HALLELUKA: Luka Clinches All-NBA 1st team. 4th in 5 years

[burekemde]

2.13 up to #73

Why do you put such high importance into this? His individual number might not be excellent, however, the team is number 1 in turnovers. Given extremely high usage rate Luka has, I would say that his number is much better as it might look just from raw assist to turnover perspective.

To add on your points. I guess this also doesn't reflect the usage rate, and also the fact that he is in against the other teams starters where it's far more difficult to maintain a better ratio. Finally, and even more importantly, Luka is the main creator on his team asked to do it at most difficult times. Most other players are not asked to gamble and take risky passes. Thus, in this case it's far easier to have a better assist to turnover ratio. If those players were asked to create and gamble against the other teams starters, consistently, at most clutch times of the game, their ratio would drop completely.

Like all other stats in all sports, it has serious short comings, but like all other stats it also has some truth in it, but always disguised. Looking at the games and analysing it without stats, Luka is amazing at balancing that high risk gambling necessary to win games, and safe handling of the offense. One thing is sure, if he played it safe all the time, he would totally be able to do that, his stat in this case would be really high, however we would not make much impact on the other teams defensive schemes, and we would not win as many games.

One thing that this stat doesn't tell is that on those high risk gamble passes, Luka shows the opposing defense he IS able to split them and their arrangement like nobody else. Yes it costs sometimes a turnover once in a while. But the ability to split the defense, and the nature of the assist made, forces them to rearrange in other formations. And that rearragement into other schemes messes up their base defense and makes them less comfortable. Just look at the Warriors game and they started doubling him on our own court! The reason is that he is able to split apart their base defense if he reaches higher up the court. The few turnovers are fine, it's more about the nature of the assists made and how they impact the other defense and making them need to change. This is one main reason this is the best offense in NBA.