After watching the first games of the season got to thinking game theory.

coolcono · Post #1 » by **coolcono** » Sat Oct 25, 2025 1:15 pm

I was curious how many total close games a team plays, although winning close games is nice over losing them, affects a team's long term record. Emotionally exhausting games that require heavy play of stars cannot be beneficial towards a team's end of season win/loss total.

Post #2 » by **Doctor MJ** » Sat Oct 25, 2025 7:03 pm

coolcono wrote:I was curious how many total close games a team plays, although winning close games is nice over losing them, affects a team's long term record. Emotionally exhausting games that require heavy play of stars cannot be beneficial towards a team's end of season win/loss total.

Don't know if I agree with the conclusion, but it's worth studying with data.

I'll say, in the NFL I think it's a pretty established thing that teams who play overtime one week tend to do worse than next. But the NFL is also a bloodsport, while in the NBA, we're literally talking mostly about cardio fitness. Yes players can get worn down, but exactly how much more worn down one team is compared to another because of close games is not clear to me.