Quant Fact Predictions now 24-13

We're still licking our wounds from the NHL & NBA Finals -- but it goes to show you that the statistics won't be correct all of the time -- but they DO put the "wind at your back."

• Vancouver was beaten by a red-hot goalie who was definitely "in the zone" as well as hard-nosed, great playoff hockey by the Bruins.
• Miami was defeated by unbelievable teamwork, a quiet leader and star named Dirk Nowitzki -- and huge veteran play by Jason Kidd.  
• Congrats to both champions, the NBA's Dallas Mavericks & the NHL's Boston Bruins.

Our book's blog's record in "quant fact predictions" now stands at 24-13 (64.9%), still a solid record that is based on quantifying concepts of sports psychology.  The statistics add several interesting angles to sports analytics -- and regularly picks underdogs.     

NY Times: Which Team has the Right Stuff to Win the Cup?

Below is an excerpt on our analysis on the NHL Stanley Cup Finals:

Focusing on concepts of sports psychology, we looked at factors such as big-game experience, leadership on the ice and consistency. So important are these concepts to winning championships that they have proven to be common themes across all sports we have studied.

...

During the period of high-powered N.H.L. scoring from the mid-1980s to the mid-1990s, offensive leaders were more easily able to carry their teams to championships as Wayne Gretzky did with the Edmonton Oilers and Mario Lemieux did with the Pittsburgh Penguins.

...

Over all, championship factors like offensive leadership and defense favor the Vancouver Canucks to win the Stanley Cup. But Thomas may have something to say about that.

Read more here:

http://slapshot.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/05/30/keeping-score-which-team-has-the-right-stuff-to-win-the-cup/