Raptors Are Using IBM’s Watson to Draft A Winning Team

Lucky26 · Post #1 » by **Lucky26** » Thu Jun 23, 2016 2:43 pm

Only team in NBA to use this type of Super system. We got a taste of this when the Raps opened Biosteel Centre, but lots of interesting tid bits here.

http://motherboard.vice.com/read/toronto-raptors-nba-draft-day-ibm-watson?utm_source=mbtwitter

The partnership dates back to February, when the Raptors’ parent company Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment announced they were partnering with IBM, making the Raptors the first NBA team to use the Watson supercomputer to analyze players.

He’s become a huge basketball fan since working on the project. He praised the Raptors as a ”very pragmatic and well-paced” team with tremendous point guards—and the rare problem of too many talented young players. This has left Ujiri with a dilemma.

“I don’t know if it’s a draft where we can go and get somebody who will impact our team right away,” he said at a Toronto press conference on Tuesday. “Is it a player that’s three, four years down the road and that player has a high upside? We have to look out for the organization that way.”

Lucky26 · Post #2 » by **Lucky26** » Thu Jun 23, 2016 2:45 pm

The software used for NBA picks is based on how IBM does corporate acquisitions, which may seem like a leap, but it’s actually surprisingly similar.

Corporations want to acquire companies that excel in their specific field. Otherwise they have to reinvest, said Lenchner. Translated to the NBA, that means getting rid of players who don’t perform, and drafting ones who fit with your existing team or strengthen an area you’re going to focus on.

ropjhk · Post #3 » by **ropjhk** » Thu Jun 23, 2016 2:51 pm

Watson will one day lead to Skynet.

Mad Prophet · Post #4 » by **Mad Prophet** » Thu Jun 23, 2016 2:52 pm

This is what happened when they picked Araujo.

MessiahUjiri · Post #5 » by **MessiahUjiri** » Thu Jun 23, 2016 2:57 pm

We picked Watson because of his proven abilities to build an elementary team

SciencePiggy · Post #6 » by **SciencePiggy** » Thu Jun 23, 2016 2:58 pm

Mad Prophet wrote:This is what happened when they picked Araujo.

Araujo was the clear pick. The problem was that the user valued "chicken chasing" above "ability to play basketball". Got to train them users better.

K-tec · Post #7 » by **K-tec** » Thu Jun 23, 2016 3:03 pm

IBM employee here that works with Watson group. All I have to say is don't let me down Watson.

Lucky26 · Post #8 » by **Lucky26** » Thu Jun 23, 2016 3:05 pm

K-tec wrote:IBM employee here that works with Watson group. All I have to say is don't let me down Watson.

Oh man, that's not very confident, especially someone working so closely with it.

Mikistan · Post #9 » by **Mikistan** » Thu Jun 23, 2016 3:07 pm

better than the Kings with ask-jeeves

Mad Prophet · Post #10 » by **Mad Prophet** » Thu Jun 23, 2016 3:10 pm

Mikistan wrote:better than the Kings with ask-jeeves

The Kings have something much more sophisticated.

K-tec · Post #11 » by **K-tec** » Thu Jun 23, 2016 3:12 pm

Lucky26 wrote:
K-tec wrote:IBM employee here that works with Watson group. All I have to say is don't let me down Watson.

Oh man, that's not very confident, especially someone working so closely with it.

I work for their Watson Health Group...but would love to work with the Raptors on this initiative. Let's see who our boy Watson picks

OakleyDokely · Post #12 » by **OakleyDokely** » Thu Jun 23, 2016 3:13 pm

Mad Prophet wrote:This is what happened when they picked Araujo.

OakleyDokely · Post #13 » by **OakleyDokely** » Thu Jun 23, 2016 3:13 pm

Mikistan wrote:better than the Kings with ask-jeeves

ask-vivek

OakleyDokely · Post #14 » by **OakleyDokely** » Thu Jun 23, 2016 3:15 pm

There was an in-depth article about this is a little while back. The room looks like FBI headquarters. Might as well take advantage of technology, otherwise you fall behind.

scopy · Post #15 » by **scopy** » Thu Jun 23, 2016 3:15 pm

Mad Prophet wrote:This is what happened when they picked Araujo.

Rob Babcock thought he was supposed to ask "Wilson", not Watson:

NBA Sheady · Post #16 » by **NBA Sheady** » Thu Jun 23, 2016 3:20 pm

Even if it makes you take a better look at a player or two there is value here.

I've been a software dev full time since 2007 and AI is still in it's infancy which is why K-Tec doesn't sound confident.

K-tec · Post #17 » by **K-tec** » Thu Jun 23, 2016 3:36 pm

MadDogSHWA wrote:Even if it makes you take a better look at a player or two there is value here.

I've been a software dev full time since 2007 and AI is still in it's infancy which is why K-Tec doesn't sound confident.

I'd like to add that Watson is crunching data to make the best pick, and am confident that Watson will make the right choice based off of the data. But there are other important factors that Watson won't be able to measure (ie. Basketball IQ, heart...) which are just as important and that will be decided by Masai.

TheRedRocket · Post #18 » by **TheRedRocket** » Thu Jun 23, 2016 3:40 pm

Worked on a similar product of IBM Watson Analytics but for the Ottawa Senators. The one the Raptors are using isn't that special but more of a marketing campaign since MLSE and IBM have been working with each other for years.

yassillio · Post #19 » by **yassillio** » Thu Jun 23, 2016 3:41 pm

K-tec wrote:
MadDogSHWA wrote:Even if it makes you take a better look at a player or two there is value here.

I've been a software dev full time since 2007 and AI is still in it's infancy which is why K-Tec doesn't sound confident.

I'd like to add that Watson is crunching data to make the best pick, and am confident that Watson will make the right choice based off of the data. But there are other important factors that Watson won't be able to measure (ie. Basketball IQ, heart...) which are just as important and that will be decided by Masai.

I'm surprised the Rockets haven't used it yet . They sure love their analytics.

Wally West · Post #20 » by **Wally West** » Thu Jun 23, 2016 4:17 pm

Mikistan wrote:better than the Kings with ask-jeeves