Basketball Statistics Blog

Basketball Registering Stats Referred Questions:
Which is the Real Value of a Steal ?

"... Some analysis systems works upon the argument by which steals are the best defensive play there is, and that it's value will show up on the offensive end, based on the theory that steals lead to easy baskets.

Photograph: thespec.com

Now, my question is which is the real value of a steal from the point of view that the confirmed and permanent risking for steals costs the defense about as many points defensively ( in open shots and help fouls ) as they get in easy baskets from successfully stealing the ball and converting. ..."

An interesting question and here you have some data for the discussion:
The eBA Basketball Statistics Archives tell us that players who get steals are the most valuable when they are forwards and centers or are players who don't shoot a lot. Nevertheless, that said, I think that players who get steals, on average, tend to be valuable at EVERY position and careless of how much they shoot.

With reference to those players who are "permanent risking for steals", take into account that players who gamble may also hurt their team, but that does not identify the main part of players who get lots of steals. And as we stated at the eBA Clinics last year, to analyze team statistics to measure the value of players ONLY with certain attributes may lead to deceptive results.

See in our forum the 'basketball steals' topics and the exposition "Basketball Steals Analysis" at eBA ONLINE.

All the terms in this answer are explained widely at The Global Basketball Encyclopedia and in eBA ONLINE.

This topic is resumed in the eBA Basketball Statistics Analysis System
at the eBA Encyclopedia > eBA System

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