A little positive reinforcement never hurts.
A University of California, Berkeley study revealed last fall that teams who touch each other more, whether it be a high-five, head rub or even a butt slap, are more likely to win. Using data from the 2008-09 season, the study concluded that the Lakers and Celtics were the two touchiest teams in the NBA and consequently finished with two of the three best regular-season records in the league. The idea there is touching means team chemistry which leads to victories.
Well if the findings of that study are correct, the Mavericks should be the ones hoisting the Larry O’Brien Trophy by the end of the NBA finals. According to a study by The Wall Street Journal, the Mavs nearly doubled the amount of personal touches of the Heat in the series’s first three games, “winning” that battle 250-134. Dallas center Tyson Chandler had the most touches with 90 while Dirk Nowitzki wasn’t far behind with 88. Chris Bosh, who led Miami with 49, would’ve been sixth on the Mavericks in that category.