Video: A behind-the-scenes look at what makes the Clippers so good - Los Angeles Times
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Video: A behind-the-scenes look at what makes the Clippers so good

The Clippers use advanced data and analytics to improve their efficiency, and now that information is available to fans. Here’s a behind-the-scenes look at how it works.

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Before the Clippers played the Oklahoma City Thunder in their season opener at Staples Center on Thursday, something new played on the video board.

It was a clip of Russell Westbrook driving through the paint, then being stuffed by DeAndre Jordan. Using advanced data and analytics, the clip explains why Jordan is so good at doing what he does best -- defending the paint.

This information is available to fans thanks to new Clippers owner Steve Ballmer, who teamed up with Second Spectrum, a start-up tech company that provides the Clippers and six other NBA teams with analytical data generated by its proprietary software system.

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Check out the video above for a glimpse of this state-of-the-art technology. And read this story by The Times’ Ben Bolch explaining how it all works.

The technology also allows for fans inside Staples Center to access a website with their mobile phone and select a highlight play that they want to be shown on the video board. The play and the fan’s name could be shown to the arena’s crowd a few seconds later.

The Clippers are the first professional sports team to implement this technology.

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