Assists question... - Dallas-Mavs.com Forums

irontoad · 10-15-2002, 04:43 PM

I realize this is probably a really dumb question, but what exactly constitutes as an assist in basketball? From what I understand it's when a player passes the ball to a teammate, and that teammate then scores while in motion and without dribbling? I love the game but man am I dumb on the technical aspects...

southern_sweets · 10-15-2002, 09:36 PM

OK, since none of these other sports geniuses are answering your question I'll help you.

An assist is a pass by one player to another that results in the second player scoring. Only one assist can be credited to a player per basket.

Hope I've helped.

Just211 · 10-15-2002, 09:52 PM

<< Assist: A pass that leads directly to a basket. >>

From NBA.com

irontoad · 10-16-2002, 08:58 AM

Thanks, sweets! I gotta admit, I'm still confused, though. Maybe I'm overanalyzing this, but take this example: Finley sees Dirk on the post guarded by a defender and passes to him. Dirk catches the ball and without dribbling or moving, waits 1 second and then shoots over the defender from his same location. I don't think that would be counted as an assist. But, by definition it was a pass that led directly to a basket. Don't get me wrong, I understand plays like alley-oops are assists from the passer, and I understand when a player passes the ball and the receiver of the pass dribbles down the lane for a layup it's not an assist. Guess I'm still thinking it's my original idea.

southern_sweets · 10-16-2002, 09:04 AM

I'm not sure Irontoad, but I think that is an assist. I think the situation where it wouldn't be would be when the shooter doesn't move DIRECTLY toward the basket or take the shot. But, of course I'm nobody's expert.

Big Boy Laroux · 10-16-2002, 09:08 AM

well, it's really all left up to the discretion of the official score-keeper.

in most cases, if a player receives a pass, then works on his own to get into scoring position, it is not an assist.

entry passes to the post (the the post player posting up to score) are not normally considered assists.

now, in your example, if nash passed to dirk on the post, and he just did a fade away jumper... hmmm... it may be an assist, it may not. again, the official score keeper decides.