Pace Of Game Research Articles

Toward Adaptive Virtual Reality Systems: Understanding Emotional and Physiological Responses in VR Game

Virtual reality (VR) affective computing is expanding to include systems that can identify and respond to human emotions. This study explores emotional responses in VR using the game Pong to monitor these reactions under different gameplay conditions. It investigates how game pace and opponent behavior affect emotions, assessed through physiological metrics like electrocardiogram, galvanic skin response, electromyogram, and player behaviors. Results from three game variations—slow-paced, fast-paced, and lag-induced—showed distinct emotional and physiological responses. Significant differences were found in arousal and valence levels, with varying heart rate and skin conductance among the game conditions. These findings suggest that VR game design can significantly influence emotional states, providing insights that could help develop more engaging and responsive VR systems. Thus, this study demonstrates the potential of VR to evoke and measure specific emotional responses, contributing to the fields of human-computer interaction, and affective computing.

Unleashing the Power of Momentum: Analyzing Tennis Match Flow through Data Analysis

This paper aims to analyze the impact of momentum in the Wimbledon Men's Singles Final, uncovering its influence on the game's trajectory and providing strategic advice. To analyze player performance and game pace in tennis, we identified key variables within the dimensions of Consumption, Serving, Accuracy, and Difference. Initially, we developed a momentum prediction model in tennis using logistic regression, with an accuracy of over 73%. In line with the actual match, our visualizations provide valuable insights into the flow of play and momentum shifts in tennis matches. Secondly, we conducted a randomness analysis using the Run test on two metrics: CW (swings in play) and DPW (runs of success by one player), indicated that neither CW nor DPW occurs randomly. Furthermore, we employed Vector Auto-regressive Models (VAR) and found that momentum significantly affects the states of players and their winning streaks. Thirdly, we created the Momentum Swing Prediction Model using the Random Forest approach, introducing a dependent variable, TP, to capture the swings in momentum during a match. By analyzing the variable, we have identified four key factors: win/loss of the serve, rally length, serve speed, and distance. Moreover, we offer three practical recommendations for players entering a new match. Finally, we tested the Momentum Swings Prediction model on matches that were not included in the 2023 Wimbledon Men's model, and proposed incorporating player strength and injury information into future models to enhance the model's performance in different scenarios. Through testing on the 2022 Wimbledon Women's matches, we conclude that our model exhibits generalization across various types of matches. In conclusion, these findings highlight the significance of momentum and how it can impact the flow of play. By understanding these dynamics, coaches can better prepare players to respond to events that impact the match's trajectory.

Estimating winning percentage of the fourth quarter in close NBA games using Bayesian logistic modeling.

This study examined the fourth quarters in the close games in the regular NBA games in the last decade, ranging from the 2013-14 season to the 2022-2023 season. A close game is categorically defined by a scenario where the point differential is confined within a 10-point margin at the onset of the fourth quarter and narrows further to a 5-point disparity by the end of the game. In total, 2,295 close games were identified in this study. Advanced game statistics, including offensive rate, defensive rate, assistance ratio, pace of game, and true shooting percentage, etc., are obtained from the NBA box scores using a python script. Understanding key factors that determine the outcome of the basketball games is critical, as such can be used to develop predictive models for coaches to design game strategies. This study developed a Bayesian Logistic Modeling approach to estimate the winning probability of a basketball team in the fourth quarter, using the pace of the last quarter and a team's shooting percentage. The accuracy of the model is used to evaluate if the model can correctly classify game outcome based on the identified game statistics in the fourth quarter of a game. The binary outcome of the close game is modeled as a Bernoulli distribution. Results reveal that the True Positive Rate and False Positive Rate is 0.93 and 0.07, respectively. Insights from this study can be used to help design coaching strategies in basketball games, illuminating potential tactical pivots that could tilt the game in their favor.

