Joel gets his shoulder polished. via eco-munity.com
The idea is to measure an aspect of teamwork. This stat would work something like a cross between assists and continuation. The stat people would pay attention to each pick and screen, but would only count the ones that directly led to a score (like assists).
If a player receives a screen, then takes one dribble (or does not dribble) and shoots and scores, then the screen would count (like continuation). If a player receives a pick, but then continued past the defender for more than one dribble before shooting, then the pick does not count.
Go beyond the jump to see why I think a stat like this would have any relevance whatsoever...
Still with me? Wow, you really *are* a basketball nerd. Most people's eyes have glazed over by now. Ok, let's discuss this.
In this way, a player like Joel Przybilla would have a stat that measures more of his impact on the floor than just rebounds. It would also show why Steve Nash is such a good creator. That guy dribbles right at his teammate's defender, then drops the ball behind him to his teammate while he screens the defender. Nash's stats would show the pickssist as well as the assist for such a play, describing what Nash does more thoroughly via the statistics.
Basketball is starting to use more advanced and holistic statistics, but is a bit behind sports like baseball. The plus/minus is a rudimentary tool in this direction.
I submit to you, the esteemed readers of BE, that the pickssist statistic would be an even more telling tool, and would provide devoted and devout stat people to see that it's not just some undefinable "scrappiness" that makes players like Joel Przybilla valuable beyond their rebounding and size. It's their ability to provide aspects of the offense not yet measured- aspects measured by the pickssist.
Poll
Would a tool like the pickssist help basketball stats to better represent the game?
The pickssist could have value, if used responsibly. (28 votes)
Stats should be abolished. Math is hard. (4 votes)
The only stat that matters is the W column. Don't spoil the mystery of how it happened! (5 votes)
I don't see the usefulness of recording pickssists. (15 votes)
52 total votes



There are 7 Comments. Load Now.
Shortcuts to mastering the comment thread. Use wisely.
C - Next Comment
X - Mark as Read
R - Reply
Z - Mark Read & Next
Shift + C - Previous
Shift + A - Mark All Read
Comment Settings
Live comment alert: Hide it!
Comments for this post are closed.