Why you want a few turnovers

["Ozersky, Joshua A" <OzerskyJA@corning.com>]

Pete--

Not really, as the Couz himself (who should know) says, in Cousy on the Celtic Mystique.
You don't want a 1 to 1 ratio, but you don't want a six to none ratio night in and night out, 
because generally it's indicative of a guy who won't pass unless he's absolutely, positively sure
 that the play is there.  Such a control freak will have a superb assist-to-turnover statistic, but 
generally won't make the offense hum, particularly on an uptempo team.  If you pass the ball a 
lot, guys begin to get into the groove of passing, and with all that passing there are bound to be 
some turnovers.  But that is a good thing, because it shows the right spirit, much as sending a 
guard to the stripe as the price of getting the message across that layups are not available without
 pain.  A control freak like 
Kenny  is constantly turning back from the play because he sees it might not work out, and 
retreating to the dribble drive from the top of the key, which is his own comfort zone.  Rick was 
right to trade Chauncey for Kenny -- I will never, ever hold that trade against him -- but Kenny has
 more than a little Billups inside of him, despite his much greater virtuosity with the ball.  That's 
why it's so frustrating to see Kenny being so overly meticulous.  He is the guy that should be 
getting the passing mood starting and instead he is projecting his anal tendencies on the team 
as a whole.  
Joshua Ozersky
Marketing Communications
Environmental Products Division
Corning Incorporated.
HP-CB-02-C6A
Corning, New York 14831
Phone:  (607) 974-8124
Fax:      (607) 974-2233

> ----------
> From: 	Peter Delevett[SMTP:pdelevett@amcity.com]
> Reply To: 	pdelevett@amcity.com
> Sent: 	Friday, February 25, 2000 6:22 PM
> To: 	OzerskyJA@corning.com
> Subject: 	Just FYI
> 
> Josh, I don't quite get what you were saying. Generally, a high
> assist-o-turnover ratio is considered a good thing.
> 
> 
> Ozersky, Joshua A" <OzerskyJA@corning.com>
> Subject: six to none
> 
> That is what Kenny's assists-to-turnovers ratio was last night.  I think
> he
> must lead the league in that stat.  With every game I watch I become
> more
> convinced that I have figured out one of the big problems with this
> team.
> Kenny is a great player and a gifted passer, but he doesn't make things
> happen.  Great point guards make turnovers -- it's part of the process
> of
> making things happen.
>