THE EXAMINATION OF BALL SKILL DEVELOPMENT IN YOUTH FOOTBALL PLAYERS

In modern football, in addition to advanced physical and mental abilities, players must have excellent technical skills. Coaches must emphasize the development of ball skills during youth training that will enable athletes to execute technical elements accurately and precisely, even at a fast game pace. The present research investigated the significance and effects of ball skill development among youth football players. The study focuses on the role and importance of technical elements in football, implementing the Coerver training method. 
 Material and methods: The U11, U13, and U14 youth teams of Loki Focisuli Debrecen KSE participated in the study. We examined the effect of a 14-week training program on ball skills. We implemented sport-specific tests to assess these technical skills. Fourteen weeks later, we conducted the second measurement under the same conditions. 
 Results and conclusion: The study confirmed that youth football players may improve ball skills with the help of a 14-week training program based on Coerver's training method. The most significant improvement was measured in the U11 age group.

Sportify: Question Answering with Embedded Visualizations and Personified Narratives for Sports Video.

As basketball's popularity surges, fans often find themselves confused and overwhelmed by the rapid game pace and complexity. Basketball tactics, involving a complex series of actions, require substantial knowledge to be fully understood. This complexity leads to a need for additional information and explanation, which can distract fans from the game. To tackle these challenges, we present Sportify, a Visual Question Answering system that integrates narratives and embedded visualization for demystifying basketball tactical questions, aiding fans in understanding various game aspects. We propose three novel action visualizations (i.e., Pass, Cut, and Screen) to demonstrate critical action sequences. To explain the reasoning and logic behind players' actions, we leverage a large-language model (LLM) to generate narratives. We adopt a storytelling approach for complex scenarios from both first and third-person perspectives, integrating action visualizations. We evaluated Sportify with basketball fans to investigate its impact on understanding of tactics, and how different personal perspectives of narratives impact the understanding of complex tactic with action visualizations. Our evaluation with basketball fans demonstrates Sportify's capability to deepen tactical insights and amplify the viewing experience. Furthermore, third-person narration assists people in getting in-depth game explanations while first-person narration enhances fans' game engagement.

Efficiency-oriented training and development based on service process observation and assessment in the workplace

PurposeThis paper aims to establish a service efficiency-oriented framework for training design and evaluation as a pivotal service procedure in the workplace to fill the gap between training and organizational performance in a service context.Design/methodology/approachA semi-structured interview was first employed to confirm the primary indicator for training programs and criteria design as the pivotal factor for operational efficiency. An observation experiment was subsequently conducted to reveal that the training program can be redesigned according to the concrete operation effects and influencing factors for operational efficiency in the workplace.FindingsThe proposed service efficiency-oriented training model is suggested to underline and guide the activities for training requirements, training methods, training criteria and training evaluation for the service sector. Training auditing, analyzing and redesigning based on service efficiency could help to integrate service efficiency so that service organizations can readjust their specific training needs and concise the training program in the human resource management practice.Research limitations/implicationsThis study only conducted an on-site observational experiment on one of the casinos in Macau. An observational method assessed the conceptual model in the context of table game operations. More quantitative approaches like AI-assisted systems may be employed in the future. The representativeness of the sample is somewhat limited. In addition, the service efficiency-oriented training concept model is an open system that any organization could extend by incorporating more elements in each part that can be developed to meet their human resource management needs. Finally, other service-oriented organizations like airlines and banks can learn from the theoretical model proposed in this article. It is suggested that non-profit organizations would be a better research area.Practical implicationsThe finding can provide organizations and practitioners with insights and tools on how to provide and evaluate service efficiency and assess employee performance.Social implicationsThe proposed service efficiency-oriented training model provides a theoretical foundation for training and organizational performance for service organizations.Originality/valueThis study is the first to develop a service efficiency-oriented training framework with training needs, methods, criteria and evaluation. A service industry sample was used to verify the framework in the context of casino game pace and dealer training for table games. Suggestions for a combination of management are provided for casino operators to redesign and evaluate the dealer training program for service improvement.

