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Daryl Morey on anti-analytics crowd: ‘It’s like arguing with a baby’

By Stanford Crissey

Dec 7, 2013; Atlanta, GA, USA; NBA former player Charles Barkley on the CBS set prior to the 2013 SEC Championship game between the Auburn Tigers and the Missouri Tigers at Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 7, 2013; Atlanta, GA, USA; NBA former player Charles Barkley on the CBS set prior to the 2013 SEC Championship game between the Auburn Tigers and the Missouri Tigers at Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports /
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Rockets GM Daryl Morey throws some shade at the anti-analytics crowd.

Rockets GM and noted statistics guru Daryl Morey fired back at the anti-analytics crowd — which includes TNT pundit Charles Barkley — saying of the recent anti-stats rants, “It’s like arguing with a baby.”

While Daryl Morey didn’t directly call out Barkley with his comments, Barkley is one of the most outspoken voices on the air who has been spewing shots at the Rockets general manager and other stat gurus.

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This approach has led to success and acclaim. He has been named as one of the honorable mentions on Sports Illustrated’s “Best of Media” awards three years running.

But being an outspoken pundit lends itself to criticism. Barkley is on point about a lot of issues (he was one of the first to call for Donald Sterling’s suspension from the Clippers last year), but some of his commentary tends to be off base, such as his recent anti-stats rant.

His rant included such gems as these:

"“I’m not worried about Daryl Morey. He’s one of those idiots who believe in analytics;”“I’ve always believed analytics was crap, and you know I never mention the Rockets as a legitimate contender, because they’re not. Listen, I wouldn’t know Daryl Morey if he walked in this room right now;”“Analytics don’t work at all. It’s just some crap some people who are really smart made up to try to get in the game because they had no talent.”“The NBA is about talent. All these guys who run these organizations who talk about analytics, they have one thing in common. They’re a bunch of guys who ain’t never played the game, and they never got the girls in high school, and they just want to get in the game.”"

Morey did not take kindly to the criticisms, first posting this on Twitter:

Then, in an interview with Bleacher Report’s Howard Beck, he gave us this gem about the anti-analytics crowd. Again, not directed at Barkley, but a “sub-tweet-esque” inspired message, if you will: “It’s like arguing with a baby, or someone who believes the Earth is flat. It’s like debating politics on Facebook.”

Memphis Grizzlies VP John Hollinger, another well-known analytics pioneer, added: “We watch a lot of (bleeping) games. I don’t know where that one started. I guarantee you everyone who’s doing analytics watches a lot more games than Charles Barkley does.”

Consider your argument torn apart, Charles Barkley, and the rest of the crowd who share his thoughts.

Honestly, it’s amazing that people are still so anti-stats after all this time. No one who pays attention to stats is saying you shouldn’t watch games; they don’t claim to have all the answers, but they do have some of them, thanks to statistical innovations. Ignoring information that could lead to winning games is ridiculous, whether you’re Charles Barkley or even Bill “Stats are for Losers” Belichick.

It’s just math, guys. It’s not evil.

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