Checking In on Tyreke Evans' New Jumper

/faps

Reke’d.

What I’m saying is that it is inconsistent in the same ways for everyone, meaning it is probably actually consistent as long as we don’t look at individual games.

I’m talking simply about how the assist is recorded. I’m not talking about the difference in between a guy like Tim Duncan and Reggie Evans.

That to me is apples and oranges. A semantic debate perhaps, but an important distinction IMO.

Scoring is not a flawed stat. Rebounding is not a flawed stat. How could the scoring and rebounding data be flawed? It is not subject to any discretion by the scorekeeper, unless on a tip shot when two players tip simultaneously or the opponent tips in a basket and scorekeeper has to decide which player gets credit. Anomalies aside, the data is flawless.

However, and this speaks to your point, the conclusions one could infer from scoring or rebounding stats could be flawed, such as Player A is a superior scorer than Player B because he has a higher per game average, although Player A is a first option on a 15 win team while Player B is a 3rd option on a 50 win team.

I agree with PG on the distinction here.

Handing out assists is subject to discretionary bias, but certainly it has value. If you watch a game without a reference to the box score, and then afterwards look at the box score with regard to passing performance, namely assist and TOs, are the numbers likely going to confirm what you saw with your two eyes? Of course they are. (I didn’t have to look at the box score last game to know Sammy D and DMC were giving away possessions: 9 total when all was said, fumbled, and undone). The best passers will pile up the best assist to TO numbers, undeniably. All players are subject to the same scorekeeping bias, for better or worse.

BTW, blocks and steals can be more discretionary than assists. I see tip shots that should go down as blocks but don’t. And I see players slapping balls loose and not getting credited with steals.

Here is where PG argument falls flat: A player capable of drawing attention of the defense, through threat of score or move, and timing pass and placement to lead to score, and playing unselfishly regardless of how pedestrian the pass may look deserves credit. It is valued skill to be in the right place at the right time, and make the right play at the right time.

Now if you want to say Player A unfairly got an assist on a pass in which Player B took two dribbles and double pump fake, fine, but Player A also probably made a sweet pass that led to another pass that led to an assist. 1 credited non assist is offset by 1 non-credited assist. See how beautifully it all works out? One generous and/or strict scorekeeper is offset by ten competent ones who consistently apply the formal interpretation of the rules, more or less. Another example of the universe in perfect harmony. ;)