Parents' Perceptions of a Serious Game for Educating Families on Prescription Opioid Safety: Qualitative Pilot Study of MedSMARxT: Adventures in PharmaCity.

Opioid misuse is a pervasive, worsening problem that affects the health of people throughout the United States, including adolescents. There are few adolescent-focused interventions designed to educate them about opioid medication safety. The MedSMARxT: Adventures in PharmaCity, is a serious educational video game that teaches parents and their youths about safe opioid practices. This study aimed to elucidate parent's perceptions of MedSMARxT: Adventures in PharmaCity and its potential use by parents and their adolescents. Parents of adolescents aged 12 to 18 years who live in the United States were recruited from April to October 2021 via Qualtrics research panels, social media, email listserves, and snowball sampling. The study participants played MedSMARxT: Adventures in PharmaCity for 30 minutes and then participated in a 30-minute postgame interview via WebEx (Cisco). Questions were developed and piloted to examine adults' perceptions of the game. Participants were asked three sets of open-ended questions: (1) questions about the game and elements of the game, (2) what they learned from the game, and (3) questions about their experience with games. Audio recordings were transcribed verbatim. Interview transcripts were coded using content and thematic analysis by study team members to identify major themes and subthemes from the data. Parent participants (N=67) played MedSMARxT: Adventures in PharmaCity and completed a postgame interview. Analysis extrapolated four primary themes from the data: (1) participant gaming experience, (2) perception of game features, (3) educational purpose of the game, and (4) future use of the game. Most participants (n=56, 84%), had at least some experience with video games. More than half of the participants (n=35, 52%) participants, had positive reactions to the game characters and scenes depicted in MedSMARxT: Adventures in PharmaCity and stated they were realistic for adolescents. Most participants (n=39, 58%), would recommend the game to others. Significant difficulties with gameplay navigation were reported by 38 (57%) participants, as well as a slow game pace. All participants were able to accurately identify the overarching goal of the game: opioid or medication safety. The game reinforced existing knowledge for participants, though many (n=15, 22%), reported a new awareness of the need to store opioid medications in a locked area and the availability of medication disposal drop boxes at pharmacies. Participants stated that they would recommend the game for future use by families and youths in various health care and non-health care settings. The use of a tailored serious game is a novel, engaging tool to educate adolescents on opioid safety. MedSMARxT: Adventures in PharmaCity can be used as a tool for parents and adolescents to facilitate meaningful dialogue about safe and appropriate opioid use.

Match Running Performance in UEFA Champions League: Do More Successful Teams Really Run Less?

It is often hypothesized that more successful teams from elite football competitions achieve lower match running performance (MRP) than less successful teams. However, the results of previous studies investigat- ing the associations between MRP and different success indicators are inconsistent. The main objective of this study was to identify the association between teams’ MRP and the UEFA club coefficient as an indicator of long-term success in highest-level football. Individual MRPs (n=547) of 378 outfield players were jointly evaluated into the team MRP and used as cases in this study. All data were collected by the semi-automatic optical video system InStat Fitness from matches (n=20) of the UEFA Champions League group stage (UCL) in the 2020/2021 season. MRP variables included total distance covered and distance covered in different speed zones: walking (<7.1 km/h), jogging (7.2–14.3 km/h), running (14.4–19.7 km/h), high-speed running (19.8–5.1 km/h), and sprinting (>25.2 km/h). Pearson’s correlation coefficient was used to identify the association be- tween the teams’ MRP and the UEFA club coefficient. Results indicated that the UEFA club coefficient was positively and negatively associated with sprinting and jogging distance covered, respectively. These findings show that teams with a higher UEFA club coefficient performed a lower amount of running at low intensity and a greater amount of running at maximal intensity, suggesting that teams are achieving greater long-term success in highest-level football play at a higher game pace.

Clustering Performances in Elite Basketball Matches According to the Anthropometric Features of the Line-ups Based on Big Data Technology.

