Assists, schmassists

[FanHam]

If Paige got only four assists in the Big East Championship Game, there is something wrong with the way assists are awarded.

 

[Bald Husky]

If Paige got only four assists in the Big East Championship Game, there is something wrong with the way assists are awarded.

They have to make the shots. We miss too many layups. If they miss the first, rebound and make the next, no assist is rewarded. ONO and AE do this a lot.

 

[Aluminny69]

They have to make the shots. We miss too many layups. If they miss the first, rebound and make the next, no assist is rewarded. ONO and AE do this a lot.

Tina Charles used to do that too. Geno accused her of intentionally trying to pad her stats.

 

[oldhusky]

As a team we miss many layups, we are not a good free throw shooting team, and on three pointers our team percentage is ok just because of Paige being so exceptional at it. We have a high 2pt percentage because we are a great passing team that produces lots of easy shots, not because we are a great shooting team.

Last year we had two great 3pt shooters that left in Crystal and Megan. Our team FT and 3pt% was much better, but as a team at least by Uconn standards our passing was mediocre. We lost much of that shooting, but added three point guards if you include Evina, and both Paige and Nika are great passers.

Next year we can have great passing and shooting, look out!

As for blown assists I see that frequently involving Nika as well. With either player you have to be ready to receive a pass even if not expecting it. AE in particular needs to pay more attention to that. I have noticed that when someone drives to the basket AE's mindset seems so focused on getting inside position for an offensive rebound (which she is very good at) that she forgets to pay attention to the ballhandler. You can't do that with Paige, Nika and sometimes Evina.

 

[SVCBeercats]

Tina Charles used to do that too. Geno accused her of intentionally trying to pad her stats.

Good call! I remember Geno's comment regarding Tina. He said or close enough: "Of course she has lots of offensive rebounds. They come from her rebounding her missed layups."

 

[Hoops66]

As a team we miss many layups, we are not a good free throw shooting team, and on three pointers our team percentage is ok just because of Paige being so exceptional at it. We have a high 2pt percentage because we are a great passing team that produces lots of easy shots, not because we are a great shooting team.

Last year we had two great 3pt shooters that left in Crystal and Megan. Our team FT and 3pt% was much better, but as a team at least by Uconn standards our passing was mediocre. We lost much of that shooting, but added three point guards if you include Evina, and both Paige and Nika are great passers.

Next year we can have great passing and shooting, look out!

As for blown assists I see that frequently involving Nika as well. With either player you have to be ready to receive a pass even if not expecting it. AE in particular needs to pay more attention to that. I have noticed that when someone drives to the basket AE's mindset seems so focused on getting inside position for an offensive rebound (which she is very good at) that she forgets to pay attention to the ballhandler. You can't do that with Paige, Nika and sometimes Evina.

Agreed, and it seemed like a number of passes were thrown to the ghost of Stewy.

 

[Gurleyman]

Thought she should have had one they didn’t give her - a post feed to ONO on the low block where she dribbled into her power move. The pass set ONO up in prime real estate, so in my opinion the dribble shouldn’t negate the entry pass, but it is a matter of opinion and not an egregious error. The semi was more frustrating, though - she had 8 but could have been 13 or 14 if we finished around the rim.

 

[chj001]

I've always thought it unfair that no assist is awarded when the recipient of the pass is fouled going up for a layup but makes one or both free throws.

 

[UcMiami]

Thought she should have had one they didn’t give her - a post feed to ONO on the low block where she dribbled into her power move. The pass set ONO up in prime real estate, so in my opinion the dribble shouldn’t negate the entry pass, but it is a matter of opinion and not an egregious error. The semi was more frustrating, though - she had 8 but could have been 13 or 14 if we finished around the rim.

Always a judgement call for the scorer, but usually the entry pass has to flow into the shot for it to be given. When the post starts moving their player down before moving into the shot they usually don't give it.

Unlike other games, last night I didn't think they missed assists for Paige.

On the whole, the Uconn home game official scorers seem to be a little stingy in their scoring.

