C'mon people, let's focus

There seems to be some growing momentum behind the "let's-get-some-more-reliable-stats-in-the-box-score" movement. In this Cnnsi.com column, Steve Aschburner talks about how box scores haven't really changed in the last 50 years despite coaches, behind the scenes, having some new ways of looking at their player's productivity (or lack thereof).

Aschburner talks about the addition of the "Blocked Attempt" to the NBA.com box score and dredges up the usual fans of the "Hockey Assist."

He also brings up an interesting concept -- "statistical symmetry", i.e. if you record blocks, you should record blocked attempts.

Which also means if you record assists YOU SHOULD RECORD BLOWN ASSISTS. It's not that hard people!

One Step Closer

The NBA has added a new statistical category -- the Blocked Attempt, i.e. you got swatted (BA). I have no idea what this might tell you, except to better explain someone's field goal percentage. Or are you supposed to create blocked shots to blocked attempts ratio?

In the words of Best Team Ever: "what a thoroughly useless stat."

I can just feel how close we are to the Blown Assist and Half Steal. Watching the games last night it seemed like scorekeepers are finally awarding the steal to the player that caused it, not the player who luckily ended up with the ball in their hands.

Thanks to TrueHoop for the tip.