The aims of this study were: 1) to conduct a descriptive analysis of the anthropometric features of the line-ups of strong teams (top 16) in the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup; 2) to group the line-ups mentioned above into different clusters based on their average height, weight, and body mass index (BMI); and 3) to explore the performance variables that discriminate between various line-up clusters. The play-by-play statistics were collected from 104 team objects in 67 games and 525 line-ups were analyzed using two-step cluster and discriminant analysis. Line-ups were classified into four groups: low average height and weight with middle BMI (LowH–LowW–MiddleBMI); high average height and low average weight with low BMI (HighH–LowW–LowBMI); low average height and high average weight with high BMI (LowH–HighW–HighBMI); high average height and weight with middle BMI (HighH–HighW–MiddleBMI). The results of the discriminant analysis demonstrated that LowH–LowW–MiddleBMI line-ups had the least time played and the lowest offensive rating, but the best offensive rebounds, turnovers, and fastest game pace performance; HighH–LowW–LowBMI line-ups demonstrated the best defensive rating but performed poorly with a low value of assists and a high value of turnovers; the LowH–HighW–HighBMI group achieved the best time played statistics but had the lowest number of free throws made; the HighH–HighW–MiddleBMI group had a higher number of assists and a higher offensive rating and 2-point field goal performance, while also achieving the lowest number of offensive rebounds and ball possessions. These results provide novel insights for coaches and performance analysts to better understand the technical characteristics of different line-ups in elite basketball competitions.

The ANALYSIS OF ETHIOPIAN BASKETBALL PREMIER LEAGUE FOR THE YEAR 2020/21G.C MATCH ANALYSIS OF ETHIOPIAN BASKETBALL PREMIER LEAGUE FOR THE YEAR 2020/21G.C MATCH

The sport of basketball is defined as “A game played between two teams of five players in which goals are scored by throwing a ball through a netted hoop fixed at each end of the court (Oxford Dictionaries, 2017). In the country Ethiopia different sport competitions were held every year. The Ethiopian basketball league is one of the competitions held in the country. Basketball game is one of the competitions held in the country with the support of great fun because the game is very interesting and its objective is to shot a ball in the basket with a 24 second shooting attempt interval, in basketball, the shot clock is a timer designed to increase the game's pace and scoring (databaseBasketball.com entry Archived 2006). But the shooting results of all team are too much small not only the University sport competition but also the basketball clubs of the country. The average score of the Ethiopian basketball club is no more than 60 points per game with in the total time of 40 minutes but they have a minimum chance of 50 attempts in average for a team with in the total time of the game. And it can be increased by the rebounding opportunity of the team. The investigation of this research finding will show the analysis of different variables of basketball competitions like passing accuracy, shooting attempt and shooting accuracy, ball interceptions and rebounding. The population of the study was all basketball clubs which were participate in Ethiopian basketball league competitions which were held at Bahirdar from this population the researcher decided purposively to have a sample size of all 5 male basketball clubs match. The researchers used purposively to have a sample of 5 male basketball teams of 4 matches these are a match between Diredawa kenema basketball club Vs Wolkitie town basketball club, Hawasa town basketball club Vs Yeka Subcity basketball club, Hawasa town basketball club and Wolkitie town basketball club and Gondar town basketball club and Diredawa kenema basketball club to analyse the shooting status, passing status rebounding status and the ball interception status of the clubs per match. Based on the match held at Bahirdar town, clubs shooting accuracy in the first match Diredawa basketball club 036%, Wolkitie basketball club 0.32%, Hawassa basketball club 0.37%, Yeka subcity basketball club 0.30%, and Gonder basketball club 0.33% was recorded and in the second match Hawassa basketball club 0.35%, Wolkitie basketball club 0.34%, Diredawa basketball club 0.41% was recorded. As shown the percentage of shooting accuracy of all clubs the status is low compared with the minimum attempt of shooting per game.

