Official Scoring Changes I Would Welcome

[YKCornelius]

A lot of changes have been made to the women's game over the past decade. It seems like the Rules Committee at both the WNBA and NCAA come out with new rule tweaks and new "Points of Emphasis" practically every year now. However, strangely enough, even with the advent of advanced metrics and multiple TV angles, it also seems like there hasn't been much progress made in capturing all of the action that occurs in the game correctly.

Here are three rules pertaining to "official scoring" that I wish were incorporated into both the WNBA and Women's NCAA D1:

1. With the availability of TV replays for games at both of these levels, I think it would be prudent to have the official scorer review the game either before or after the lead official signs the scorebook, and ensure that the assignment of all stats are correct. Leaving the assessment of what occurred during the course of a game up to what 1-3 individuals at the scorer's table can determine at the moment seems fraught with potential errors and/or gaps in statistics. For example, Paige "airballed" a shot from behind the arc late in their last game against the Sky, but should the Sky defender have been credited for a blocked shot?

2. I think a player should be credited with an assist when she passes the ball to a shooter who is then fouled in the act of shooting without scoring the basket, but then proceeds to make at least one subsequent free throw. Right now, the assist occurs only when the shooter makes the basket.

3. I think a player should NOT be given credit for an offensive rebound when she rebounds her own missed/blocked shot. For recording purposes, score it as a team offensive rebound. (This recommendation probably wouldn't go over too well with those in Angel Reese's orbit.)


Anybody have ties with Cathy Engelbert or the NCAA WBB Rules Committee?

 

[Basingstoke]

Regarding your 1st point (& specific example): ironically it was on that airball that the TV announcers observed that Paige was probably fouled (but, of course, there was no TV replay).
Back to your point, I agree that official scorers should look at plays like that to determine if there had been a blocked shot...

 

[cancontent]

A lot of changes have been made to the women's game over the past decade. It seems like the Rules Committee at both the WNBA and NCAA come out with new rule tweaks and new "Points of Emphasis" practically every year now. However, strangely enough, even with the advent of advanced metrics and multiple TV angles, it also seems like there hasn't been much progress made in capturing all of the action that occurs in the game correctly.

Here are three rules pertaining to "official scoring" that I wish were incorporated into both the WNBA and Women's NCAA D1:

1. With the availability of TV replays for games at both of these levels, I think it would be prudent to have the official scorer review the game either before or after the lead official signs the scorebook, and ensure that the assignment of all stats are correct. Leaving the assessment of what occurred during the course of a game up to what 1-3 individuals at the scorer's table can determine at the moment seems fraught with potential errors and/or gaps in statistics. For example, Paige "airballed" a shot from behind the arc late in their last game against the Sky, but should the Sky defender have been credited for a blocked shot?

2. I think a player should be credited with an assist when she passes the ball to a shooter who is then fouled in the act of shooting without scoring the basket, but then proceeds to make at least one subsequent free throw. Right now, the assist occurs only when the shooter makes the basket.

3. I think a player should NOT be given credit for an offensive rebound when she rebounds her own missed/blocked shot. For recording purposes, score it as a team offensive rebound. (This recommendation probably wouldn't go over too well with those in Angel Reese's orbit.)


Anybody have ties with Cathy Engelbert or the NCAA WBB Rules Committee?

It's a great idea, but the theory about Reese and offensive rebounds was debunked various times last year with the stats to prove it.

 

[LwrcasefaN]

I don’t like an assist on a shot that’s a free throw.

 

[bballnut90]

A lot of changes have been made to the women's game over the past decade. It seems like the Rules Committee at both the WNBA and NCAA come out with new rule tweaks and new "Points of Emphasis" practically every year now. However, strangely enough, even with the advent of advanced metrics and multiple TV angles, it also seems like there hasn't been much progress made in capturing all of the action that occurs in the game correctly.

Here are three rules pertaining to "official scoring" that I wish were incorporated into both the WNBA and Women's NCAA D1:

1. With the availability of TV replays for games at both of these levels, I think it would be prudent to have the official scorer review the game either before or after the lead official signs the scorebook, and ensure that the assignment of all stats are correct. Leaving the assessment of what occurred during the course of a game up to what 1-3 individuals at the scorer's table can determine at the moment seems fraught with potential errors and/or gaps in statistics. For example, Paige "airballed" a shot from behind the arc late in their last game against the Sky, but should the Sky defender have been credited for a blocked shot?

2. I think a player should be credited with an assist when she passes the ball to a shooter who is then fouled in the act of shooting without scoring the basket, but then proceeds to make at least one subsequent free throw. Right now, the assist occurs only when the shooter makes the basket.

