Remember that little stat I was tossing around a couple days ago - FGA/AST? In that discussion I was using the metric of 2:1 FGA/AST as a differentiator between a distributor (pass-first PG) and a scoring guard (shoot-first PG). Of course, it's not an abrupt transition that suddenly makes a player a ballhog if his FGA/AST ratio gets above 2.0 - it's a continuum. The historic great distributing PGs (Nash, Stockton, etc.) have FGA/AST ratios in the 1.2 - 1.4 range. PGs focused more on their own scoring can have FGA/AST ratios as high as 2.5 - 3.0.
So, with that in mind, let's look at the current FGA/AST ratios for some members of the 12-27 Golden State Warriors.
Monta Ellis
FGA = 879
AST = 211
FGA/AST = 4.17
Stephen Curry
FGA = 418
AST = 174
FGA/AST = 2.40
So, this season Monta Ellis can't even be consider a shoot-first PG. He's purely a SG, looking for his own shot. Steph Curry would be considered a shoot-first PG, but at least he's a PG.
Now, look at a few other Warriors:
Rony Turiaf
FGA = 27
AST = 21
FGA/AST = 1.29
Mikki Morre
FGA = 90
AST = 36
FGA/AST = 2.50
Andris Biedrins
FGA = 51
AST = 21
FGA/AST = 2.76
Granted the sample sizes are small, but the Warriors big men are better passers/distributors than their guards. I'm not sure if that is a function of Nellie's system, or just an indication that Monta Ellis is a ballhog - or maybe just their only legitimate scoring option. Anyway, I found it interesting.
BNM