The diagonal positioning of the goals modifies the external training load and the tactical behaviour of young football players.

The aim of this study was to identify how positioning the goals in diagonal configurations on the pitch modifies the external training load and the tactical behaviour of young football players during small-sided games. Four teams of five outfield players and a goalkeeper played six small-sided games of five minutes’ duration in three different scenarios: 1) Control: goals placed one in front of the other; 2) Right diagonal goals: goals placed in the right-hand corner of the offensive half-pitch; and 3) Left diagonal goals: goals placed in the left-hand corner of the offensive half-pitch. The positioning-derived data from each player were collected with 10-Hz GPS units and were used to compute external load and tactical variables. Regarding the external load variables, differences were mainly focused on distance covered while walking in defence and game pace (variability), with higher values for the diagonal scenarios. Also, the length/width ratios in offence and defence were most likely lower in diagonal scenarios. In conclusion, the results showed that players’ adaptations to the environmental constraints of positioning the goals diagonally were the enhancement of the width team variable and the variability of the length.

Training Design, Performance Analysis, and Talent Identification-A Systematic Review about the Most Relevant Variables through the Principal Component Analysis in Soccer, Basketball, and Rugby.

Since the accelerating development of technology applied to team sports and its subsequent high amount of information available, the need for data mining leads to the use of data reduction techniques such as Principal Component Analysis (PCA). This systematic review aims to identify determinant variables in soccer, basketball and rugby using exploratory factor analysis for, training design, performance analysis and talent identification. Three electronic databases (PubMed, Web of Science, SPORTDiscus) were systematically searched and 34 studies were finally included in the qualitative synthesis. Through PCA, data sets were reduced by 75.07%, and 3.9 ± 2.53 factors were retained that explained 80 ± 0.14% of the total variance. All team sports should be analyzed or trained based on the high level of aerobic capacity combined with adequate levels of power and strength to perform repeated high-intensity actions in a very short time, which differ between team sports. Accelerations and decelerations are mainly significant in soccer, jumps and landings are crucial in basketball, and impacts are primarily identified in rugby. Besides, from these team sports, primary information about different technical/tactical variables was extracted such as (a) soccer: occupied space, ball controls, passes, and shots; (b) basketball: throws, rebounds, and turnovers; or (c) rugby: possession game pace and team formation. Regarding talent identification, both anthropometrics and some physical capacity measures are relevant in soccer and basketball. Although overall, since these variables have been identified in different investigations, further studies should perform PCA on data sets that involve variables from different dimensions (technical, tactical, conditional).

Mobile use induces local attentional precedence and is associated with limited socio-cognitive skills in preschoolers

Mobile touch screen devices (MTSDs; i.e., smartphones and tablets) are now being used at an early and neuroplastic age by an ever-growing number of children, with this use likely affecting cognitive development. In a cross-sectional study, we investigated whether frequent MTSD user preschoolers exhibit different attentional and socio-cognitive skills compared to non-users. In a second, experimental study, we tested whether exposure to digital and non-digital games is associated with differences in attentional performance, and whether game pace moderates observed effects. Findings of both studies indicate pre-existing and experimentally-induced MTSD use was associated with global precedence in selective attention tasks, but an atypical, local precedence in a divided attention task. Further, playing with a fast digital game eliminated the advantage of selective attention over divided attention observed in the non-digital and slow digital game conditions. MTSD use was not associated with emotion recognition but was associated with worse theory of mind. We argue that the observed correlates and effects of MTSD use, and specifically of games, can be explained by a combination of MTSD characteristics (e.g., screens are rich in local and multiple modes of information, relatively limited social experience) and game characteristics (e.g., fast speed). Our results may be informative for the design and optimization of game structure and function, and may even call for influencing parameters of MTSD use that could affect mental functioning in this sensitive age.

