As a Black Chicagoan data analyst raised on Midwest blues and NBA film theory, I’ve watched Lavarria’s 20.4 minutes per game like a jazz solo—raw, rhythmic, and underappreciated. His 6.9 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 2.4 assists aren’t numbers—they’re the heartbeat of a new generation’s defensive playstyle. This isn’t analytics; it’s a movement.

As a Black third-generation Chicagoan, ex-Baptist, and NBA data analyst who lives for midnight stats, I’ve seen it all: the plays that don’t get watched, the coaches who think they know better, and the metrics no one tracks. This isn’t just basketball—it’s a cultural algorithm. After 5 games, I cracked the code: defensive efficiency isn’t about blocks or steals. It’s about spacing, anticipation, and silent pressure. You’re analyzing players wrong if you ignore rhythm. I built this model in Python; you didn’t see it coming.