---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'm a numbers guy, and I think numbers…"
description: "\"I'm a numbers guy, and I think numbers sometimes tell stories and sometimes they don't. When you look at the NBA, when teams shoot 45% or better from t..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/043/doug-collins-24666_better_i-m-a-numbers-guy-and-i-think-numbers-so_2763926.jpg"
---

#  I'm a numbers guy, and I think numbers sometimes tell…

![“I'm a numbers guy, and I think numbers sometimes tell stories and sometimes they don't. When you look at the NBA, when teams shoot 45% or better from the floor, what is their record? And if they shoot under that what is their record?” quote by Doug Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/043/doug-collins-24666_better_i-m-a-numbers-guy-and-i-think-numbers-so_2763926.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/043/doug-collins-24666_better_i-m-a-numbers-guy-and-i-think-numbers-so_2763926.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/043/doug-collins-24666_better_i-m-a-numbers-guy-and-i-think-numbers-so_2763926.jpg)

> “I'm a numbers guy, and I think numbers sometimes tell stories and sometimes they don't. When you look at the NBA, when teams shoot 45% or better from the floor, what is their record? And if they shoot under that what is their record?”

[Doug Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-collins/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Numbers can reveal patterns but aren't always reliable predictors; context matters.

**In simple terms:** Numbers sometimes tell stories, sometimes they don’t.

Key Takeaway

Use data, but consider context.

Themes

statistics prediction context sports analytics

Mood

analytical curious

Type

observational analytical

When to use this quote

- team performance analysis
- betting odds
- coaching decisions
- media commentary

Key Concepts

probability sample size variance

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you account for outliers?
- When should intuition outweigh stats?

A Different Perspective

High variance in games can make simple thresholds misleading.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better/) [Floor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/floor/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Guy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guy/) [I think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-think/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Look](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/look/) [Look Nba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/look-nba-954624/) [Looks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looks/) [NBA](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nba/) [Nba Teams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nba-teams-1123328/) [Numbers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/numbers/) [Numbers Tell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/numbers-tell-944302/) [Record](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/record/) [Records](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/records/) [Shoot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shoot/) [Shoot 45](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shoot-45-3190368/) [Sometimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sometimes/) [Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories/) [Team](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/team/) [Teams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teams/) [Teams Shoot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teams-shoot-3190367/) [Tell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tell/) [Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [You](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/you/)

## Related quotes

> [It's one of my main focuses, to extend my range and prove to teams that I can shoot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/domantas-sabonis/it-s-one-of-my-main-focuses-to-extend-my-range-and-prove-to-teams/)

[Domantas Sabonis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/domantas-sabonis/)

> [Teams that shoot as quick and as well as they do make them hard to stop.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-green/teams-that-shoot-as-quick-and-as-well-as-they-do-make-them-hard-to/)

[Tom Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-green/)

> [Hard numbers tell an important story; user stats and sales numbers will always be key metrics. But every day, your users are sharing a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stewart-butterfield/hard-numbers-tell-an-important-story-user-stats-and-sales-numbers/)

[Stewart Butterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stewart-butterfield/)

> [“Numbers tell a story but peoplebring it to life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-bookbinder/numbers-tell-a-story-but-peoplebring-it-to-life/)

[Dave Bookbinder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-bookbinder/)

> [A lot of times, especially when it comes to political debates, people get caught up in esoteric statistics. So the realest thing I can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hasan-minhaj/a-lot-of-times-especially-when-it-comes-to-political-debates-people/)

[Hasan Minhaj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hasan-minhaj/)

> [I understand what sabermetrics get across, and what they're getting across is to keep it simple. Especially for me, as a pitcher, that's something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-scherzer/i-understand-what-sabermetrics-get-across-and-what-they-re-getting/)

[Max Scherzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-scherzer/)

> [Looking at these numbers, what do they tell anyone who's got any common sense? Everything you're seeing is just too little, too late.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-harris/looking-at-these-numbers-what-do-they-tell-anyone-who-s-got-any/)

[Richard Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-harris/)

> [I look at the NBA as a football game without the helmet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-tolbert/i-look-at-the-nba-as-a-football-game-without-the-helmet/)

[Tom Tolbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-tolbert/)

> [If you look at the NBA, it's the richest and wealthiest group of African-American men in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-smith/if-you-look-at-the-nba-it-s-the-richest-and-wealthiest-group-of/)

[Kenny Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-smith/)

> [You look at the NBA: there's all these young kids that are drafted on potential. They go to bad teams, they're in bad locker…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-brown/you-look-at-the-nba-there-s-all-these-young-kids-that-are-drafted-on/)

[Larry Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-brown/)