College Football Referee Bias and Sports Betting Impact

Conferences entrust college football referees to impartially officiate games. However, a growing body of research documents officiating biases in sports. We focus on bias among major college football referees. Following a natural experiment approach, we contrast in-conference games with a quasi-control group consisting of games involving teams from different conferences. Specifically, we find significant relationships between the betting line variables—expected game closeness and clear game favorite—and penalties among ACC and former Big East officials that suggests bias toward the underdog team during in-conference games. Additionally, we find home field bias in the ACC and Big XII and bias of game pace in the Big XII and former Big East. We also do a preliminary examination of the biases’ roots. Some biases we pinpoint are, counterintuitively, revenue-inhibiting for certain conferences. Our results show the potential impact on-field referees have on games and the underlying revenue streams for the conferences. They also highlight oft-discussed, but rarely researched, officiating biases at the intersection of game integrity and the commercial goals of the competing programs and the conferences they represent. To lessen such friction, we advocate for centralization of the management and oversight of college football referees. We conclude by explaining how such biases could impact expanded legalized sports betting after the US Supreme Court removed restrictions on state-by-state regulation in 2018.

How playing area dimension and number of players constrain football performance during unbalanced ball possession games

The aim of this investigation was to analyse the external workload, tactical individual actions of passing, and perceived internal load during unbalanced small-sided games. Ball possession formats (4v3, 4v4 and 4v5) were played in three different playing area dimensions (20 × 15m, 25 × 20m and 30 × 25m) by under-23 football players. Data were analysed under opposition-based perspective, by fixing one team (4vX), and by cooperation-based perspective according to teammates (4v2+X) for each playing area condition. GPS monitors were used to collect and compute external workloads (distance covered while walking, running, sprinting, and maximal speed) and tactical individual actions (passing with dominant and non-dominant foot, and maximum passing speed), and Borg Scale CR10 to evaluate rating of perceived exertion (RPE). On both opposition- and cooperation-based perspectives, significant differences were found on external workload variables for all game formats, with smaller areas associated with more distances covered while walking and larger areas with running and sprinting. Likewise, 4v3, 4v4 and 4v2 + 3 revealed significant differences for tactical individual actions, where a larger area was associated with an increase in repetitions. Medium playing area, for both perspectives, was associated with a higher RPE. Overall, larger playing areas with higher number of players involved promoted more high-intensity running, while the same area with fewer number of players fostered tactical individual actions. Smaller areas allowed to reduce game pace, especially in formats with fewer players. Different unbalance scenarios under dissimilar playing area dimensions promote diverse performance outcomes on player’s action capabilities.

Modeling basketball games by inverse Gaussian processes

The scoring processes of home and away team in basketball games are modeled by two dependent inverse Gaussian processes with a team-specific parameter that measures the team strength. A common latent variable that measures the game pace is designed to characterize the dependence. A moment estimation method combined with maximum likelihood estimation is proposed to fit the parameters and a Bayesian method is applied to update the estimation and make in-game predictions. It is shown that the proposed model can obtain the same performance as the benchmark model, Gamma process model, in outcome prediction, point spread betting and model gambling.

Trends in NBA and Euroleague basketball: Analysis and comparison of statistical data from 2000 to 2017.

We analyse and compare NBA and Euroleague basketball through box-score statistics in the period from 2000 to 2017. Overall, the quantitative differences between the NBA and Euroleague have decreased and are still decreasing. Differences are even smaller after we adjust for game length and when playoff NBA basketball is considered instead of regular season basketball. The differences in factors that contribute to success are also very small—(Oliver’s) four factors derived from box-score statistics explain most of the variability in team success even if the coefficients are determined for both competitions simultaneously instead of each competition separately. The largest difference is game pace—in the NBA there are more possessions per game. The number of blocks, the defensive rebounding rate and the number of free throws per foul committed are also higher in the NBA, while the number of fouls committed is lower. Most of the differences that persist can be reasonably explained by the contrasts between the better athleticism of NBA players and more emphasis on tactical aspects of basketball in the Euroleague.

