For my version of adjusted assists (not sure if anyone has done it before), I distinguish between assists to 2-pt and 3-pt field goals. To do this, I simply multiply the AST3 totals for a stint by 1.5. So, for example, if there is a 10-possession stint which has two assisted 2-pt field goals and one assisted 3-pt field goal, that would be 3.5 “equivalent” assists. The logic here is obviously that 3-pt buckets are worth more than 2-pt ones.
When looking at these numbers, you may at first be surprised to not see the top of the list jam-packed with a bunch of point guards (although Kidd, Nash, and DWill are all in the top 10). This is because *any* player on the floor that is a great spot-up shooter (especially 3-pt shooter) is going to naturally raise the number of assists dished out. Also, this metric (in theory, anyway) should be able to pick up on players who generate a lot of the mythical “hockey” assists (the pass before the pass before the shot). Using similar reasoning, one also realizes that point guards who have very high USG and look for their own shot (e.g. Rose and Westbrook) are going to appear lower in the rankings. Remember, adjusted assists is telling us how many assists were dished out at the *team level* while a player was on the floor. I have an idea in mind that might be able to adjust adjusted assists to account for these issues, so stay tuned for a future update, if I can work out the details.
Fortunately, the defensive ratings are quite a bit easier to interpret, and don’t have the same issues as mentioned above. Ok, with that said, here are the ratings. Interesting to see Jeremy Lin at #7, even though he’s responsible for a high volume of “self-assisted” (i.e. unassisted) shots. This just shows you how much of the offense he’s been responsible for in NYK. Keep in mind, however, that his possessions last season (~400) are included, too. Also, as I’ve pointed out in my blog before, his defense is underrated (when he’s fresh, anyway).
The City 