Unbalanced Games Research Articles

Match internal load in wheelchair basketball games – an exploratory study

ABSTRACT This study aimed to compare the match internal load according to the type of disability at different moments in the wheelchair basketball game and the effect of playing the last 5 min of the half on Lactate (LA+) concentrations. Thirty athletes (34.4 ± 6.8 years) from 5 wheelchair basketball Brazilian teams were analysed during five official games. For the analyses, athletes were separated by disability [spinal cord injury, polio sequels and lower limb amputation]. A generalised estimating equation analysis was performed to verify the effects of moment, disability and playing the last 5 min of each period on the La+ concentrations. No significant differences were found between disability groups for the TRIMP and the La+ concentrations at different moments in the game. The results pointed out that unbalanced games seem to cause higher lactate concentrations in the first period of the game, especially in players who end up playing in the second quarter. Finally, unbalanced games, whether the player finishes playing the game, seems not to influence the final lactate concentrations. The internal load of the WB game does not differ in the different disabilities, and, in unbalanced games, the players finish the game with low concentrations of lactate.

Data variables related to wins and losses of game in different scenarios in the WNBA 2023 season

ABSTRACT The research subarea of sports performance analysis on women’s basketball games is relatively scarce. Therefore, this study aims to explore the key variables that influence the game outcomes in the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) during the 2023 season. Firstly, chi-square tests and k-means clustering to control variables were applied to categorise games into four groups (home balanced, home unbalanced, away balanced, and away unbalanced). Secondly, stepwise logistic regression was employed to identify key variables influencing game outcomes in each group. The game statistics variables that were significant in home and away balanced games were the field goals made (FG) (+) and attempted (FGA) (-), free throws made (FT) (+), total rebounds (TRB) (+), steals (STL) (+), turnovers (TOV) (-), and personal fouls (PF) (-). Additionally, 3-point field goals made (3P) were significant in home balanced games and assists (AST) (+) in the away balanced games. And FG (+), FGA (-), offensive rebounds (ORB) (+), STL (+), blocks (BLK) (+), and TOV (-) were significant in the home unbalanced games. In addition, in the away unbalanced group 4 variables included 3P (+), offensive rebound percentage (+), defensive rebound percentage (+), and total rebound percentage (+) were identified as key variables.

EFEITO DOS DETERMINANTES DE DESEMPENHO NA DIFERENÇA FINAL DE GOLS DA NHL

ABSTRACT Introduction: In ice hockey games, the team's performance is influenced by many contextual factors, and understanding playing styles allows to reveal how key performance indicators vary under different situations. Objective: This research aims to explore the playing styles of elite ice-hockey teams and to identify key performance aspects under different final goal difference situations. Methods: This article analyzed compared the match performance of 31 National Hockey League teams during 1271 matches considering their playing styles and final goal difference. Results: The principal component analysis obtained 8 performance components describing the technical-tactical styles of the teams. The subsequent analysis found that there was significant difference between three match outcomes in unfavorable state, major penalties, puck possession maintaining ability, shot defending ability, aggressive performance (p<0.001; = 0.007-0.273). Conclusions: Higher-ranked teams winning the unbalanced games showed better performance in shot defending ability and aggressive performance. Lower-ranked teams losing in unbalanced games kept less possession of the puck and were more likely to be shorthanded (p<0.05, ES=0.131-1.410). The study demonstrates how playing styles can be used to contextualize key determinants from ice hockey games. Level of evidence I; Therapeutic Studies Investigating the Results of Treatment.

Stabilizing Grand Cooperation via Cost Adjustment: An Inverse Optimization Approach

For an unbalanced cooperative game, its grand coalition can be stabilized by some instruments, such as subsidization and penalization, that impose new cost terms to certain coalitions. In this paper, we study an alternative instrument, referred to as cost adjustment, that does not need to impose any new coalition-specific cost terms. Specifically, our approach is to adjust existing cost coefficients of the game under which (i) the game becomes balanced so that the grand coalition becomes stable, (ii) a desired way of cooperation is optimal for the grand coalition to adopt, and (iii) the total cost to be shared by the grand coalition is within a prescribed range. Focusing on a broad class of cooperative games, known as integer minimization games, we formulate the problem on how to optimize the cost adjustment as a constrained inverse optimization problem. We prove [Formula: see text]-hardness and derive easy-to-check feasibility conditions for the problem. Based on two linear programming reformulations, we develop two solution algorithms. One is a cutting-plane algorithm, which runs in polynomial time when the corresponding separation problem is polynomial time solvable. The other needs to explicitly derive all the inequalities of a linear program, which runs in polynomial time when the linear program contains only a polynomial number of inequalities. We apply our models and solution algorithms to two typical unbalanced games, including a weighted matching game and an uncapacitated facility location game, showing that their optimal cost adjustments can be obtained in polynomial time. History: Accepted by Area Editor Andrea Lodi for Design & Analysis of Algorithms—Discrete. Funding: This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China [Grants 72022018 and 72091210]; the Research Grants Council of the Hong Kong SAR, China [Grant 16210020]; Hong Kong Polytechnic University [Grant P0032007]; and the Youth Innovation Promotion Association, Chinese Academy of Sciences [Grant 2021454]. Supplemental Material: The online appendix is available at https://doi.org/10.1287/ijoc.2022.0268 .

