NBA motion tracking powered by Intel improves team performance and fan experience

New Motion-Tracking Tech Allows NBA Fans to See Players Like Never Before for iQ by Intel by Robert (Bob) Roble, THESportsTechie.

NBA Sports Technology

Words cannot describe the excitement and honor I felt representing the Sports Techie community blog for a NBA sports technology article for iQ by Intel about the platform created by SportVU known as ICE that the league installed in every arena for the 2013 – 2014 season. Brain Kopp, Senior Vice President, Sports Solutions at STATS LLC, spoke to me about their proprietary software that tracks every basketball player on all 30 NBA teams resulting in a multitude of “Big Data” that coaches and the front office are mining in order to make in-game adjustments, improve player performance and enhance the fan experience.

SportVU ICE

STATS owns SportVU, the vendors of ICE. This cutting-edge sports tech provides an organization a best-in-class personnel management, player evaluation and game preparation system that creates new levels of operational efficiencies and strategic insights for basketball organizations.

NBA STATS

Stephen Hellmuth, NBA EVP, Operations and Technology, told me in regards to NBA motion-tracking technology, “the player tracking stats on now on NBA.com/stats.” The NBA and STATS are using six cameras installed in the catwalks of every arena. SportVU constantly tracks the movements of every player on the court and the ball. The data collected provides new stats based around speed, distance, player separation and ball.

NBA.com/Stats

1. Player Tracking Data Debuts
2. The Night in NBA Stats Tweets
3. Season Preview
4. One Team, One Stat: Three Efficient Scorers In OKC

Sports Techie, The advancement of sports technology is producing game changing digital products such as ICE. The NBA is the first top-tier American professional sports league to install this platform for every team to use. UEFA and Champions League in soccer was the first pioneering International pro football league to adopt the ICE platform and tracking technology.

The NFL is advancing the sport of football for teams, players and fans together with their league sponsor Microsoft by implementing tablet tech. I first blogged about ICE and the New Orleans Saints in 2011. Review this Sports Techie piece written for iQ by Intel about how STATS Big Data is at the center of the explosion of big business fantasy football here.

Go to the iQ by Intel web site via this link and read about this innovative sports business deal between the NBA and STATS that is already producing never before seen metrics for every team that can help improve player performance, augment television broadcasts and enrich in-venue fan experiences. The custom and secure NBA hoops data produced by ICE for each team is used for innovative marketing purposes such as big board gaming for the fans, social media communication and new sponsorship arrangements. With ICE data the players are better able to visualize proper spacing, fundamental execution and how to optimize their energy zones.

I especially like how the NBA.com’s John Schuhmann will search the database and provide a key stat for each team in the league and show, with film and analysis, why it matters. They begin with a statistical breakdown of the Oklahoma City Thunder, who led the league in point differential, but couldn’t overcome superstar Russell Westbrook‘s knee injury in their playoffs run. Westbrook was activated off the injury reserve list last week which bodes well for the continued success of the Thunder. Does a first NBA Championship loom for them or will the Miami Heat three-peat behind the three Ultra Sports Techie amigos, LeBron James, Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh? Use your mobile devices and check the NBA.com/STATS web page as a new daily Sports Techie habit.

Peruse the ICE generated statistics at NBA.com, NBATV and the NBA Game Time App right now via your TV, smartphone or tablet and enjoy the data centric sport of basketball in a new, informative and real-time way just like all the teams, players and team management do now.

I will see ya when I see ya, THE Sports Techie @THESportsTechie – http://twitter.com/THESportsTechie

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