Euroleague statistics

[Black Urum]

It was time somebody had a look at the Italian statistics...

You have probably heard of the "Greek statistics" by now. It is a term used inside the European Union to describe "creative accounting" and it is, by now, an inside joke in Brussels and Strasbourg offices. But it seems that Euroleague got their own case of creative statistics over the past few seasons, in Italy.



Long life Euroleague fans have for sure noticed some irregularities and things not adding up in Euroleague games involving home teams from Italy. Infamous are Montepaschi Siena games where the home team would get credited with more steals than the number of their opponent's total turnovers. And if you think we are exaggerating and that these were simply honest one-time-only mistakes here are more than enough examples: [[url="http://www.euroleague.net/main/results/showgame?phasetypecode=RS%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20&gamecode=73&gamenumber=7&seasoncode=E2007"]example 1[/url]], [[url="http://www.euroleague.net/main/results/showgame?phasetypecode=RS%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20&gamecode=98&gamenumber=9&seasoncode=E2007"]example 2[/url]], [[url="http://www.euroleague.net/main/results/showgame?phasetypecode=RS%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20&gamecode=123&gamenumber=11&seasoncode=E2007"]example 3[/url]], [[url="http://www.euroleague.net/main/results/showgame?phasetypecode=RS%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20&gamecode=148&gamenumber=13&seasoncode=E2007"]example 4[/url]], [[url="http://www.euroleague.net/main/results/showgame?phasetypecode=TS%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20&gamecode=185&gamenumber=17&seasoncode=E2007"]example 5[/url]], [[url="http://www.euroleague.net/main/results/showgame?phasetypecode=PO%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20&gamecode=217&gamenumber=21&seasoncode=E2007"]example 6[/url]] and so on.



And amazingly enough these statistics are always keen in improving the image of Italian teams and never the away teams.



The latest example of "Italian statistics" is last week's AJ Milano - Panathinaikos game. The Greek side was credited with just seven assists in the game stats sheet, but a simple review of the game highlights proves that Panathinaikos players dished double the assists, fourteen. So we decided to run the story. It will be presented in two parts, in the first we will analyse and document the mistakes of the Milano statskeepers and have a general talk about assists. So here goes:



[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hM-9ySPrtuI[/media]

[url="http://www.talkbasket.net/news/the-curious-case-of-italian-statistics-vids-part-1-3844.html"]Read the rest at TalkBasket (includes screenshots, videos, documentation and a short interview.)[/url]

[Black Urum]

[url="http://www.talkbasket.net/dr-fantasy/the-curious-case-of-italian-statistics-part-2-3847.html"]The curious case of "Italian statistics" - Part 2[/url]