steph Curry and Chris Paul, each scoring 5 points in the first few minutes. I was furiously scribbling in my notebook and trying to fill in my spreadsheet, but I was already starting to fall behind. Players were scoring so fast, and I’m just one guy with a pen and paper!
Game Notes
- First Quarter: Man, the pace of this game is insane! Both teams are really pushing the ball. I noticed that the Spurs were really aggressive on the boards, especially on the offensive glass. Golden State seemed to be relying a lot on their outside shooting, which, you know, with Steph Curry, isn’t a bad strategy.
- Second Quarter: Okay, I’m starting to get a better handle on this. It’s still a lot to track, but I’m developing a system. I’m making tally marks in my notebook for each stat and then transferring them to the spreadsheet at the end of each quarter. It’s not perfect, but it’s working. The Spurs have a small lead at halftime, I think mostly due to their rebounding advantage.
- Third Quarter: This is where things got tricky. The game really tightened up, and there were a lot of substitutions. Keeping track of who was on the court and who was scoring was a real challenge. I might have missed a couple of assists in there somewhere, but I think I got most of the major stuff.
- Fourth Quarter: Wow, what a finish! The game came down to the wire, and unfortunately for my Warriors, the Spurs pulled out the win. I think the final score was something like 104-94, but don’t quote me on that. My spreadsheet is a mess of numbers, and my notebook looks like hieroglyphics. I can confirm that I read somewhere the Spurs did win 104-94.
At the end of it all, I was exhausted but also pretty proud of myself. I actually managed to record a whole game’s worth of player stats! It wasn’t perfect, and I’m sure I made some mistakes, but I learned a ton. I definitely have a newfound appreciation for the people who do this for a living. It’s way harder than it looks! I saw somewhere that this game was actually on March 9th, 2024, so that’s helpful. I also saw mention of a game on November 23rd and January 13, 2023, but I’m pretty sure I watched the March 9th one.
This whole experience was a real eye-opener. It gave me a much better understanding of the flow of a basketball game and the importance of every single possession. Plus, it was just fun to challenge myself and try something new. I think I’ll keep practicing, and maybe one day, I’ll be able to track stats like a pro! Or maybe I’ll just stick to watching the games and leave the stat-tracking to the experts. We’ll see!
