3 ms·
As with just about everything, moving fast is only useful if you're going in the correct direction. A lot of effort in sports and business is wasted by correct
by huffmsa 8y ago
As with just about everything, moving fast is only useful if you're going in the correct direction.
A lot of effort in sports and business is wasted by correcting from incorrect predictions.
What Messi is good at is predicting where and when to be to maximize the probability of a successful outcome.
Watching him play is a curiosity as well, unlike a lot of other players who make their decision to pass or continue after their first move, Messi almost always continues to the second move when he has the ball.
He probably turns it over at a higher rate than most, but his touches typically occur in those previously mentioned high probability positions on the field, meaning that when he's not turning it over, he's putting shots on goal.
Since the cost of a turnover really isn't that high given the rate of change of possession in the game, he seems to be acting optimally.
Edit and addendum:
The guy who's always out fundraising might look like he's doing a lot of work, but it's very likely that the guy who only does the roadshow when the P_success is high will outperform the jackrabbit.
- samsonradu 8y agoNote that Messi is, at times, criticised for not playing defence which means more effort running back and forth. He is definitely doing the right thing when attacking but it depends what one optimizes for.
- sleavey 8y agoBarcelona have built their team around him for the past 10 years. As their most important attacking asset, he's has the least responsibility to defend.
- hcayless 8y agoWorth noting too that he can probably stretch the defense out just because he’s Messi. As a defender you’d be a fool to take your eyes off him.
- samsonradu 8y agoIt doesn't really work like that. Everyone has the responsibility to do their best in the context of the team. If one is more capable he does more, there's no passing responsibility at this level and there is no preferential treatment. Everyone has to do everything in their power to help the team. When Barcelona was in its prime shape and Messi was scoring/helping score more than Barcelona's defence could take on it was ok. When the team does not win and you did not give all, it's a problem isn't it? Of course this is just a superficial comment and take it with some salt, I have no clue what goes on the pitch, it might also be that he cannot sustain a full 90min and be productive attacking while also doing a degree of defense.
- JetSpiegel 8y agoWith his build (short and skinny), he is pretty crappy at defence. He would only waste energy running back and forth without return on investment.
- samsonradu 8y agoShort yes, so his head game is not that good but he is not skinny, he is quite muscular and strong. Attacking isn’t easy either, he is (was) one of the most fouled players in La Liga and he still scored a ton.
- avip 8y agoResting in play is a feature. MJ was doing that all the time. The GOATs know when giving 110% is appropriate, and when 75% would suffice.
- sbuk 8y ago"Intensity: Give 100%. 110% is impossible. Only idiots recommend that."
- bryanbuckley 8y agoDepends how you define 100%. e.g. over/under-clocking a CPU.
- pgwhalen 8y agoI wish I could find a link that was just about the data and not Lebron’s reaction to it, but my interpretation of Lebron’s slowness is that he has the same skill. https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.usatoday.com/amp/111166564 https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.usatoday.com/amp/111166564
- avip 8y agoThe data is here: https://stats.nba.com/players/speed-distance/?sort=AVG_SPEED&dir=-1 https://stats.nba.com/players/speed-distance/?sort=AVG_SPEED... It's a fun read - you have there James, KD, Harden, AD - basically all the elite players excluding Curry. On top of that, you have factually very fast players s.a Wall, Russ and Lillard. I'll have to take James' view that this is one stupid meaningless stat.