Okay, let’s talk about tracking the player stats for that 76ers vs Celtics game. I’ve been wanting to do this for a while, just to get a better feel for the game flow myself, rather than just relying on the broadcast graphics.
Getting Started
First thing I did was get set up before tip-off. Didn’t need anything fancy. Just grabbed my trusty notebook and a pen. Some folks might use a spreadsheet, but I kinda like doing it by hand sometimes, feels more involved. I made sure the TV was on the right channel, volume up, ready to go. I drew up some simple columns for each team, listing the likely starters and leaving space for bench players as they came in. Basic stuff: points, rebounds, assists. That was my main focus.
The Tracking Process
Once the game started, I tried my best to keep up. It gets fast, you know? Especially with teams like Philly and Boston. When someone scored, I’d quickly jot down “+2” or “+3” next to their name. Rebounds were a bit trickier, especially on busy possessions under the basket, but I did my best to catch who came down with the ball. Assists were usually easier to spot if you watched the ball movement.
- Points: Just tallying buckets. Made sure to mark free throws too.
- Rebounds: Watching who secured the board after a missed shot.
- Assists: Looking for the pass that led directly to a score.
I’ll be honest, I definitely missed a few things here and there. A quick fast break, a messy scrum for a rebound – sometimes you just can’t catch every single detail live. But I wasn’t aiming for official box score perfection. It was more about getting a personal sense of who was contributing and how.
Half-Time Check-In
At halftime, I took a moment to quickly tally up the numbers I had so far. It helped to see who was having a strong first half, who was quiet. Gave me something to watch for specifically in the second half. Like, okay, maybe this guy needs to get more involved, or watch out for that player heating up.
Finishing Up
Played through the second half, continuing my little tally system. You could really feel the momentum shifts by watching the numbers change in real-time next to the players’ names. When the final buzzer sounded, I took a few minutes to do a final count for everyone I tracked. Added up all the little marks.
Looking at the rough numbers I collected, you could see the impact players had. Even my rough notes showed who carried the scoring load, who was active on the glass, and who set up their teammates. It wasn’t super scientific, but it was really satisfying to have my own record of the game, based on what I saw.
Overall, it was a pretty fun exercise. Takes a bit of focus, sure, but it makes you watch the game differently, maybe appreciate the little things a bit more. Definitely something I might do again for another big matchup.
