Influence of ball possession and playing position on the physical demands encountered during professional basketball games

Abstract

Understanding the game demands encountered in basketball provides useful insight for developing specific, individualized and team-based training sessions. This study quantified and compared the game activity demands encountered by basketball players of different playing positions: i) strictly when in possession of the ball and ii) overall during live playing time (irrespective of ball possession). The activity demands encountered by 44 (22 guards, 14 forwards, 8 centres) adult, professional, male basketball players were assessed across 10 official games. Time-motion analysis was used to determine the frequency and proportion (%) of playing time performing recovery (REC), low- (LIA), moderate- (MIA), and high- (HIA) intensity activities. Linear mixed models were constructed to examine differences in dependent variables between playing positions, accounting for repeated measures. Guards, forwards, and centres spent 11.9±5.9%, 3.5±1.3%, and 2.9±1.1% of live playing time in possession of the ball, respectively. Guards performed more activities at all intensities (total movements, REC, LIA, MIA, and HIA) than forwards ( P < 0.05) and centres ( P < 0.05) when in possession of the ball. The proportion of time spent performing HIA in possession of the ball was greater for forwards ( P = 0.001) and centres ( P = 0.001) than guards. During live playing time overall across games, centres performed more HIA per minute ( P = 0.049) and spent a greater proportion of time performing HIA ( P = 0.047) than guards. Activities performed when in possession of the ball and during live playing time across basketball games are affected by playing position. These data highlight the need to develop position-specific training drills, particularly with ball possession.

Explaining Positional Differences of Performance Profiles for the Elite Female Basketball Players

“…Notably, American guards, compared with those in other three regions, recorded more turnovers than forward. This result is likely a consequence of the existing characteristics of game pace of American competitions and may also be attributed to the tactical strategies or technical habits that American guards spent more time in control of a live ball by holding or dribbling it ( Madarame, 2018b ; Ferioli et al, 2020 ). Consequently, American coaches should consider increasing the proportion of forward’ possession of the ball to relieve defensive pressure on guards.…”

Assessing the External Load Associated With High-Intensity Activities Recorded During Official Basketball Games

“…Specifically, training and game load can be determined in terms of internal (e.g., heart rate, hematological markers, Session-Rating of Perceived Exertion) and external (e.g., frequency and duration of activities, distance covered) responses (Fox et al, 2017 ). Recent research has increasingly focused on quantifying the external demands imposed on basketball players during games (Conte et al, 2020 ; Ferioli et al, 2020b , c ). The assessment of external load in basketball becomes particularly useful when also accounting for the role of contextual factors such as playing position and ball possession status, given that differences have been shown to exist with respect to these variables (Puente et al, 2017 ; Stojanović et al, 2018 ; Vázquez-Guerrero et al, 2018 , 2019b ; Pino-Ortega et al, 2019 ; Ferioli et al, 2020b ; Fernández-Leo et al, 2020 ; García et al, 2020 ; Ransdell et al, 2020 ).…”

“…Recent research has increasingly focused on quantifying the external demands imposed on basketball players during games (Conte et al, 2020 ; Ferioli et al, 2020b , c ). The assessment of external load in basketball becomes particularly useful when also accounting for the role of contextual factors such as playing position and ball possession status, given that differences have been shown to exist with respect to these variables (Puente et al, 2017 ; Stojanović et al, 2018 ; Vázquez-Guerrero et al, 2018 , 2019b ; Pino-Ortega et al, 2019 ; Ferioli et al, 2020b ; Fernández-Leo et al, 2020 ; García et al, 2020 ; Ransdell et al, 2020 ). Hence, practitioners could use these data to structure training sessions with a clearer understanding of how different activity patterns contribute to the total external load and what differences exist between playing positions and activities which are performed either with or without ball.…”

“…Hence, practitioners could use these data to structure training sessions with a clearer understanding of how different activity patterns contribute to the total external load and what differences exist between playing positions and activities which are performed either with or without ball. In particular, high-intensity activities play an important role during competitive basketball games, as players perform quick and forceful movements during key phases of both offensive and defensive possessions (e.g., driving toward the basket, securing a rebound, blocking, screening playing 1-on-1 defense), which are ultimately crucial for team success (Ferioli et al, 2020b ). Indeed, the ability to sustain high-intensity activities during competitions is a key component of basketball, as it has been shown to discriminate between players of different competitive levels (Ferioli et al, 2019 , 2020c ).…”

“…Secondly, data analysis and interpretation is time-consuming, making this method impractical to obtain timely relevant information to adapt the planned training stimulus on a regular basis (Fox et al, 2017 ). Nonetheless, despite its limitations, TMA is still a valid and reliable method that is widely used in basketball (Conte et al, 2015 ; Ferioli et al, 2020b , c ).…”