 

[CTtoSanDiego]

If our bigs were better at "finishing through contact" both Paige and Nika would have many more assists.... and don't even get me started on missed layups without fouls...

 

[Gurleyman]

Always a judgement call for the scorer, but usually the entry pass has to flow into the shot for it to be given. When the post starts moving their player down before moving into the shot they usually don't give it.

Unlike other games, last night I didn't think they missed assists for Paige.

On the whole, the Uconn home game official scorers seem to be a little stingy in their scoring.

It’s funny when you compare to the NBA where it’s a whole different world. You can get an assist if you pass it someone in pregame warmups and they score a half hour later.

Always personally felt if you send a post feed to someone deep on the low block, and then they go to their move a couple seconds later, the pass still created the shot, since it put the post player in a position where she didn't really have to do any work to make her move. ONO yesterday really just had a timing dribble in place and spun for a layup so it was easy for her. Different if they get the pass 10 feet out, then have to back their man down 5 feet before making the move since they didn’t get the ball in prime position. But different people have different opinions on that - I’m sure it was one where the stat crew felt ONO did too much work to give it and I’m sure they score it consistently that way. The last thing you want is to give Paige assists that you don’t give everyone else ... then people think her numbers are padded.

 

[chrissaran]

Should be like hockey. If two passes lead directly to a basket, two assists should be given.

 

[fomalhaut]

Should be like hockey. If two passes lead directly to a basket, two assists should be given.

Nika would have a bunch more too, if that were the case. Also if people could make layups.

Seriously, though, this team doesn't seem unusally bad at making layups. I thought last year's team was worse, and almost every Connecticut team I've seen in 20+ years missed a lost more than it seemed like they should.

 

[UcMiami]

Should be like hockey. If two passes lead directly to a basket, two assists should be given.

And up to two offensive putbacks at the basket if required.

 

[SVCBeercats]

If Paige got only four assists in the Big East Championship Game, there is something wrong with the way assists are awarded.

Player A passes ball to player B who shoots and scores. An assist may or may not be awarded. Assists are not doled out in a straight forward manner. Lots of interpretation of the rules and the situation are required of the statistician. The rules and examples are below:

