Basketball Statistics Blog

ASSIST IS THE MOST CONTROVERSIAL STAT KEPT

"...I have often wondered about the awarding of assists in basketball.
In hockey, it's pretty much direct and preserved.
But after watching European basketball for over 10 years, I'm still
not sure what actually qualifies as an assist in a basketball game.
And, quite frankly, I don't think those responsible for keeping live-time stats during Euroleague games know for sure, either.

Then, what about a fast break basket where the pass is moved up the floor to a wide open player that catches (at just inside the half) and takes 3-4 dribbles before laying it in ? I say assist but some of the definitions say no assist.

In fact, awarding assists in basketball might be the most controversial stat kept. ..." (Posted at the eBA Forum by the Registered Member 'green_peace' )

The case presented in the last message: a fast break basket where the pass is moved up the floor to a wide open player that catches (at just inside the half) and takes 3-4 dribbles before laying it in, is only one of the cases we analyze in the eBA Basketball Statistics Register Clinic.

Synthetically: if the player goes freely to the basket, without any deviation nor fake in order to overpass a defender, therefore we register an assists. On the contrary, even with a minimum action from the ballhandler to avoid the defender, the assist is not credited. But we have exceptions which are explained in the "Basketball Assists" in the Clinic with all the registering process.

You are right, awarding assists in basketball might be the most controversial stat kept, but in the eBA Basketball Statistics Creative Analysis System we include a whole chapter dedicated to assists and make clear the concepts and the register process. (from the eBA Forums )

tags:  basketball  ~  forum's digest   ~  basketball analysis  ~  statistics

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