Mind Matters Natural and Artificial Intelligence News and Analysis

TagBasketball

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great shooting and basketball in the basket during the game

Mr. Improbability

A silly story to honor March Madness AI Assistance Disclosure: The author used artificial intelligence in the development of this story. At six foot six, Liam O’Donoghue had spent much of his life disappointing strangers. They saw the height first and the rest later. In airports, grocery stores, church parking lots, and restaurants, people always asked, “You play basketball?” Liam always gave the same answer. “No.” The more accurate answer would have been: not successfully. He was twenty years old, broad-shouldered, long-armed, and naturally unathletic. He could dribble only as the ball directed him. He could not pivot without risk to bystanders or furniture. He had never developed a jump shot, a layup package, or any other part of the Read More ›

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Close-up of a man's hand holding US dollars against the background of the stadium. The concept of sports betting, making a profit from betting, gambling. American football.

Sports Gambling is a Big, New Problem

Common sense says sports betting isn't worth it. But once you start, it can be hard to stop.

While millionaires can manage major cash hemorrhages, the average American faces devastation by just a single bet gone awry.

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Scoring the winning points at a basketball game

Sabrina Ionescu’s Hot Hand

When basketball players hit a "streak," does that elevate the probability of success?

Athletes do sometimes get hot—not that their chance of success is 100% but that it is temporarily elevated above their normal probability.

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Scoring the winning points at a basketball game

Is “Hot Hands” Just a Basketball Myth?

Not so fast…

The paper that busted the myth of “hot hands” is justly famous. But statisticians are not prophets. Craig Hodges’ streak of 19 in a row in the 1991 contest is still too incredible to be explained by luck or cherry-picking. The numbers show that hot hands don’t happen every day, but they do happen.

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