The phrase references a phase of sports activities evaluation, particularly specializing in skilled basketball outcomes. It alludes to the apply of figuring out groups and gamers who persistently outperform expectations and those that underperform, leading to wins or losses respectively. As an illustration, analysts would possibly label a workforce exceeding preseason predictions as a “winner” and a workforce failing to satisfy projected success as a “whiner”.
This kind of evaluation offers worth to a number of teams. For followers, it presents a framework for understanding workforce efficiency past easy win-loss data, offering deeper insights into strategic benefits or inherent weaknesses. For bettors, these assessments can inform wagering choices by providing a extra nuanced analysis of a workforce’s potential. Traditionally, the categorization of groups on this method has been a standard function in sports activities commentary, contributing to the narrative surrounding workforce rivalries and participant achievements.