As a data-driven analyst with 12 years in NBA analytics, I watched Carlisle’s historic Finals run with quiet precision. At 65, he became the oldest coach ever to lead a team there — beating Popovich’s 2014 Spurs record by over 100 days. This wasn’t luck; it was cold calculation, rhythm, and grit. I’ve seen the stats. The numbers don’t lie. Here’s why the league overlooked him — until now.