A computer correctly predicted the New York Knicks would finish the season at 37-45 back in October


Who knew that the New York Knicks would go 37-45 this year? ESPN's SCHOENE system did.

The SCHOENE system uses a variety of factors when calculating its simulations. Some of these include players' performance over the past 3 years, injury rate, age, and team efficiency. In the specific case of the Knicks, it took into account the off-season loss of valuable 3-point shooters, the loss of players who facilitated Carmelo Anthony's high scoring, and aging effects.

Many of the Knicks players and coaches dismissed the computer's projections during the pre-season.

From a New York Post article on October 16, 2013:

(Carmelo) Anthony reacted with surprise Wednesday when informed of a projection for the Knicks to go 37-45 this season, based on an ESPN system called SCHOENE. That would be a steep dropoff from last season’s 54-28 record, which was good enough for the second seed in the Eastern Conference.

"Sometimes there’s glitches in the computer," Anthony said. "That’s all I can say... I don’t follow that stuff — that’s it."

My favorite part is head coach Michael Woodson's quote:

“Do they play?’’ Woodson asked. “It’s a computer system. I don’t think computers run up and down the floor. You still have to play the game, guys. I don’t get caught up in that. I don’t have any control over the computers. The only thing I can control is our team and how we play.’’

In hindsight, Woodson was not able to control his team and how they played, and the Knicks' nightmare season finished with an accurately predicted 37-45 record, with Woodson and his staff losing their jobs. Perhaps since SCHOENE was better at assessing the team's behavior than Woodson, the computer should apply for the open coaching position.


h/t: Bleacher Report