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John Wall Missed Assist Tracker: The Final Results

By Mike Prada
Apr 25, 2012; Cleveland, OH, USA; Washington Wizards point guard John Wall (2) passes through the lane against the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first quarter at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-US PRESSWIRE
Apr 25, 2012; Cleveland, OH, USA; Washington Wizards point guard John Wall (2) passes through the lane against the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first quarter at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-US PRESSWIRE

I've spent the past two days finalizing the John Wall Missed Assist Tracker. To review: this is a project that has tracked every single potential assist opportunity that has not resulted in an assist because a shot is missed or a turnover is committed. "Missed assists" are all plays in which Wall passed the ball to a teammate and a player did not convert the shot. These include: all plays classified as "spot-up," "pick and roll ball handler," "off screen," "cut," "hand-off" and "transition,"as well as any ISO or post-up in which the player Wall passed the ball to did not dribble.

The purpose of this project was to address the argument that Wall's bad teammates cost him assists because they are poor shooters and finishers. This has been a common talking point throughout the season, so this project went at trying to put some evidence to it. It's difficult to tell the true impact of it until all point guards are studied, which is something I plan on starting on this summer once the playoffs end. However, at least this provides a set of data to address the claims.

Here are the final results:

  • John Wall's total assists in 2011-12: 530.
  • John Wall's assists per game in 2011-12: 8.0
  • John Wall's total MISSED assists in 2011-12: 648
  • John Wall's MISSED assists per game in 2011-12: 9.81
  • John Wall's TOTAL assist opportunities per game in 2011-12: 17.81
  • John Wall's ASSIST CONVERSION percentage in 2011-12: 45.03 percent

More specific numbers below the jump.

BY TYPE

  1. Spot-up: 242, 3.66 per game
  2. Other (off screen, cut, handoff, ISO/post-up with no dribbles): 159, 2.4 per game
  3. Transition: 150, 2.27 per game
  4. Pick and roll, roll man: 89, 1.34/game

MISSED ASSIST OPPORTUNITIES PER GAME BY PLAYER

  1. Nick Young: 3.35
  2. Rashard Lewis; 2.3
  3. Cartier Martin: 1.7
  4. Jordan Crawford: 1.65
  5. Andray Blatche: 1.6
  6. Chris Singleton: 1.24
  7. Trevor Booker: 0.92
  8. James Singleton: 0.92
  9. Kevin Seraphin: 0.67
  10. Maurice Evans: 0.67
  11. Roger Mason: 0.65
  12. JaVale McGee: 0.58
  13. Brian Cook: 0.5
  14. Edwin Ubiles: 0.5
  15. Jan Vesely: 0.42
  16. Nene: 0.45
  17. Ronny Turiaf: 0.25
  18. Shelvin Mack: 0.01
  19. Morris Almond: 0.0

MISSED ASSIST OPPORTUNITIES, TOTAL, BY PLAYER

  1. Nick Young: 134
  2. Jordan Crawford: 105
  3. Chris Singleton: 82
  4. Rashard Lewis: 65
  5. Trevor Booker: 46
  6. Andray Blatche: 42
  7. Kevin Seraphin: 37
  8. Roger Mason: 34
  9. Cartier Martin: 29
  10. JaVale McGee: 24
  11. Jan Vesely: 24
  12. Maurice Evans: 16
  13. James Singleton: 11
  14. Brian Cook: 8
  15. Nene: 5
  16. Edwin Ubiles: 2
  17. Ronny Turiaf: 1
  18. Shelvin Mack: 1
  19. Morris Almond: 0

TOP 10 MOST SQUANDERED ASSIST GAMES

  1. Game 14 vs. Thunder: 19
  2. Game 12 vs. 76ers: 16
  3. Game 8 vs. Timberwolves: 16
  4. Game 63 at Heat: 15
  5. Game 7 vs. Knicks: 15
  6. Game 5 at Celtics: 15
  7. Game 4 vs. Celtics: 14
  8. Game 32 at Suns: 14
  9. Game 6 at Magic: 14
  10. Five tied with: 13

TOP 10 FEWEST SQUANDERED ASSIST GAMES

  1. Game 17 at 76ers: 4
  2. Game 29 at Blazers: 4
  3. Game 24 vs. Clippers: 5
  4. Game 39 vs. Blazers: 5
  5. Game 48 at Celtics: 5
  6. Game 47 at Hawks: 6
  7. Game 21 vs. Bulls: 6
  8. Game 52 at Raptors: 6
  9. Game 28 at Pistons: 6
  10. Seven tied with: 7

TOP 10 HIGHEST PERCENTAGE CONVERTED

  1. Game 28 at Pistons: 71.4%
  2. Game 29 at Blazers: 69.2%
  3. Game 52 vs. Raptors: 64.7%
  4. Game 48 at Celtics: 64.3%
  5. Game 39 vs. Blazers: 61.5%
  6. Game 30 at Clippers: 60%
  7. Game 41 at Mavericks: 58.8%
  8. Game 62 vs. Bucks: 58.8%
  9. Game 64 vs. Bobcats: 58.3%
  10. Game 24 vs. Clippers: 58.3%

TOP 10 LOWEST PERCENTAGE CONVERTED

  1. Game 50 vs. Pacers: 16.6%
  2. Game 6 at Magic: 26.3%
  3. Game 59 at Knicks: 26.7%
  4. Game 35 vs. Magic: 26.7%
  5. Game 54 vs. Pacers: 27.2%
  6. Game 8 vs. Timberwolves: 27.2%
  7. Game 58 at Nets: 28.6%
  8. Game 18 vs. Bobcats: 28.6%
  9. Game 14 vs. Thunder: 29.6%
  10. Game 32 vs. Suns: 30%

TOP 10 MOST ASSIST OPPORTUNITES

  1. Game 63 at Heat (win): 28
  2. Game 14 vs. Thunder (win): 27
  3. Game 34 at Bucks (loss): 27
  4. Game 37 vs. Warriors (loss): 27
  5. Game 65 at Cavaliers (win): 26
  6. Game 12 vs. 76ers (loss): 25
  7. Game 66 vs. Heat (win): 25
  8. Game 7 vs. Knicks (loss): 24
  9. Game 33 vs. Kings: 24
  10. Game 64 vs. Bobcats: 24

TOP 10 LEAST ASSIST OPPORTUNITIES

  1. Game 47 vs. Hawks: 9
  2. Game 17 at 76ers: 9
  3. Game 54 vs. Pacers: 11
  4. Game 23 at Raptors: 11
  5. Game 50 vs. Pacers: 12
  6. Game 24 vs. Clippers: 12
  7. Game 21 vs. Bulls: 12
  8. Game 1 vs. Nets: 12
  9. Four tied with: 13

UNDER FLIP SAUNDERS: 11.7 MAPG, 38.2% conversion
UNDER RANDY WITTMAN: 9.1 MAPG, 47.6% conversion

PRE-TRADE: 9.97 MAPG, 44.3% conversion
POST-TRADE: 9.54 MAPG, 46.2% conversion