> [I always look at the NBA as kind of a muddled mess in the regular season, and then you just get in the tournament,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-young/i-always-look-at-the-nba-as-kind-of-a-muddled-mess-in-the-regular/)

[Steve Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-young/)

> [I understand what it's like to be a kid and look up to an NBA player. It just inspires me to reach more people.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-gordon/i-understand-what-it-s-like-to-be-a-kid-and-look-up-to-an-nba-player/)

[Aaron Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-gordon/)

> [Look at the NBA players back when Magic and Kareem played in the early 80's with the short shorts, look at what Michael looked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tiger-woods/look-at-the-nba-players-back-when-magic-and-kareem-played-in-the/)

[Tiger Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tiger-woods/)

> [You don't look through the NBA schedule and say, 'this is going to be an easy night.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-harris/you-don-t-look-through-the-nba-schedule-and-say-this-is-going-to-be/)

[Joe Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-harris/)

> [If you look at the NBA compared to the WNBA we make half of one per cent of what the men are allowed to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-cambage/if-you-look-at-the-nba-compared-to-the-wnba-we-make-half-of-one-per/)

[Liz Cambage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-cambage/)

## More by Doug Collins

> [I was taught by teachers, and if it's one thing I have it's a basketball mind and I try to pass it on and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-collins/i-was-taught-by-teachers-and-if-it-s-one-thing-i-have-it-s-a/)

[Doug Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-collins/)

> [We're talking about being relevant again. I want the Sixers to be on people's tongues again... I want the Sixers to be the basketball…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-collins/we-re-talking-about-being-relevant-again-i-want-the-sixers-to-be-on/)

[Doug Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-collins/)

> [Boston is a very proud franchise. The NBA misses them when they are not in the mix. They, along with teams like the Knicks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-collins/boston-is-a-very-proud-franchise-the-nba-misses-them-when-they-are/)

[Doug Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-collins/)

> [You don't want to be down 2-0 in a series. It's always important to try and get one on the opponent's home court. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-collins/you-don-t-want-to-be-down-2-0-in-a-series-it-s-always-important-to/)

[Doug Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-collins/)

> [The great thing about basketball is you work as hard as you can to individually get better so that your team can win](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-collins/the-great-thing-about-basketball-is-you-work-as-hard-as-you-can-to/)

[Doug Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-collins/)

> [Work as hard as you can to become as good an individual player as you can to help your team win](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-collins/work-as-hard-as-you-can-to-become-as-good-an-individual-player-as-you/)

[Doug Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-collins/)

> [The one thing about players today is that they're very sensitive, and very fragile. They didn't grow up with tough coaches.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-collins/the-one-thing-about-players-today-is-that-they-re-very-sensitive-and/)

[Doug Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-collins/)

> [When hired three years ago, I willingly accepted the challenge of leading the Bulls back to the type of team this city richly deserves.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-collins/when-hired-three-years-ago-i-willingly-accepted-the-challenge-of/)

[Doug Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-collins/)

> [I remember when I went to try out for the Olympic team in 1972, Coach Iba told me he didn't care how many points…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-collins/i-remember-when-i-went-to-try-out-for-the-olympic-team-in-1972-coach/)

[Doug Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-collins/)

> [To change a team you must change their comfort zone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-collins/to-change-a-team-you-must-change-their-comfort-zone/)

[Doug Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-collins/)

> [As I look back on the day I signed my professional contract in 1973, I've never gone to sleep wondering if I could pay…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-collins/as-i-look-back-on-the-day-i-signed-my-professional-contract-in-1973-i/)

[Doug Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-collins/)

> [“The practice of collaborative innovation offers a way forward. By embracing the practice we find ways as a community to resolve tensions between surplus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-collins/the-practice-of-collaborative-innovation-offers-a-way-forward-by/)

[Doug Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-collins/)

> [When your teammate looks you in the eye and holds you accountable, that's the greatest kind of leadership there is](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-collins/when-your-teammate-looks-you-in-the-eye-and-holds-you-accountable/)

[Doug Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-collins/)

> [I think there's a lot of different ways to win. You've seen teams that win championships with a super-duper star like Kobe Bryant. Those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-collins/i-think-there-s-a-lot-of-different-ways-to-win-you-ve-seen-teams-that/)

[Doug Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-collins/)

> [A closing team is so important in the NBA. The last seven minutes is what you are always coaching to get to. Now you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-collins/a-closing-team-is-so-important-in-the-nba-the-last-seven-minutes-is/)

[Doug Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-collins/)

[Explore all 24 Doug Collins quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-collins/)

## More Better quotes

> [If what I write is literature, I guess you'd better emphasize the 'litter.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lydia-lunch/if-what-i-write-is-literature-i-guess-you-d-better-emphasize-the/)