3. I think a player should NOT be given credit for an offensive rebound when she rebounds her own missed/blocked shot. For recording purposes, score it as a team offensive rebound. (This recommendation probably wouldn't go over too well with those in Angel Reese's orbit.)


Anybody have ties with Cathy Engelbert or the NCAA WBB Rules Committee?

In regards to 2, instead of 1 assist per basket, I’d love a stat that’s “points assisted on” so the passer gets more credit for assisting a 3pt shot than a layup. And agree with them getting credit for someone scoring points at the FT line off of their pass.

Disagree with 3 though. In the case of players rebounding their own misses, their stats take a hit for a missed shot but are rewarded for an O-board which effectively becomes a net neutral in that stat sheet which is fair considering it’s a net zero result.

I’d also add to this that I think bigs shouldn’t be credited a TO when they get called for moving picks due to their guard moving too quickly. It’s often times on the guard rather than post.

And steals should be credited to who deflects the ball or pokes it free rather than who collects it.

 

[YKCornelius]

It's a great idea, but the theory about Reese and offensive rebounds was debunked various times last year with the stats to prove it.

What theory about Reese and offensive rebounds? Seriously, I am curious. I never heard of it.

Regardless, no "theory" in this year's stats. This season Angel has garnered 30 offensive rebounds in just five games. Exactly half of those (15) have been from the shots she missed (although four of those missed shots were actually blocked).

 

[cancontent]

What theory about Reese and offensive rebounds? Seriously, I am curious. I never heard of it.

Regardless, no "theory" in this year's stats. This season Angel has garnered 30 offensive rebounds in just five games. Exactly half of those (15) have been from the shots she missed (although four of those missed shots were actually blocked).

That her rebounding stats were padded because she caught her own misses. There were several articles last year that debunked it as it was a small percentage (e.g. <10%) of her offensive rebounds as a whole.

 

[BigTenGuy]

While I accept the logic behind your suggested changes to what counts as an assist or an O-board, I’m for as much record-book consistency as possible. Unless, for example, we can figure out how many of Courtney Paris’ 742 offensive rebounds were her own missed shot, I say leave it the way it is.

 

[Steelerone]

What is the sense of making a new rule when the ones in place are not enforced. When was the last time you saw a player called for a double dribble, for putting his hands on another player, for palming the ball? I'm not sure how far we are from a player just tucking the ball under his arm and running to the basket. Why make another rule for the referee when they can't keep up with what they have now.

 

[YKCornelius]

What is the sense of making a new rule when the ones in place are not enforced. When was the last time you saw a player called for a double dribble, for putting his hands on another player, for palming the ball? I'm not sure how far we are from a player just tucking the ball under his arm and running to the basket. Why make another rule for the referee when they can't keep up with what they have now.

Steelerone, while I share your thoughts about enforcing rules in place, my recommendations are not aimed at anything the referees enforce (or not) on the court. Rather they are about Official Scorer determinations at the scorer's table. In these determinations, the refs on the court are not involved.

 

[YKCornelius]

While I accept the logic behind your suggested changes to what counts as an assist or an O-board, I’m for as much record-book consistency as possible. Unless, for example, we can figure out how many of Courtney Paris’ 742 offensive rebounds were her own missed shot, I say leave it the way it is.

BTG, very valid point about what to do about historical records. I would say just leave those records in place like they do in other sports.

On the other hand, if the NCAA would like to give me access to game film going back to when they took over from the AIWA in 1982, I would be happy to clean up the record books for them...for a nominal fee, of course....

 

[Plebe]

I don’t really understand why the stigma around rebounding one’s own miss is such that it should be statistically discredited or mislabeled as “team rebound”. Following your shot is fundamental basketball and the opponent should box out if they don’t want it to happen.

 

[cancontent]

I don’t really understand why the stigma around rebounding one’s own miss is such that it should be statistically discredited or mislabeled as “team rebound”. Following your shot is fundamental basketball and the opponent should box out if they don’t want it to happen.

It only seems to be an issue when Angel Reese comes up in conversation from what I've observed the last few years. Haven't seen any comments about others who have double digit rebounding stats.While I like the logic that has been proposed, like you, I don't understand the fuss.

 

[BigTenGuy]

It only seems to be an issue when Angel Reese comes up in conversation from what I've observed the last few years. . . .

Been awhile, but Moses Malone also got critiqued for rebounding his own misses. People joked that Malone missed shots on purpose so he could pad his rebounding stats.

 

[cancontent]

Been awhile, but Moses Malone also got critiqued for rebounding his own misses. People joked that Malone missed shots on purpose so he could pad his rebounding stats.

Now if he and Courtney Paris, as referenced by another poster are the only examples, is it a sign that personal biases have made the offensive board debate larger than necessary? (rhetorical question).