Space protection dynamics in basketball: Validation and application to the evaluation of offense-defense patterns

Abstract

Abstract-The aims of this study were twofold: i) to validate classes of defensive actions (i.e., space protection dynamics -SPDs) for containing offense in basketball; and ii) to propose a novel approach to analyze matches based on the interaction of a space creation dynamic (SCD) and a respective SPD. Kappa statistics revealed high intra-and inter-raters values, supporting the reliability of the defined SPDs. Six matches of the Spanish professional basketball finals were analyzed to achieve the second purpose of the present study. The SCD-SPD couples of actions were analyzed regarding their frequency of occurrence and variety until a scoring attempt. Teams' utilization of sequences of SCDs and SPDs was similar and short in length. Additionally, combining a second action with the first seemed to positively impact on offense success. The analysis of SCDs-SPDs interactions comprehend an innovative approach to the tactical evaluation of matches and may be helpful to interpret teams playing patterns. Keywords: strategy, tactical patterns, performance analysis, teams' interactionsResumo-"Dinâmicas de proteção do espaço no basquetebol: validação e aplicação para a avaliação de padrões ataquedefesa." O estudo teve dois objetivos: i) validar classes de ações defensivas para contenção do ataque no basquetebol (i.e. dinâmicas de proteção de espaço -DPEs); ii) propor uma nova abordagem para analisar partidas de basquetebol baseada nas interações entre uma dinâmica de criação de espaço (DCE) e a respectiva DPE. A estatística Kappa revelou elevada concordância intra-e inter avaliadores, confirmando a reprodutibilidade das DPEs definidas. Seis partidas das finais do campeonato espanhol de basquetebol foram analisadas. DCEs-DPEs foram analisadas quanto a sua frequência de ocorrência e diversidade de ações até a realização de uma finalização. A utilização de DCEs-DPEs foi semelhante entre as equipes e de pequeno comprimento. Além disso, a combinação de uma segunda ação com a primeira pareceu ter um impacto positivo no sucesso do ataque. A análise das interações entre DCEs-DPEs constitui uma abordagem inovadora para a avaliação tática das partidas e pode contribuir para a interpretação dos padrões de jogo das equipes.Palavras-chave: estratégia, padrões táticos, análise de desempenho, interaçãoResumen-"Dinámicas de protección del espacio en el baloncesto: validación e aplicación para evaluación de patrones ataque-defensa." Los objetivos del presente estudio fueron dos: i) validar clases de acciones defensivas para contención ofensiva en baloncesto (i.e. dinámicas de protección del espacio -DPEs); y ii) proponer un nuevo abordaje para analizar partidos de baloncesto basado en la interacción entre una dinámica de creación del espacio (DCE) y una respectiva DPE. La estadística Kappa reveló grande concordancia intra-e inter-evaluadores, confirmando la reproductibilidad de las DPEs. Seis partidos de las finales del campeonato de baloncesto de España fueron analizadas para alcanzar el segundo objetivo del presente estudio. Los pares de...

Collective behaviour in basketball: a systematic review

“…Set offence was by far the most prevalence game phase studied, probably because more than eight out of ten total match possessions are played during a structured game. To increase scoring options, authors highlight the importance of 1vs1 situations, screens, ball circulation (pass and reception), and space creation dynamics during the set offence (Courel, Suárez, Ortega, Piñar, & Cárdenas, 2013;Gómez et al, 2015;Lamas, De Rose Junior, et al, 2011;Muñoz, Serna, Daza, & Hileno, 2015;Santana et al, 2015). Additionally, some authors have explored set defense, finding that man-on-man was the most used style, but half-court zone resulted more effective.…”

“…Moreover, players' role analysis has been chiefly focused on the player with the ball. However, most recent studies showed interest in exploring specific attacker and defender roles, particularly when performing on ball screens and using space creation dynamics (Gómez et al, 2015;Santana et al, 2015).…”

“…Besides, they reported differences on teams' tendencies in terms of its SCDs preferences, that is, game style differs according to players' characteristics and specific contextual situation. More recently, Santana et al (2015) explored classes of defensive actions (i.e., Space Protection Dynamics -SPDs) for containing offense in basketball and studied their interactions between SCD and a respective SPD. Each SPD situation included: i) the SCD performed by offense, which defines the number of players involved in an offensive action and the respective number of players involved in the defensive action; ii) the relative body orientation or displacement performed by the defender in relation to the attacker.…”

Inside game effectiveness in NBA basketball

“…Players' dynamics are determined by specific offensive aims such as to create free space to pass and shoot, enhance effective scoring options and minimize defensive pressure (Remmert, 2003). Through the categorization of player interactions in matches, research studies have identified a variety of actions used in the offence to create (1 vs. 1, screens on and off the ball, cuts towards the basket) and protect (defensive help, switch, screen deny) space (Lamas, et al, 2011;Santana, et al, 2015). These techniques have been implemented to analyse and model offensive and defensive interactions in elite teams (Lamas, Santana, Heiner, Ugrinowitsch, & Fellingham, 2015;Lorenzo Calvo, García, & Navandar, 2017;Vaquera, García-Tormo, Gómez Ruano, & Morante, 2016).…”

Comportamento tático defensivo nas categorias formativas de basquete

“…A defesa foi classificada em: (i) Individual e (ii) Zonal. Para fazer a análise do comportamento tático foram utilizadas as DPE (Dinâmica de Proteção de Espaço) (10) , definidas como comportamentos defensivos que tem como objetivo uma ocupação do espaço de maneira a impedir que uma finalização ocorra e ensejando a recuperação da posse da bola. Existe uma relação de uma DCE (Dinâmica de Criação de Espaço) (6) para muitas possibilidades das correspondentes DPE 7,8 .…”