TW: This is a very long piece from NYT Magazine by Micheal Lewis (Moneyball, Liar's Poker author). Lewis examines a Houston Rocket player, Shane Battier, who has very mediocre stats except for the fact that whenever he plays his team performs materially better than when he does not play. The same cannot be said for many more heralded superstars. It is a very interesting if you have an interest in any of the below:
1) Basketball- how it is a truly team game as opposed to say baseball
2) Statistics- many stats are not at all representative of actual value
3) Incentives- many contracts and rewards are based upon stats but given #2 the rewards frequently are incentivizng the wrong actions
4) Selflessness-drives the extraoridinary performance which is frequently not reflected in #2 and #3
#2 and #3 and #4 obviously have implications far beyond basketball.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/15/magazine/15Battier-t.html?scp=1&sq=shane&st=cse
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