An "Assist" Used to Mean if the Scorer Caught the Pass and Immediately Scored

[no pun intended]

Does anyone know when this technical definition was changed?

[Nikola_]

Rondo Paul etc

[sd3035]

Does anyone know when this technical definition was changed?

It was changed to try to elevate Lebron to all time great status, but even with the extra help, he didn't pan out

[Solefade]

It was changed to try to elevate Lebron to all time great status, but even with the extra help, he didn't pan out


you're in every thread talking about lebron even when it's not about lebron

you keep trying to downplay lebron to prop up KD

you have a lebron avatar

:wtf: insecure AF or what? :lol

[sd3035]

you're in every thread talking about lebron even when it's not about lebron

you keep trying to downplay lebron to prop up KD

you have a lebron avatar

:wtf: insecure AF or what? :lol


I'm a Lebron fan, hence the av, I just tell it like I see it. Try being objective for once

[AnaheimLakers24]

I'm a Lebron fan, hence the av, I just tell it like I see it. Try being objective for once
:applause:

[Eric Cartman]

I'm a Lebron fan, hence the av, I just tell it like I see it. Try being objective for once

Finally, a Lebron fan that deserves respect :bowdown: :bowdown:

[steve]

Does anyone know when this technical definition was changed?

It's very loose. You go back to the '50s and an assist was counted only when a player caught the ball and shot (with absolutely no step taken). This started to change in the mid to late '60s when score keepers started to be a little more loose with what actually constituted an assist. If you go back far enough there are several players/insiders/writers who bitch about Jerry West's assist numbers, especially later in his career.

[Im so nba'd out]

I'm a Lebron fan, hence the av, I just tell it like I see it. Try being objective for once
yo your really obsessed with lebron

[moe94]

I'm a Lebron fan, hence the av, I just tell it like I see it. Try being objective for once

wtf @ biting 9er's gimmick

[no pun intended]

It's very loose. You go back to the '50s and an assist was counted only when a player caught the ball and shot (with absolutely no step taken). This started to change in the mid to late '60s when score keepers started to be a little more loose with what actually constituted an assist. If you go back far enough there are several players/insiders/writers who bitch about Jerry West's assist numbers, especially later in his career.
Thank you so much for answering my question.

http://media.tumblr.com/72bdfc3d432153fd0d8bee5755e15ea0/tumblr_inline_mm551t5XRF1qz4rgp.gif

I was reading the recent Grantland article about the upcoming playoffs, and they mentioned how Noah compares to historical centers. Russell's assist numbers were deflated, although he already averaged 5 per game under the more stringent definition...

[TheMarkMadsen]

Assist are incredibly overrated

[Budadiiii]

Assist are incredibly overrated
LeBron GOAT, doe.

[HoopsFanNumero1]

Assist are incredibly overrated

A true Kobe fan :applause:

Only chucking matters.

[steve]

Thank you so much for answering my question.

http://media.tumblr.com/72bdfc3d432153fd0d8bee5755e15ea0/tumblr_inline_mm551t5XRF1qz4rgp.gif

I was reading the recent Grantland article about the upcoming playoffs, and they mentioned how Noah compares to historical centers. Russell's assist numbers were deflated, although he already averaged 5 per game under the more stringent definition...

I'm not sure I would take it that far. The guys who were really losing assist numbers during that era were players like Cousy and Guy Rodgers (and other guards of their ilk). I'm not sure how many assists a player like Russell (or Wilt for that matter) had taken away from them because most of the passes they had were situation where a shot was almost immediately put up. Chances are it would've effected a few but not enough to really make a large statistical difference. I also kind of take this track with someone like Oscar Robertson, who might have lost an assist here or there in transition, but worked so much with his back to the basket that he was hitting players in immediate scoring scenarios. I take any sort of complaining about assist numbers with a grain of salt from about the late '60s-on.

Thanks for the ScarJo gif, by the way.

[TheMarkMadsen]

A true Kobe fan :applause:

Only chucking matters.

chucking = 5

passing = 2

but seriously, assist are overrated as hell due to the way the are counted in a subjective matter..

now days player A will pass to player B, player B will stutter step cross over and get the the rim for a bucket, player A will get an assist..

[Andrei89]

What does this thread have to do with lebron?

:roll: :roll: :roll:

Wow, some really upset persons posting here.

[9512]

An assist has become indeed an inconsistent stat to rely on.

