Among the best ways to get a quick read on how effectively an offense is operating is to look at assists compared to baskets made. Throw in turnovers and field goal accuracy and the picture is even more completely defined.
These measures come with all sorts of caveats, of course. Does a team prefer to run a lot of isolation plays, minimizing assists because individuals set up their own scoring opportunities off the dribble? Does the receiver of a pass get fouled, thwarting a shot attempt that might otherwise reflect credit for an assist? Does the shooter miss or turn the ball over, in essence negating even an adept pass?