[Lydia Lunch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-lunch/)

> [Everybody has their cliques, and I was very shy. I'm still very shy. Music opened up doors. I would get to my choir class,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-fonsi/everybody-has-their-cliques-and-i-was-very-shy-i-m-still-very-shy/)

[Luis Fonsi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-fonsi/)

> [You can't force people to feel in a certain way, and the sooner you understand that,the better. I feel everything has its way of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sidharth-malhotra/you-can-t-force-people-to-feel-in-a-certain-way-and-the-sooner-you/)

[Sidharth Malhotra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sidharth-malhotra/)

> [I don't believe in competitions between artists. This is insane. Who has the authority to say someone is better?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-arkin/i-don-t-believe-in-competitions-between-artists-this-is-insane-who/)

[Alan Arkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-arkin/)

> [The bigger the canvas, the better I do. I'm not so good at understated, kitchen-sink kinds of parts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-reeve/the-bigger-the-canvas-the-better-i-do-i-m-not-so-good-at-understated/)

[Christopher Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-reeve/)

> [The Little you Give !! The Better it Gets !!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-stanyer/the-little-you-give-the-better-it-gets/)

[Mario Stanyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-stanyer/)

> [A strong, durable Puerto Rican economy will leave the island better prepared to handle future natural disasters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-campos-duffy/a-strong-durable-puerto-rican-economy-will-leave-the-island-better/)

[Rachel Campos-Duffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-campos-duffy/)

> [In my first 100 days as Ontario's Minister of Transportation, I found a willing municipal partner in the City of Toronto that shares our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-mulroney/in-my-first-100-days-as-ontario-s-minister-of-transportation-i-found/)

[Caroline Mulroney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-mulroney/)

> [It hasn't been a conscious thing, like, 'I don't want to listen to a bunch of dudes,' but I genuinely like music by women…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soccer-mommy/it-hasn-t-been-a-conscious-thing-like-i-don-t-want-to-listen-to-a/)

[Soccer Mommy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soccer-mommy/)

> [Life is going to hit you some line drives, and sometimes you'll have to think fast. However, it's better to think first than to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bytheway/life-is-going-to-hit-you-some-line-drives-and-sometimes-you-ll-have/)

[John Bytheway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bytheway/)

> [I like to collaborate with other people for studio recordings because I believe collaboration, in any form, makes music better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-barlow/i-like-to-collaborate-with-other-people-for-studio-recordings-because/)

[Lou Barlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-barlow/)

> [Absolutely, you can improve and become better at toughness. It's a talent, but it can be acquired, too. I think of it like building…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-harbaugh/absolutely-you-can-improve-and-become-better-at-toughness-it-s-a/)

[Jim Harbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-harbaugh/)

> [Not having drops and not taking plays off, if I do that it will make everyone around me better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demaryius-thomas/not-having-drops-and-not-taking-plays-off-if-i-do-that-it-will-make/)

[Demaryius Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demaryius-thomas/)

> [Cara Delevingne and I took an eyebrow selfie. We both have prominent eyebrows, but hers are much better than mine. Maybe we should do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-poulter/cara-delevingne-and-i-took-an-eyebrow-selfie-we-both-have-prominent/)

[Will Poulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-poulter/)

> [I never really look at it past one year. I look at last year and my whole goal is to be a better player…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trent-williams/i-never-really-look-at-it-past-one-year-i-look-at-last-year-and-my/)

[Trent Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trent-williams/)

[Browse all 17,085 Better quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I'm a numbers guy, and I think numbers sometimes tell stories and sometimes they don't. When you look at the NBA, when teams shoot 45% or better from the floor, what is their record? And if they shoot under that what is their record?",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Doug Collins"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-collins/i-m-a-numbers-guy-and-i-think-numbers-sometimes-tell-stories-and/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Better"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-collins/i-m-a-numbers-guy-and-i-think-numbers-sometimes-tell-stories-and/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/043/doug-collins-24666_better_i-m-a-numbers-guy-and-i-think-numbers-so_2763926.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/043/doug-collins-24666_better_i-m-a-numbers-guy-and-i-think-numbers-so_2763926.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/043/doug-collins-24666_better_i-m-a-numbers-guy-and-i-think-numbers-so_2763926.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I'm a numbers guy, and I think numbers sometimes tell stories and sometimes they don't. When you look at the…” — Doug Collins",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Doug Collins",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-collins/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I'm a numbers guy, and I...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-collins/i-m-a-numbers-guy-and-i-think-numbers-sometimes-tell-stories-and/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-collins/i-m-a-numbers-guy-and-i-think-numbers-sometimes-tell-stories-and/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