SECTION 5—ASSISTS A player is credited with an assist when the player makes, in the judgment of the statistician, the principal pass contributing directly to a field goal (or an awarded score of two or three points). Only one assist is to be credited on any field goal and only when the pass was a major part of the play. The same player cannot be credited with an assist and a field goal made on the same possession. Such a pass should be either (a) a pass that finds a player free after he or she has maneuvered without the ball for a positional advantage, or (b) a pass that gives the receiving player a positional advantage he or she otherwise would not have had.
Philosophy. An assist should be more than a routine pass that just happens to be followed by a field goal. It should be a conscious effort to find the open player or to help a player work free. There should not be a limit on the number of dribbles by the receiver. It is not even necessary that the assist be given on the last pass. There is no restraint on the distance or type of shot made, for these are not the crucial factors in determining whether an assist should be credited.
A.R. 1. Adams passes to Allen who is breaking for the basket and Allen shoots and scores. (a) Allen was free when he or she got the pass; (b) Allen was well guarded and had to make a move to get free; or (c) Allen was guarded but had no problem getting the shot off. RULING: In (a), credit Adams with an assist. In (b), do not credit Adams with an assist. In (c), it will be a matter for the statistician to decide the relative importance of the pass. If the statistician thinks that the pass gave the shooter enough advantage to shoot, then an assist should be credited to Adams.
A.R. 2. Adams passes to Allen, who (a) in the same motion with which Allen receives the pass shoots a hook shot and scores or (b) turns around and falls away as he or she shoots and scores. RULING: In (a), credit Adams with an assist. In (b), since it appears that Allen had to make quite a move to work free, do not credit Adams with an assist.
A.R. 3. Adams lobs the ball to Allen, who catches it and shoots while still in the air and scores. RULING: Credit Adams with an assist.
A.R. 4. (a) Adams throws a long inbounds pass or (b) takes a rebound off the defensive board and throws a long outlet pass to Allen, who shoots and scores. RULING: In both instances, unless Allen had to make a move to get free after catching the pass, credit Adams with an assist.
A.R. 5. Adams passes to Allen, who is about 20 feet from the basket. Allen immediately shoots and scores. RULING: This probably is the toughest decision involving assists. If Adams found Allen unguarded, Adams probably should get the assist. If the ball merely was being passed around in hopes of finding a way to penetrate the defense and Allen merely decided to shoot, then no assist should be credited.
A.R. 6. On an inbounds play under the basket, Adams passes to Allen who is in the area of the free-throw circle behind a double screen. Allen shoots and scores. RULING: Credit Adams with an assist.
A.R. 7. Adams dribbles into the lane and draws the defense to him or her. Adams then hits Allen with the pass. Allen is open, shoots and scores. RULING: Credit Adams with an assist.
A.R. 8. Adams dribbles to the free-throw line, turns away from the basket and flips the ball to Allen while at the same time setting a screen for Allen. Allen now is open, shoots and scores. RULING: Credit Adams with an assist.
A.R. 9. Adams passes to Allen in a situation that normally would warrant an assist but does not produce a field goal because (a) there is defensive goaltending or defensive basket interference; (b) Allen is fouled in the act of shooting; or (c) Allen travels, fumbles the pass out of bounds or has the shot blocked. RULING: In (a), there will be an awarded score, so credit Adams with an assist. In (b) and (c), no assist will be awarded.
A.R. 10. After taking a rebound off the defensive board, Adams passes quickly to Allen at the division (that is, midcourt) line. (a) Allen is open but passes to Adler, who scores an uncontested layup; (b) Allen is open but passes back to Adams, who had broken to the basket immediately after the first pass and receives Allen’s pass to score the uncontested layup; (c) Allen is covered and passes to Adler, who scores an uncontested layup; or (d) Allen is covered and passes to Adler, who returns the ball to Allen, who then scores having lost his or her defensive man after the pass to Adler. RULING: In (a), credit Adams with an assist. In (b) and (c), credit Allen with an assist. In (d), credit Adler with an assist.
A.R. 11. Adams goes up to either shoot or pass. The ball goes straight up and is caught by Allen, who is open and scores. RULING: No assist is credited.
A.R. 12. Adams passes to Allen. The ball is deflected and is caught by Adler who is open for a layup. RULING: No assist is credited.
A.R. 13. In a jump-ball situation, Adams controls the tip to Allen, who is open for a layup. RULING: If it is evident that Adams had sufficient control and intended to tip the ball to Allen, then credit Adams with an assist.
A.R. 14. Adams passes the length of the court to Allen who is open far behind the defense. Allen shoots a layup and misses, but immediately rebounds and makes a follow-up shot before any of the defensive players get close. RULING: Credit Adams with an assist.
A.R.15. Adams throws a pass to himself or herself off the backboard, then shoots and makes the basket. RULING: Credit Adams with a FGA and FGM, but no assist or rebound.

Note: While a fair amount of latitude exists in deciding whether to award an assist, an attempt has been made to achieve some level of consistency. It is impossible to specify how many assists should be given during a game. However, from game analysis, about 50-60 percent of a team’s field goals involve the crediting of an assist. This is only an average figure; individual games and individual teams may vary considerably and may not fall within this range. The style of play of the teams involved will have a bearing on the number of assists credited. If a play-by-play is available, check it to determine what types of shots were made. Chances are, these factors will help you decide whether you are correctly awarding assists.

It is strongly recommended that the same member of the crew of statisticians be responsible for keeping assists for both teams and that this person’s duties other than keeping assists not be so great as to hamper the keeping of assists. By having the same person keep assists for both teams, the differences of opinion that exist in borderline cases will not affect the balance between the two teams.

 

[eebmg]

The only stats Paige cares about are minutes played.