Discriminant analysis of game‐related statistics between basketball guards, forwards and centres in three professional leagues

Abstract

The aim of the present paper was to examine the differences in game-related statistics between basketball guards, forwards and centres playing in three professional leagues: National Basketball Association (NBA, superior level) in the USA, Associacio ´n de Clubs de Baloncesto (ACB, one of the best European leagues) in Spain and Liga de Clubes de Basquetebol (LCB, inferior level) in Portugal. We reasoned that the knowledge of these differences could allow the coaches to better establish and monitor playing patterns and increase the effectiveness of the player recruitment process. Archival data was gathered for the 2000 Á2001 play-off final series of the NBA (five games), ACB (three games) and LCB (four games). For players in each league, discriminant analysis was able to identify game-related statistics that maximized mean differences between playing positions (p B/0.05). The interpretation of the obtained discriminant functions was based on examination of the structure coefficients greater than j0.30j. In the LCB league, centres and guards were discriminated mainly in terms of defensive tasks, with emphasis on blocks (structure coefficient, SC 0/0.35) and defensive rebounds (SC0/0.43) and a deemphasis on unsuccessful 3-point field-goals (SC 0/(/0.37). In the ACB, centres and guards were discriminated by offensive tasks, with emphasis on assists (SC0/0.52) and 3-point field-goals, both successful (SC0/0.35) and unsuccessful (SC0/ 0.35), and a de-emphasis on offensive rebounds (SC0/(/0.44). Finally, in the NBA league guards and centres were discriminated by offensive tasks, with emphasis on offensive rebounds (SC 0/0.31) and a de-emphasis on assists (SC0/ (/0.37) and unsuccessful 3-point field-goals (SC 0/ (/0.34). These three analyses provided high overall percentages of successful classification (86% for the LCB league, 74% for the ACB and 85% for the NBA). Generally, the players' gamerelated statistics varied according to playing position, probably because of the well-known differences in the players' anthropometric characteristics that conditioned the distance they play from the basket. Coaches can use these results to reinforce the importance of relying on different players' contributions to team performance and evaluate players' game performance according to their playing position. Conversely, these discriminant models could help in player recruitment and improve training programmes.

Team Statistical Determinants of Victory in Brazilian Basketball

“…Similar to the current results, assists and steals were also reported be related to game success in disparate games. 5 These results reinforce the importance and dominance of the teams' tactical organization for game success. Another variable that distinguished winning teams from losing teams was free-throw shot accuracy.…”

“…4 With increasing competition level, each successful skill and tactical action performed during the game becomes an important contributor to team success. The statistical analysis of such skills and actions has been previously performed during games within the Spanish League 5 with many skills/actions identified as significant factors for team success. For example, winning teams were distinguished from losing teams based upon 1-point (freethrow), 2-point and 3-point shooting accuracy, the number of missed shots secured by the defensive players (defensive rebounds), the total number of times a player assists a teammate scoring (assists), the number of times a ball is stolen from an opposing player (steals) and the number of rule infractions involving physical contact (fouls) completed by players.…”

Basketball game‐related statistics that discriminate between teams’ season‐long success

“…Other researchers have reported that assists were a discriminating game-related statistic between senior and junior basketball players' performances, suggesting that this is also a measure of player and team experience and maturity (Sampaio, Ibanez, & Feu 2004). These actions are mostly performed by guards (Sampaio, Janeira, Ibanez, & Lorenzo, 2006;Taxildaris et al, 2001). Therefore, it is suggested that the best teams have players in this specific position better prepared to execute these tasks, building in practices and promoting in competition a stronger within-team offensive communication (Heuze, Rainbault, & Fontayne, 2006).…”

“…Also, it has been suggested that less effective teams use ball dribbling more frequently (Gomez et al, 2006), which can increase the probability of a steal. On the other hand, blocks occur mostly inside the court restrictive area and are usually performed by centres (Sampaio et al, 2006;Sporis, Sango, Vucetic, & Masina, 2006). Centres' anthropometric and technical characteristics appear to have an important influence in these defensive tasks.…”

Efeito discriminante da morfologia e alcance de ataque no nível de desempenho em voleibolistas. DOI: 10.5007/1980-0037.2011v13n3p223

“…and is used to identify the existence of specific morphological types in each sport modality and playing position. The importance of this parameter has been demonstrated in studies investigating the ideal physical profile in different modalities 3,[6][7][8][9][10] . Some studies have used somatotype analysis to establish the ideal physical profile of volleyball players in each playing position in order to facilitate training programs 3,6,11,12 .…”