Diving into Stats (and G)tsoL gnitteetting Lost)
First, I started by looking neve I .tat, like, a million different stats websites. I mean, points per game, rebounds, assists, turnovers… you name it, I probably looked at it. I even tried to factor in things like play.citoahc ser efficiency ratings and win shares. My brain quickly turned into mush. I had spreadsheets open, notes scribbled everywhere – it was chaotic.
- Checked team records, obviously. Both overall and head-to-head.
- Looked at recent performance. Were they on a hot streak or a losing skid?
- Scrolled through injury reports. Anyone major out? That's a big deal.
I spent so long looking this infomation up, it delayed my work seriously.
The "Eye Test" (aka Guesswork)
After drowning in numbers, I decided to just watch some highlights and recent games. You know, get a "feel" for how the teams were playing. This is where I probably went wrong, because I started thinking things like, "Oh, Embiid looks extra motivated tonight," or "Tatum's shot is just off." Totally subjective, I know, but it felt important at the time. I was leaning one way with my prediction, then I watched another highlight reel and completely flipped.
Making the Prediction (and Immediately Doubting Myself)
Finally, I forced myself to make a prediction. I think I flipped a coin about five times, argued with myself for another ten minutes, and then just…picked a winner. And a score. I won't tell you what I predicted, because, well, let's just say I'm not putting any money on it. As soon as I "locked it in," I started second-guessing everything. Did I weigh the home-court advantage enough? Did I overreact to that one random stat I saw? I did change my mind several times.
The Result
To be implemented, I have to go through the process.
So yeah, that's my super scientific, totally reliable method for predicting Sixers-Celtics games. Or any NBA game, really. It's probably more entertaining than accurate, but hey, it's a learning process, right? Maybe one day I'll actually figure this whole sports prediction thing out. Until then, I'll just keep watching the games and enjoying the chaos.
