Players’ technical and physical performance profiles and game-to-game variation in NBA

Abstract

The aim of this study was to (i) identify technical and physical performances of basketballers according to playing position in strong and weak teams, and (ii) describe variability in game-togame performance according to game outcome, location, quality of teams and opposition. Performance-related variables of all the 699 matches of regular season 2015-2016 in the National Basketball Association were analysed. All the comparisons were performed using magnitude-based inferences. As could be expected, results showed that technical and physical performances differed between players of strong and weak teams. In technical aspect, forwards and centres from strong teams made more three-point field goals, but fewer two-point field goals, than their counterparts from weak teams. Interestingly, forwards and guards from strong teams covered shorter distances and lower speeds than their peers from weak teams. In addition, the threepoint field goals made and attempted presented high variability. Game location generally had no significant impact on the variability of players' performance. Guards exhibited relatively lower variability in technical and physical variables in comparison with players from other positions. Exploring the difference and variability of technical and physical performances of basketballers allows fine-tuning of practice and game plans in order to build up optimal winning strategies.

Evaluation of the Technical Performance of Football Players in the UEFA Champions League

“…Thus, the test for data normality distribution and homogeneity of variance was not performed in the process of statistical analysis [37]. After the screening of missing values and outliers, count values of 25 technical performance-related actions or events of players were transformed into standardized scores (Z-Score) and were unified into the same scale by the formula T = 10Z + 50 [27,38]. Match performance of players from five positions were compared by means of adjusted values respectively accounting to five situational variables and were plotted into radar charts.…”

“…Match performance of players/teams cannot be generalized in all contexts [15] and introducing the situational variables into performance profile can make it more comprehensive and systematic [17]. Match location, team quality, quality of opposition, and match outcome are examples of situational variables that have been investigated so far [17,18,27]. The quality of the opponent is considered the main factor for variation in match performance [28].…”

“…However, given the high dynamic nature of the match play highlighted previously, there is also an obvious opening for further research to take the interactions between playing positions and competing situations into deeper consideration. In the current study, sufficient match observations make it possible to take player positions into account to establish performance profiles according to different playing positions under different competing situations [17,27,29]. As players from different playing positions have different tasks in a football game, the general evaluation of all players' match performance will result in a loss of a lot of valuable information.…”

The validity and reliability of the Basketball Jump Shooting Accuracy Test

“…Jump shooting is a fundamental basketball skill performed by athletes of all playing positions (guard, forward, and centre) throughout game-play (Zhang et al, 2017). The jump shot is defined as any shot where both feet remain in contact with the court before the jumping motion is initiated with both hands placed on the basketball until the release phase (Okazaki, Rodacki, & Satern, 2015).…”

“…▪ Although a wide variety of athletes from the recruited teams were included in this thesis, each athlete on a basketball team does not attempt the same number of jump shots in each game with factors such as playing position influencing an athlete's shot attempts (Zhang, et al, 2017). In the BJSAT, all athletes regardless of playing position attempt the same number of jump shots, which may not reflect the shooting demands of game-play for each individual athlete.…”