Re: The Boston Celtics Mailing List Digest V9 #27

[GuyClinch@AOL.com]

> vs. Tinsley
> 
> OK, I'll bite. Look, Kenny has been great. Fantastic. Better than any of us
> could have hoped. Fine. He's averaging 9.5 points and 5.4 assists.
> 
> Tinsley, a rookie, is averaging 10 points and 9 assists per game. He's
> shooting 37 percent, which is about what Toine shoots, but it only matters
> when it's someone else. That 37 percent comes on 10 shots per game, not 24.
> 
> 
Well I am not one for stats...
I think you learn alot more by watching alot of games. 

But if you want to talk stats:

Sure Kenny averages  only 5.4 assists...but he also only commits 1.28 
turnovers a game. Tinsley averages more then double that at 3.49 a game. 

Now in my mind a turnover is worse then an assist because it often leads to 
easy
dunks and scores for the other team. 

How many negative assist does a turnover count for?
Thats a pretty good question..and I can't answer it in basketball. But I have
to think its far more then one negative assist. I think Kenny thinks so as 
well.

My guess is that it takes three assist to count for one turnover. They have a 
quaterback rating in football that calculates something like this..
But in basketball its not as straightforward.

Also Antione's poor shooting isn't really relevant to this argument....now is
it. This is a comparison between Kenny and Tinsley.

More importantly...
A good talent evaluator knows stats only count so much. They might perk
your interest but only actual game play reflects a players value. Basketball
stats in particular tend to be woefully incomplete. Especially the ones
they print in the paper.

What I saw was that:

1) Kenny was beating Tinsley like a drum off the dribble...this sets up easy 
shots even if the Celts swing the ball twice and Kenny loses his assist. You 
only get an
assist under certain conditions.. To really evaluate talent in being a point 
guard
you would need more then just assist. Perhaps something like a plus/minus 
like in hockey. 

2) Kenny was clutch..he hit some key shots. I didn't see Tinsley do that.
    Clutch shots often indicate talent....IMHO.

3) I realize some folks disagree..but Kenny is just kinder to the eyes. He is 
smoother, he dribbles better, he has some art to his game. Those guys don't.
If you want to talk about point guards that are better then Kenny.....

Guys like Steve Francis, Jason Kidd, Stephon Marbury, Sam Cassel....those
guys have game. These guys have some style to their game that sets them 
apart. Parker..Tinsley...psshaw. Mediocre. Those are the Howard Eisleys of 
the world.

  Kenny could rack up 10 assist a game if he committed 4 turnovers a game as  
well. 

You have to evaluate talent with your eyes:
Kenny made some great passes in that game. Nifty bounces passes...and hit
stiffs like Potapenko for easy buckets. We all know Kenny loses assist to 
Walker
because he doesnt get to be the floor general all the time. 

I challenge you to say judging from that game Tinsley is the superiour 
talent.
Don't even bother reading the box score....I just watch the game. I didn't 
know that
Kenny had better stats the Tinsley. I don't check box scores. I can just see 
who
is better.

This isn't baseball. Its hoops. The box score doesn't tell half the story.

Pete