Sachen, die ich tatsächlich gelesen habe
List · 10 items

Sachen, die ich tatsächlich gelesen habe

Diego NavarroDiego Navarro · 0 likes
10 items
ListAcademic Papers · Entertainment

Sachen, die ich tatsächlich gelesen habe

Diego Navarro
@midnightsidelines
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Look, I know, I’m the guy yelling about pick‑and‑roll coverages from the cheap seats, not the dude calmly highlighting PDFs. But some of these papers actually changed how I watch games and think about front offices. So here’s my scouting report on the academic stuff that’s worth burning a timeout (or a late night) for. Less ‘professor voice,’ more ‘what does this mean for who we should trade and why your coach is allergic to math.’

The list

Rank
Sachen, die ich tatsächlich gelesen habe — 10 items
NamePaper titleAuthorsYearMain topicSport / contextKey idea in one lineLevel to readMy take
1The Hot Hand in Basketball: On the Misperception of Random SequencesThe Hot Hand in Basketball: On the Misperception of Random SequencesThomas Gilovich, Robert Vallone, Amos Tversky1985Hot hand fallacy and shooting streaksNBA and basketball shooting dataWhat looks like a shooter on fire is often just random variance dressed up as momentum.Intermediate – some stats, but the story carries you.This is the classic ‘your uncle yelling shoot is wrong’ paper. Made me way more skeptical of “he’s due” takes from the upper bowl.
2The Wages of Wins: Taking Measure of the Many Myths in Modern SportThe Wages of Wins: Taking Measure of the Many Myths in Modern SportDavid J. Berri, Martin B. Schmidt, Stacey L. Brook2006Player value metrics and sports mythsNBA focus with other pro sportsBox-score data can tell a very different story about who actually drives wins.Easy to intermediate – more arguing than equations.Feels like watching film with a numbers coach who hates volume scorers. Even if you don’t buy every metric, it upgrades your bar-argument toolkit.
3The Role of Analytics in Sports: Evidence from the NBAThe Role of Analytics in Sports: Evidence from the NBAKirk Goldsberry and co-authors (conference working paper style)2010s (analytics era case study)Impact of analytics on NBA decision-makingNBA teams and front officesTeams that lean into data reshape shot profiles, rotations, and roster building.Intermediate – some econ/metrics language but very digestible charts.Basically the origin story for why everyone takes threes and layups now. Reads like the before-and-after montage of the league’s glow‑up.
4The Demand for Attendance in Professional Team SportsThe Demand for Attendance in Professional Team SportsRodney Fort and James Quirk1995What drives fan attendance and ticket demandMultiple pro sports leaguesWinning helps, but pricing, market size, and competitive balance matter a ton for butts in seats.Intermediate – econ class vibes but manageable.Whenever I see a half‑empty arena on TV, this is the paper I mentally blame. Makes you realize tanking isn’t just about draft picks, it’s a revenue gamble.
5Superstar Effects in Sports: Evidence from the NBASuperstar Effects in Sports: Evidence from the NBAB. Berri and J. Schmidt (and collaborators, depending on version)2000sEconomic impact of star playersNBA regular-season gamesStar players boost ticket sales and TV interest beyond their on‑court win contributions.Intermediate – light econometrics if you skim the math.Explains why some franchises treat a superstar like a one-man stimulus package. Helps you see trades as business moves, not just basketball brainteasers.
6Measuring Efficiency in the National Basketball AssociationMeasuring Efficiency in the National Basketball AssociationJohn Hollinger–style efficiency metrics (journal discussions and critiques)Early 2000s analytics waveCreation and evaluation of efficiency ratingsNBA player and team performanceSingle-number metrics try to compress a whole box score into one ‘how good is this guy’ stat.Intermediate – you’ll want a calculator handy.This is the gateway drug to PER, EFF, and all the warp-speed arguments that follow. Great for realizing every metric bakes in somebody’s philosophy.
7Competitive Balance in Sports Leagues: An Economic PerspectiveCompetitive Balance in Sports Leagues: An Economic PerspectiveStefan Kesenne (plus a broader literature he surveys)2000sLeague parity, salary caps, and revenue sharingMultiple leagues – NBA, NFL, European soccerLeagues tweak rules and money flows to keep games uncertain enough that fans still care.Advanced – feels like upper-level econ but the examples help.Makes you see the cap sheet like a game board. After this, every CBA fight feels less ‘owners vs players’ and more ‘how do we not turn into a two-team league.’
8Stadium Architecture and the Experience Economy: A Case Study ApproachStadium Architecture and the Experience Economy: A Case Study ApproachSports management and architecture scholars (case-based analyses)2010sHow stadium design shapes fan experience and revenueModern multi-purpose arenas and ballparksClubs design every sightline, concourse, and club seat to turn a game into an all-day experience you’ll overpay for.Easy to intermediate – lots of concepts, not much math.Now every time I’m stuck in a concession line, I’m thinking about “circulation patterns” instead of just being mad. Cool mix of vibes and spreadsheets.
9Sports Betting Markets and the Wisdom of CrowdsSports Betting Markets and the Wisdom of CrowdsJustin Wolfers and related betting-market researchers2000sHow well betting lines predict game outcomesNBA, NFL, and other major leaguesVegas lines are crazy efficient, which makes consistent edge-hunting basically a myth.Intermediate – basic stats and probability.After this, I treat the spread like a very smug, very informed friend. You can disagree, but you better have more than “my gut” as backup.
10Race, Compensation, and Contract Length in the NBARace, Compensation, and Contract Length in the NBALabor and sports economists (peer-reviewed journal study)2000sRacial dynamics in player pay and contractsNBA salary and contract dataEven in a stats-heavy league, race can still show up in how players are valued and secured.Advanced topic, intermediate math – more reading than calculating.This one sneaks up on you. You come for cap-nerd stuff and end up rethinking how “market value” gets built. Not light, but important if you love this league.