Game-related statistics that discriminate between winning and losing teams in the National Basketball Association
Author
Williams, Gareth
Date
2014Type
Thesis
Publisher
Cardiff Metropolitan University
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
Possessing knowledge about the most crucial elements that distinguish between winning
and losing teams in basketball is of great importance to coaches, particularly when the
game score is close and the difference in performance between the two teams is small.
The main purpose of the present study was to identify those basketball game-related
statistics, commonly found in a box-score, as well as adapted game-related statistics,
specific to the four factors, which best discriminate between winning and losing teams in
the National Basketball Association (NBA). The data from a sample of 500 games from the
2012-2013 NBA regular season were gathered from the official website of the NBA.
Games were divided into balanced games (≤ 8 points difference) and unbalanced games
(> 8 points difference). An independent t-test was used to compare the means of 21 gamerelated
statistics across all games. Mann-Whitney U tests were used within balanced and
unbalanced games. Eighteen significant game-related statistics, when all games were
considered, were reduced to 17 in unbalanced games, and 15 in balanced games. The
analysis of balanced games revealed statistically significant differences between winning
and losing teams in the game-related statistics of; field goals attempted (P < 0.05), field
goals made (P < 0.001), field goal percentage (P < 0.001), effective field goal percentage
(P < 0.001), 3-point field goals attempted (P < 0.001), 3-point field goal percentage (P <
0.05), free throws attempted (P < 0.001), free throw made (P < 0.001), free throw rate (P <
0.001), defensive rebounds (P < 0.001), total rebounds (P < 0.001), assists (P < 0.001),
blocks (P < 0.01), steals (P < 0.05), and personal fouls (P < 0.01). These results can be
used by coaches and players to inform training sessions, game strategies, and tactics, as
well as by scouts in the player recruitment process
Description
DEGREE OF BACHELOR OF SCIENCE (HONOURS)
SPORT AND PHYSICAL EDUCATION
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