Pre-release info on Ben Alamar's book:
I also saw this article:
http://www.sloansportsconference.com/?p=10849
As much as as analysts certainly should learn how to communicate better and sell their work better, in the end a lot of the responsibility for the failure to fully utilize the insights of analytics lies with top members of basketball management with the responsibility to get the best results and use what can get them there.
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I just purchased it. I will start reading it once I get through "Basketball on Paper" and post my thoughts.
Re: Placeholder for future discussion of Ben Alamar's book
I just finished reading it. Feel free to ask me any questions. When reviewing this book, it is important to first understand what the book is trying to accomplish. It is called "Sports Analytics: A Guide for Coaches, Managers, and Other Decision Makers" and that is really what it is. It provides insights into the field and how teams should and do set up their analytics department. I would say that this book is great for coaches, managers, and other decision makers who only have a small understanding of analytics. Being an analyst and database programmer, I can attest to much of what Ben says. He sets up various best practices that should be followed. It was interesting reading about the various issues that these departments face. Many of them are things that I have personally encountered.
With that being said, I was disappointed with the lack of polish that the book had. There were more than a few typos. Also, the book is 124 pages long and I felt that Ben did repeat himself a few times. Also, while the book was directed towards the sports audience, a lot of what he discussed is not directly sports related. That can be viewed as good or bad. I am indifferent. On the one hand, I feel like there are probably better resources out there that discuss setting up an analytics department (he does reference many other books that discuss this topic). However, this book will probably hit closer to home for many people because of the sports examples he gives.
These are just my initial thoughts. Let me know if anyone has any questions about the book.
With that being said, I was disappointed with the lack of polish that the book had. There were more than a few typos. Also, the book is 124 pages long and I felt that Ben did repeat himself a few times. Also, while the book was directed towards the sports audience, a lot of what he discussed is not directly sports related. That can be viewed as good or bad. I am indifferent. On the one hand, I feel like there are probably better resources out there that discuss setting up an analytics department (he does reference many other books that discuss this topic). However, this book will probably hit closer to home for many people because of the sports examples he gives.
These are just my initial thoughts. Let me know if anyone has any questions about the book.