I think the following statistical comparison is interesting: So far in 2013/14, 50.4% of the field goals scored by the Rockets were assisted (126 AST on 250 FGM). 58.5% of field goals scored in the NBA this year were assisted. In 2012/13, 60.9% of the field goals scored by the Rockets were assisted (1902 AST on 3124 FGM). 59.6% of field goals scored in the NBA that season were assisted. The Rockets still have one of the higher ranked offenses in the NBA early this season. However, the offense isn't really flowing and a lot of the baskets are scored off individual efforts (dribble drives by Harden, Lin, Parsons and post-up with Dwight Howard). Lin, Harden, Beverley and Parsons have seen their assist rate drop. Of course, the assist numbers don't tell the entire story (for one thing, good passes that lead to fouls or missed shots are not counted-- it doesn't help that the team is missing a ton of open 3s) and having a high % of assisted baskets doesn't by itself make an effective offense-- several teams with high assist % have low offensive efficiency, and some teams have low assist % but high offensive efficiency. But the numbers do conform with my impression that the offense has been more sticky than it was last season with guys often taking it up on themselves to create a shot. The chemistry isn't quite there-- for example there seem to be an unusually high number of missed connection on interior passes to Dwight Howard. It is perhaps a good sign that the Rockets' overall offensive efficiency is still quite high without the chemistry being totally right. The efficiency should be significantly better when they start connecting with each other more on passes.
I think 7 games at the start of the season - it's hard to make too much judgments. I'd say wipe the slate clean and look at the next 7 games and see what the numbers are compared to these past 7. Then you can see something interesting.
Great post. I'm sure some will say that the trend will not go back up and our players cant play together, however I'd give it a bit more time.
I feel like Harden getting healthy will significantly increase our offensive rating. He's had stretches where he looks putrid on offense, but he's obviously dealing with some injury issues right now. Also, it'd be cool if they had a stat that incorporates passes leading to fouls -- I feel like with Dwight on the team that it's happening significantly more this season than the last.
I'm not sure a high assist % is necessarily a good thing- more postups and more intentional fouling account for the decrease in assist %, and both are not necessarily bad.
From the eye test, the offense does look less smooth than last year. Not sure if it's because of the TT lineup. But then, I remember last year's half court offense was pretty ugly too. It flowed well only when they are running.
There should be a separate assist statistic incorporating assists leading to free throws and hockey assists. IMO, a pass leading to free throws where both free throws are made should absolutely count as an assist. A hockey assist should count as an assist as well as long as the man catching the first pass does not take a dribble. I would actually like the NBA assist statistics changed to capture the above two rule changes, but if that would be too controversial (due to historical assist numbers comparisons), I would at least like this second assist statistic added.
What about an assist to a wide open 3, but the shooter pump fakes and drive it in because he's gun shy?
Look who made the ball hog list... http://www.businessinsider.com/biggest-ball-hogs-in-nba-2013-11 Brook Lopez (Brooklyn Nets): 47.7% pass rate Klay Thompson (Golden State Warriors): 49.4% pass rate Eric Gordon (New Orleans Pelicans): 50.8% pass rate Tony Wroten (Philadelphia 76ers): 52.6% pass rate C.J. Miles (Cleveland Cavaliers ): 54.6% pass rate Andrew Nicholson (Orlando Magic): 55.0% pass rate Maurice Harkless (Orlando Magic): 55.2% pass rate Kevin Durant (Oklahoma City Thunder): 55.4% pass rate Rudy Gay (Toronto Raptors): 55.8% pass rate Jamal Crawford (L.A. Clippers): 56.0% pass rate The rest of the top 20 is as follows: Xavier Henry, Jodie Meeks, Dion Waiters, David Lee, Anthony Davis, Nick Young, Rodney Stuckey, James Harden, Corey Brewer.
The one exception to the downward assist trend: Casspi, whose assist % is by far the highest of his career.
http://stats.nba.com/playerTrackingPassing.html?pageNo=1&rowsPerPage=100 Passes per Game Bev 38.3 Brooks 20.8 Cass 28.2 Harden 37 Howard 41.4 Lin 43.6 Parsons 34.1 FT assists per game Bev 0.0 Brooks 0.4 Cass 0.3 Harden 0.3 Howard 0.4 Lin 0.9 tied for 8th in the NBA Parsons 0 Hockey assists per game Bev 0.8 Brooks 1.2 Cass 0.2 Harden 0.9 Howard 0.4 Lin 0.6 Parsons 0.1 Potential assists per game Bev 4.8 Brooks 2.8 Cass 4 Harden 9.7 Howard 2.6 Lin 7.7 Parsons 5.9 Assist points per 48min Bev 9.9 Brooks 4.6 Cass 14.8 Harden 12.4 Howard 3.4 Lin 17.4 Parsons 9.5 Unfortunately most of the stats aren't per possession or per 36/48min
Casspi! I love this signing more every single day. Casspi needs to be practicing with Dwight Howard and learn how to throw a lob.