I remember that one game of nick van excel when he made a record of 18 ~ assists. There was that one article who admitted that the stats keepers were told to give extra assists.

Also clips owner telling stats keepers at home games to under record assists to lower his own players' stats hence lowering their trade value and future contracts opportunities.

And racking up lots of assists =/= unselfish

I can't stand it when rondo over dribbles overly waits for a player to be open for the sake of padding his assists count. Boris Dias does/did this too. Instead of 5 players being scoring threats which makes the defense work harder, it's rondo + 4 spot up shooters. The defense can sag off from rondo and can defend easier.

Assists = worst statistic to rely on for greatness, effectiveness, or unselfishness

[The-Legend-24]

It was changed to try to elevate Lebron to all time great status, but even with the extra help, he didn't pan out
:oldlol:



I'm a Lebron fan, hence the av, I just tell it like I see it. Try being objective for once
:applause:

[joe]

Better question is, why should an assist only be when the player scores immediately upon receiving the pass? An amazing pass will often open a lane or direct you towards the basket, while still requiring you to take a dribble or two before scoring. And a great pass may still require you to make a pump fake or dribble move. Doesn't mean you weren't assisted.

[oarabbus]

It's very loose. You go back to the '50s and an assist was counted only when a player caught the ball and shot (with absolutely no step taken). This started to change in the mid to late '60s when score keepers started to be a little more loose with what actually constituted an assist. If you go back far enough there are several players/insiders/writers who bitch about Jerry West's assist numbers, especially later in his career.

Good post. I don't know why people in here are bitching about certain players today instead of reading this and shutting the fvck up.


Better question is, why should an assist only be when the player scores immediately upon receiving the pass? An amazing pass will often open a lane or direct you towards the basket, while still requiring you to take a dribble or two before scoring. And a great pass may still require you to make a pump fake or dribble move. Doesn't mean you weren't assisted.


The problem is that the defintion of what constitutes an assist becomes too vague then. It already has. Rondo had a 18 or 22 or something assist game early the season before this one. When you watch the video, you'll see a couple where he'll pass it to a guy dribbling and doing spin moves... and they count it an assist.

I *believe* right now an assist means you can take one dribble and your steps and it'll count as an assist. And each team's statisticians compare what they have.

[ZenMaster]

Better question is, why should an assist only be when the player scores immediately upon receiving the pass? An amazing pass will often open a lane or direct you towards the basket, while still requiring you to take a dribble or two before scoring. And a great pass may still require you to make a pump fake or dribble move. Doesn't mean you weren't assisted.

Per FIBA:


The distance of the shot, the type of shot and the ease with which the shooter
makes the shot are not factors when considering if a pass is an assist. Similarly,
the number of dribbles taken by the player who scores is also not a factor, unless
his efforts are such that you determine that he did the work to make the basket,
rather than the pass.

A pass to a player at half court who dribbles directly to the basket for a successful lay-up is an assist. However if that player has to divert to dribble
around a defensive player, no assist is given.

The statistician should bear in mind that the more the scoring player has to do in
order to score, the less likely it is that the pass is an assist.

[diamenz]

i always thought it was eye test dependant.

an alley oop is an assist.

a failed alley oop (reciever catches, but feet then hit the floor) into a pump fake and then score is also an assist imo.

[LAZERUSS]

I'm not sure I would take it that far. The guys who were really losing assist numbers during that era were players like Cousy and Guy Rodgers (and other guards of their ilk). I'm not sure how many assists a player like Russell (or Wilt for that matter) had taken away from them because most of the passes they had were situation where a shot was almost immediately put up. Chances are it would've effected a few but not enough to really make a large statistical difference. I also kind of take this track with someone like Oscar Robertson, who might have lost an assist here or there in transition, but worked so much with his back to the basket that he was hitting players in immediate scoring scenarios. I take any sort of complaining about assist numbers with a grain of salt from about the late '60s-on.

Thanks for the ScarJo gif, by the way.

It would be interesting to know what Oscar's apg would look like under the rules of today. He was running away with apg titles in the 60's (and still scoring 30+ ppg, as well.)

[Rose'sACL]

It would be interesting to know what Oscar's apg would look like under the rules of today. He was running away with apg titles in the 60's (and still scoring 30+ ppg, as well.)
probably 20+ assists per game given how slow the game was during Oscar's time as compared to game's pace today. He would also average 40ppg with extra possessions in today's game.