def neural_inputs(final, y):
    """
    Splits the categories of data into the inputs (X) and ouput (Y) for ML. 

    Parameters 
    ----------
    final: pandas dataframe 
        The training dataset 
    y: str 
        the target stat to be computed 

    Returns 
    ----------
    X: list 
        the input variables 
    Y: list 
        the desired output variable 
    
    """
    X = final[['home', 'Atlanta Hawks',
        'Charlotte Hornets', 'Denver Nuggets', 'Golden State Warriors',
        'Houston Rockets', 'LA Clippers', 'Los Angeles Lakers',
        'Memphis Grizzlies', 'Miami Heat', 'Milwaukee Bucks',
        'Minnesota Timberwolves', 'New Orleans Pelicans',
        'Oklahoma City Thunder', 'Phoenix Suns', 'Sacramento Kings',
        'San Antonio Spurs', 'Toronto Raptors', 'Utah Jazz', 'Boston Celtics',
        'Brooklyn Nets', 'Chicago Bulls', 'Cleveland Cavaliers',
        'Dallas Mavericks', 'Detroit Pistons', 'Indiana Pacers',
        'New York Knicks', 'Orlando Magic', 'Philadelphia 76ers',
        'Portland Trail Blazers', 'Washington Wizards', 'pts-1', 'pts-2',
        'pts-3', 'pts-4', 'pts-5', 'reb-1', 'reb-2', 'reb-3', 'reb-4', 'reb-5',
        'ast-1', 'ast-2', 'ast-3', 'ast-4', 'ast-5']]
        
    Y = final[y]

    return X, Y