Basketball Shot Types and Shot Success in Different Levels of Competitive Basketball

Abstract

The purpose of our research was to investigate the relative frequencies of different types of basketball shots (above head, hook shot, layup, dunk, tip-in), some details about their technical execution (one-legged, two-legged, drive, cut, …), and shot success in different levels of basketball competitions. We analysed video footage and categorized 5024 basketball shots from 40 basketball games and 5 different levels of competitive basketball (National Basketball Association (NBA), Euroleague, Slovenian 1st Division, and two Youth basketball competitions). Statistical analysis with hierarchical multinomial logistic regression models reveals that there are substantial differences between competitions. However, most differences decrease or disappear entirely after we adjust for differences in situations that arise in different competitions (shot location, player type, and attacks in transition). Differences after adjustment are mostly between the Senior and Youth competitions: more shots executed jumping or standing on one leg, more uncategorised shot types, and more dribbling or cutting to the basket in the Youth competitions, which can all be attributed to lesser technical and physical ability of developing basketball players. The two discernible differences within the Senior competitions are that, in the NBA, dunks are more frequent and hook shots are less frequent compared to European basketball, which can be attributed to better athleticism of NBA players. The effect situational variables have on shot types and shot success are found to be very similar for all competitions.

Defensive Rebounds Discriminate Winners from Losers in European but not in Asian Women’s Basketball Championships

“…Although a discriminant analysis of game-related statistics has been an established method and widely performed in basketball research, it is not enough to fully investigate the game. On the other hand, several recent studies have focused on specific elements of the game such as shot (22), screen (23)(24)(25), fast break (26), substitution (27) and foul (28,29). Conducting those types of studies would compensate the limitation and help to fully understand the characteristics of the game.…”

Inside game effectiveness in NBA basketball

“…Certainly, NBA players are characterized by a superior strength, jump conditions (Gonzalez, et al, 2013;Sampaio, Lago, & Drinkwater, 2010) and a strong role specialization . Then, it seems logical to promote predefined and coordinated outside-inside behaviours like cutting towards the basket for an alley-oop, since players' physical condition allows them to easily score through dunking (Erčulj & Štrumbelj, 2015). More importantly, our findings point out the importance of specific inside players' displacement without the ball to increase odds of receiving the ball in optimal conditions as close to the basket as possible, enhancing scoring options.…”

“…In the NBA, there is a greater use of the inside pass compared to the European teams (Mavridis, Tsamourtzis, Karipidis, & Laios, 2009). In basketball, the majority of possessions are solved in the inside, chiefly in the NBA due to the athletic complexion of centers, making them specialists in shooting near the basket and dunking with a higher rate of effectiveness (Erčulj & Štrumbelj, 2015). Previous research exploring NBA playoffs series reported greater effectiveness in ball possessions when using inside pass (Courel-Ibáñez, McRobert, Ortega Toro, & Cárdenas Vélez, 2016).…”

Inside pass predicts ball possession effectiveness in NBA basketball.

“…Ball possessions recorded had a score difference below 10 points (average = 1.64 ± 4.69 points). The choice of this specific sample was deliberate; first, NBA is the most important basketball club competition of the world; second, Playoffs confronted best season teams to become the champion, thus the maximum competitive level was expected until the end of the game; and third, possessions with short score differences ensure high players' activation and concentration levels (Erčulj & Štrumbelj, 2015).…”