Different Marks in the Pitch Constraint Youth Players’ Performances During Football Small-sided Games

ABSTRACTPurpose: This study aimed to compare players’ performances when manipulating the external markings of the pitch during football small-sided games. Methods: Ten under-15 players performed a 5-a-side (plus goalkeepers) under three conditions: (i) Lines, the game was played in a pitch in which the external boundaries were painted with full lines; (ii) Dashed, the game was played in a pitch in which the external boundaries were painted with dashed lines; (iii) Corners, the game was played in a pitch were the external boundaries were delimited by one marker at each pitch corner. Players’ positional data was used to compute tactical and time-motion variables. Also, technical analysis was comprised using video footage. Results: Results showed similar tactical, physical and technical performances between the Lines and Dashed conditions. In contrast, the Lines condition showed small higher effects than Corners scenario in the time spent synchronized in longitudinal and lateral displacements, game pace, total distance covered, distance covered while jogging, number successful dribbles and shots on target. The Lines scenario has also revealed a lower effective playing space, distance covered at walking and running and a lower number of passes (small effects) compared to Corners. Conclusions: These results highlight that these changes in informational perception constraints modify players movement behavior. Accordingly, pitches with more visible boundaries were likely to decrease team dispersion, which may optimize team synchrony and technical performances, while decreasing the distance covered at higher speeds. Coaches may use this information to modify the types of pitch external boundaries markings, exposing the players to different environmental information.

Comparison of successful offensive sequences in the group stage of 2018 FIFA World Cup: eliminated vs. qualified teams

ABSTRACTThis study aimed to compare the offensive sequences that resulted in goals in the group stage of the 2018 FIFA World Cup according to teams’ status: eliminated versus qualified for the knockout phase. Successful offensive sequences performed in the group stage by eliminated (n = 39) and qualified teams (n = 83) were notated post-event using an adapted version of the Offensive Sequences Characterisation System, which includes simple and composite performance indicators. Magnitude-based inferences revealed that performances indicators Passes/Duration, Passes/Ball touches, Players/Duration and Passes/Players were key to differentiate eliminated and qualified teams. Performance profiles emerging from qualified teams suggest the ability to impose a faster game pace (of ball passing and collective involvement) is more relevant to offensive effectiveness in elite football than the mere amount of sport-specific actions performed. Although offensive sequences with more passes, ball touches and duration had a possible positive effect on reaching the knockout phase, the offensive behaviours of qualified teams highlighted the importance of ‘quality possession’. Indeed, offensive sequences involving more players (teamwork) and favouring ball passing instead of individual ball retention seem to facilitate the emergence of goal-scoring events. Considering these findings, professional coaches are encouraged to design playing-form activities aiming to promote team-based offensive strategies, including task constraints to increase the game pace and the frequency of ‘penetrating passes’ into vital playing areas.

Key game indicators in NBA players’ performance profiles

The aim of the present study was to identify and describe players’ performances in NBA games using individual and team-based game variables. The sample was composed by 535 balanced games (score differences below or equal to eight points) from the regular season (n=502) and the playoffs (n=33). A total of 472 players were analysed. The individual-based variables were: minutes on court, effective field-goal percentage, free-throws/field-goals ratio, offensive rebound percentage, turnover percentage and playing position. The team-based variables were: team points minus opponent’s points (on and off court), NET score (player’s on values minus his/her off values), maximum negative and positive point difference, team’s winning percentage, game pace, defensive and offensive ratings. A two-step cluster analysis was performed to identify the player’s profiles during regular season and playoff games. The results identified five performance profiles during regular season games and four performance profiles during playoff games. The profiles identified were mainly characterized by the game quarter and the negative NET indicator (players’ performance on court minus their performance off court) in regular season games and the positive NET indicator during playoff games and second and third game-quarters. Coaching staffs can fine-tune these profiles to develop more team-specific models and, conversely, use the results to monitor and rebuild team formation under the constrained dynamics of the game and competition stages.