Injuries hurt him MUCH more than his mental state. Even with a strange mental state, he's at least in the game and is going to be getting assists, even if you claim fewer... If you're not in the game, there's just absolutely NOTHING you can do about it. No way to get assists on the bench.

Assuming we agree that he wouldn't have been close either way.... My argument is that injuries stop him from getting as close as he can much more than his attitude would.