Re: And I don't mean apple ...

[Kim Malo <kimmalo@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

At 01:10 AM 11/15/2003, Snoopy the Celtics Beagle wrote:
> In case YOU haven't noticed, he's also averaging 5.5 assists per game, an
> average that has increased each season, and well over his career average of
> 3.3 apg.  When you pass the ball more, you're dealing with more potential
> turnovers than when you just take a shot at the basket, since there's more
> opportunity for things to go wrong.  Offhand, I wonder how many of his
> turnovers were due to the recipient of his pass failing to properly catch
> the ball?  When he settles his passing, his turnover rate will drop.

Yes, his assists are up but that actually doesn't necessarily mean more 
passing. All that definitely means is more effective passing (in terms of 
leading to hoops). That being said, yes I agree he is in fact looking to 
pass more most of the time, although there have been times... Regardless, 
from what I've seen, the increased turnovers aren't just because of 
increased opportunity vs carelessness in traffic and problems decision 
making. The decision making issue includes holding onto the ball too much 
while deciding what to do and then forcing things. The ball gets slapped 
away while he stands there and traffic collects around him or because that 
open passing lane or the pass recipient is gone by the time he decides to 
release. So yeah, in a sense trying to pass more probably has a role, but 
not the relatively blameless law of averages one about more opportunities. 
While other players On the Cs have also increased their assists without 
equivalent turnover issues. The decision making has been an issue all 
season long in a lot of ways with Paul, although he seemed to finally start 
to get over it tonight. Maybe he needed the challenge of showing the rookie 
who's who to stop thinking too much and just play.

He'll get over it when he figures out his new role better, although I think 
he'll always be more prone to TO than I'm happy about. At the same time, I 
give him credit for clearly working to cut back on the ones that used to 
regularly have me frothing at the mouth - too many ballhandling 101 
unforced error ones where there was no one within swatting range and he 
dribbled off his knee or foot or just lost hold of the ball or lost his 
dribble so he had to stand there and let the defense converge.

Kim