When Confronted with An Explanation that is Based on Mathematics

[lu_hawk]

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One example of this is the "hot hand" in basketball. Statistical analysis has shown that this is a myth. That is a particular player has exactly the same chance of making his next shot whether he has missed his last five shots or made his last five shots. Every discussion I have seen of this topic has resulted in vigorous rebuttal from basketball players. The rebuttal is always based on personal experience and never on the actual statistical analysis.

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Not really on the subject of mathamatical debating, but I disagree with your belief that the "hot hand", as you call it, is entirely mythical. There is such a thing as a player getting into his rhytem. It probably has to do with muscle memory or something similar. I agree that it's not because he is just "on fire tonight" or some other made up explaination, but science and human anatomy can prove that muscle memory is very real, and could very well affect the performance of a basketball player.

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Reread his post. Statistical analysis has shown that the hot hand is a myth. It doesn't matter how much common sense says that there might be some validity behind the hot hand concept because statistical analysis has shown it to be false.