A few weeks ago, Sports Illustrated tweeted this video of Golden State Warriors point guard Steph Curry that instantly went viral. It shows him taking a shot at the basket—from the far side of the court. The ball goes in. OK, I can believe that. He’s a famously great shooter. But then he turns around and grabs another ball and takes another shot … and makes it. And then again. And again. And a fifth time.
So is it real or fake? Let’s use statistics and physics to find out.
Basic Probability
Physicists don't usually jump right into the most complicated version of a problem. Instead, they do a rough estimation, often called a “back of the envelope” calculation. So let's make some approximations about the probability of making five full-court shots in a row.
We can start with a simple experiment that you can try at home—you just need a coin. Make a prediction: Will it land on head or tails? Unless you have some psychic powers, you will have a 50 percent chance of guessing right. It's best to think of this as a fraction of 1, so this would be a probability of success with a value of 0.5.
What if you want to predict the outcome of two coin flips in a row? In that case, you would have a probability of 0.5 for the first flip and another 0.5 for the second. The total probability is the product of these two: 0.5 × 0.5 = 0.25. That's a one-in-four chance of getting it right. That makes sense, because there are four possible flipping outcomes: HH, HT, TH, TT.
But if you wanted to predict five flips in a row? That would be (0.5)5 = 0.031. You have just a 3 percent chance to correctly predict all of the results.
Do you see where this is going? We can apply this same idea to basketball. Suppose Steph Curry's skill is such that he has a 50-50 chance of making a full-court shot (which would already be amazing). If that were true, his chance of getting five in a row would be 3 out of 100. That's actually not too bad. If you wanted to make a viral video, you could just keep tossing balls until you get five in a row. It might take all day, but it should be possible.
However, it gets much worse if you assume a lower chance of success for one shot. What if you can hit just 1 out of 20 of those full-court throws? (That would be 0.05.) In that case, the chance of sinking five in a row would be 0.00003 percent. Good luck with that.
Or how about this? Curry takes five shots. What if he has a 50 percent chance of making all five in a row? He would need a hit probability of 0.87 per shot to get (0.87)5 = 0.5. Just compare that to the probability of making a free throw shot—which is much easier because the player is standing much closer to the hoop—at somewhere between 0.7 and 0.8.
Rhett Allain
https://www.wired.com/story/how-to-use-physics-to-tell-if-that-steph-curry-video-is-real/
By: Rhett Allain
Title: How to Use Physics to Tell If That Steph Curry Video Is Real
Sourced From: www.wired.com/story/how-to-use-physics-to-tell-if-that-steph-curry-video-is-real/
Published Date: 12-23-2022
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the greatest rivalry within the NBA?
The NBA's biggest rivalry is held by the Los Angeles Lakers and the Boston Celtics.
The NBA Finals have seen the Boston Celtics meet the Los Angeles Lakers 12 times. Nine of these meetings have been won by the Celtics. Their first meeting was in 1959, but they both continued to excel in the following years, especially during the 1960s and 1980s, when they would face each other six times and three, respectively. They still met twice in that same year, despite the fact that 2000 was a new millennium.
What is the NBA's Bird Rights?
In the NBA, "Bird rights" refers to a rule which allows certain players to be re-signed by their current team for more money than any other team can offer. This rule is named after Larry Bird (ex-Boston Celtics player), who was the first to profit from it. A team cannot exceed their salary cap to resign a player if that player has been with them for at least three consecutive years. Bird rights allow players who are not currently with the team to retain their status and earn a higher salary than what they would get from any other teams.
Which basketball player is the best?
This is a difficult question to answer as there are so many excellent players. Each person has their own opinion. Some of the most prominent contenders for this title include Kobe Bryant and LeBron James as well as Kareem AbdulJabbar, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, and LeBron James. Each of these legends has made an incredible impact on the game of basketball and has earned their place in basketball history. Each of these legends have their own styles of play, which have been admired worldwide by millions. As everyone has their own opinions on the greatest player, it is impossible for anyone to definitively answer this question. These six players are undoubtedly the best players of all time and must be included in any list ranking the greatest.
But, the majority of people agree that Michael Jordan truly is the greatest basketball player of all-time. He was born in Wilmington (North Carolina) on February 17, 1963.
Jordan started his professional basketball playing with the Chicago Bulls in 1984. He soon became one his era's most popular and successful players. Jordan was a six time NBA champion, six -time NBA finals M MVP, five -time NBA regular season MVP. He also served as a 10-time NBA score leader, 10-time NBA second team, nine times NBA all-defensive team MVP, and three times NBA steals leader.
Jordan was also a double Olympic gold medal winner. He was inducted in the Basketball Hall of Fame, in 2009. Jordan's remarkable ability to score from any position on the court, make plays and lead the team is what will be remembered. Because of his unwavering ambition and drive, Jordan will always be an inspiration for millions.
Jordan's legacy will live on forever; he is the undisputed greatest basketball player of all time. His level of greatness is unparalleled by any other player. He will be remembered forever as one of the most important sports figures in history. Michael Jordan is simply the greatest ever. His extraordinary career and achievements will always be remembered. He was, remains, and always will remain "The GOAT," Michael Jordan.
Statistics
- The opening game of the 2020 Finals between the Los Angeles Lakers and Miami Heat brought in only 7.41 million viewers to ABC, according to The Hollywood Reporter. (en.wikipedia.org)
- As of 2014, 45 percent of its viewers were black, while 40 percent were white, making it the only top North American sport that does not have a white majority audience.[102]As of 2017Democrats than Republicans.[103]Outside (en.wikipedia.org)
- Williams would 'likely' accept a deal worth $14-15M/year; Celtics are 'unlikely' to offer such a deal (HoopsHype) (bleacherreport.com)
- Meanwhile, the opening night rosters include a record-setting 234 players with some G League experience, according to the NBA ( Twitter link ). (hoopsrumors.com)
- "NBA first-round ratings drop 27 percent, 40 percent since 2017–18". (en.wikipedia.org)
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How To
What compensation is offered to NBA players for being injured?
NBA players with guaranteed contracts are entitled to their entire salary, even if they are disabled or injured. Some have even earned millions without even playing a game. They may lose out on bonuses, though, and their contract may not be renewed after it expires. Players with non-guaranteed contracts will not usually receive any payment until they become healthy enough to return to the NBA. However, the NBA can help with payments for disability or a lump amount settlement for those who meet the criteria. There is no guarantee that you will get paid if you are injured. The league and teams may also assist individuals in need on an individual basis.
Team members can also help through the Injury Disability Plan. It ultimately depends on the individual and their team's circumstances. In some cases, players may be allowed to bargain with their teams for some compensation during an injury absence. Although there are no guarantees regarding payment, players should understand that the league and their team can assist them. It is essential to keep in mind that each situation is unique and should be assessed on an individual basis. The NBA has detailed rules for injuries and payment during injury absences. Knowing these rules can help players make agreements with their teams, or to make informed financial decisions about the future. For any questions or concerns, it is important that you consult a professional.
