Why assist/turnover ratio?

I have seen the assist to turnover ratio used as a measure to rate players especially point guards. I am wondering about the significance of this. The way I see it, an assist always result in your team getting a basket. But, a turnover doesn't necessarily always result in points for the opponents. So, I think it would be better to look at something like a steal/turnover ratio. A steal is just like the opposite of a turnover and it also doesn't necessarily always result in points. While A/T ratio is more of a measure of PGs only, the S/T ratio can be used to rate all position players. Comments? Is S/T ratio used anywhere?

You can analyze things to death. I think that, in its utter simplicity, a/t ratio is intended to indicate passing ability. That is, a good pass gives you an assist and a bad pass gives you a to. Of course this is simplistic beyond belief but so are so many 'complex' stats. Take it as you will.

Oh, one quick word about s/t ratio: same problem as a/t - only really works for some players. What about centers? Not too many steals there but some (Shaq, Hakeem) get loads of assists. Nothing is perfect - alas.

I think there are so few steals in a game that this would be kind of meaningless. The majority of the players don't have steals.

A/T ratio is meaningful esp. for PG because they handle the ball the most, and if they turn the ball over it affects the team the most.

Look at Jason Williams. Last year he had a dismal A/T ratio, and the Kings flamed out in the first round. This year his A/T ratio is much improved, and the Kings is on or near the top of the division.

A/T ratio seems to be a good way to judge the PLAYMAKER of the team (namely the point gaurd). If the playmaker is doing his job well, he should have a lot of assists and very few turnovers. It certainly doesn't tell the whole story, but its a good indicator of a specific talent which is why its pretty much useless for the positions that aren't expected to be the playmaker.

Because it is a better measure than assists to missed shots. Or stare downs to high fives.

Rob Carpenter

...and a turnover never results in your team getting a basket. The assist-to-turnover ratio tells you the odds of setting up a score versus preventing a score.

I'm not sure why you believe this; on this board, there have been discussions of A/T for lots of non-point guards.

A turnover gives the other team a possession. Most teams average right around one point per possession. When they're getting the ball off a turnover, they probably average more than one point per possession since it's often a fast-break opportunity. So while one turnover doesn't necessarily result in points for the other team, over time, turnovers DO result in points for the other team, to the tune of more than one point per turnover.

But a TO does always result in a missed scoring opportunity.

Centers and power forwards aren't going to be getting a lot of steals.

Generally true, although Olajuwon was among the league leaders in steals during his younger days. In 1988-89 he averaged 2.60 spg, sixth in the NBA.

Yes but that sort of thing happens too infrequently to use it as a statistical reference point for 4s and 5s.

It's even worse then this. As you state, a turnover results in a scoring opportunity for the other team but it also results in a missed opportunity for your own team. Therefore you can argue that every turnover costs your team, on average, almost a full 2 points. About one full point gained by the other team and almost one full point lost by your own team.