As a child, I used a shortcut system to measure baseball productivity... runs plus RBI minus homers. Guerrero, Jr.'s 109 lead Devers' 108 and Ohtani's 31 homers produce 96 runs.
Winners have more winning possessions. In team sport, individual excellence shares a tension with team achievement. Exceptional players "win possessions." Impact possessions beyond expected amounts.
Symmetry balances success and failure. A charge taken reverses a charge committed. Made shots offset missed ones.
Possession enders omit valued contributions like assists, hockey assists, offensive rebounds, blocks, and great cuts or screens that facilitate a won possession. But it's a "back of the envelope" system.
The Milwaukee Bucks lead the postseason in contested shots which we can't easily measure. "Forced shots" or "missed blockouts" are silent killers. They end badly.
It's easy to measure positives but harder to define possession stoppers. A missed layup (without an offensive rebound) is a negative possession ender as much as a travel, fumble, or errant pass. Failure to help may go unseen.
An edge of the system records "positive" contributions, offset by the limitation of not recognizing actions that benefit teammates. Another advantages measures both offensive and defensive production.
"Win this possession."
Summary:
- Winning possessions have possession enders.
- Possession enders occur on both sides of the ball.
- Possession enders are valuable but limited.
- Symmetry balances offensive and defensive success.
- "Get more and better possessions than opponents."
- "Possession enders" emphasizes winning possessions.
- Teach players that the key unit of game play is the possession.
Lagniappe. Mason Waters is a young coach with a bright future. He's knowledgeable, insightful, organized, and presents well. Follow him on various platforms.
