Reading the Stat Sheet

I once read a quote which started something like this: "There are lies, dang lies, and statistics." The quote was referring to the notion that perhaps statistics were not always truthful despite the hard push from researchers to equate them with the absolute truth. Any politician worth her salt knows that she can bend, twist, pull, and manipulate statistics into whatever form she desires creating her own form of truth.

What you might ask does all this mumbo-jumbo have to do with basketball? It has to do with the stat sheet which is suppose to tell the story of the game. After all, it has all the pertinent facts on it: field goals made, field goals attempted, field goal percentage, assists, rebounds, turnovers, steals, blocks, free throws attempted, free throws made, and free throw percentage. A coach should be able to review the stat sheet after a game and understand why a team won or lost.

Here is where the quote becomes pertinent. After the Golden Eagles play, I might look at the stat sheet and note that we have 32 turnovers (ouch!), a shooting percentage of 32% (You gotta be kidding!), 10 less rebounds (A REAL THORN IN MY SIDE), 2 steals (Where is the defense?), or 8 assists (Did anybody pass the ball?). Most of these statistics would result in the loss of a game. Yet, when I glance at the bottom of the sheet where the score is posted, the Golden Eagles have won. How?

The problem with the stat sheet is that it doesn't have a column marked intangibles. This is where the Golden Eagles play. They play in the intangible column. How can a statistician note heart, determination, will, and belief in team? Where is the stat that dictates never giving up? Where is the line which provides the medium which describes this team: Finding a way to win?

If I were just looking at the neat columns of the stat sheet, I would not believe we were 15-4. I would believe we were a .500 team. It would be that simple. Yet because I know these young ladies, know their work ethic, their desire to be good, their love for one another, their willingness to be coached, and their absolute belief in togetherness, I understand why they are winning.

Statistics can be deceiving but what is real is what cannot be written on a sheet. It can only be felt through the heart. This team is all about heart.