Women's wheelchair basketball lineup analysis at the Tokyo 2020 paralympic games: game related statistics explaining team sport performance.

Performance analysis through game-related statistics in wheelchair basketball (WB) has focused mainly on the study of the individual efficiency of players according to their functional classification. However, there is little evidence focusing on lineup performances (five players on court) and their composition. Thus, the objective of present study was to analyze the efficiency of the women's WB lineups used during the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games (PG) and to determine the variables that best discriminated the lineup performances according to the final point differential. The sample comprised 507 lineups used in the 31 games by the 10 national teams during the competition. Fifty-one different lineup types (LTs) were categorized. A discriminant analysis was carried out to compare the lineups with a positive and negative point difference according to the game type (balanced and unbalanced games). It was found that LTs 16 (1-1.5-2.5-4-4.5), 47 (1-2-2.5-4-4.5) and 14 (1-1.5-2.5-4.5-4.5) had the best means of efficiency in field goals (LT 16 = 52%; LT 47 = 44% and LT = 40%), while LT 50 (1-2-3-4-4) obtained the highest mean difference in points (3.67 ± 10.67). The variables that best discriminated winner teams in balanced games were field goal efficiency (SC = 0.55), assists (SC = 0.50) and turnovers (SC = -0.41). Field goal efficiency, assists, turnovers and steals are the game-related statistics most associated with the success of a lineup used in balanced games in WB in PG competition; this could be taken into account by coaches when deciding how to compose a given lineup in a moment of the game, to adequately select players from different functional classifications for the final squad and to choose training content related to the indicated game-related statistics, as they explain success at this competition level.

Factors that Differentiate Winning and Losing in Men’s University Basketball

The objective of this study is to analyse the game-related statistics that differentiate winning and losing teams, according to the finale game scores in a men’s university basketball league. Samples were gathered from the archival data of the 2019–2020 regular season of the league. Sixteen game-related statistics were analysed: two- and three-point field-goals (both successful and unsuccessful), free-throws (both successful and unsuccessful), defensive and offensive rebounds, assists, steals, turnover, blocks, second-chance points, fast break points, fouls committed and received. The data were clustered into different game types based on the final outcome point differences: all games, balanced games (11 points and below) and unbalanced games (12 points and above). Discriminant function analysis was conducted to identify the performance indicators that classify winning and losing games. The results revealed that winning and losing in balanced games were discriminated by successful two-point field goals, unsuccessful two-point field goals, unsuccessful three-point field goals, successful free-throws, assists, steals, blocks, second-chance points, fast-break points, fouls committed, and fouls received. For unbalanced games, winning and losing were distinguished by successful two-point field goals, successful three-point field goals, successful free-throws, unsuccessful free-throws, defensive rebounds, blocks, fast-break points, and fouls received. In conclusion, offensive and defensive indices are critical to winning and losing in university-level basketball.

The influence of relative playing area and player numerical imbalance on physical and perceptual demands in soccer small-sided game formats

ABSTRACT Purpose: This study aimed to examine physiological, mechanical and perceptual loading in small-sided games using different relative playing areas with balanced and unbalanced player numbers.Methods: Data were collected in twelve elite youth male soccer players and included heart rate and standard time-motion outputs using commercial GPS.Results: The data demonstrated higher cardiovascular, physical and perceptual demands with increasing pitch size (e.g. average HR was 88.7 vs. 86.7% HRmax with 8 vs. 2 high-intensity acceleration in medium vs. small pitch formats. The largest pitch format resulted in a greater accumulation of high-intensity distance (47 ± 30 m), higher peak velocity (25.2 ± 1.6 km.h−1) and a higher distance and frequency of accelerations (35 ± 9 m and 8 ± 3) compared with the smallest pitch (all p < 0.01). In unbalanced games, there was significantly greater average heart rate in the overloaded team (84.4 ± 4.9 vs. 80.4 ± 4.8% HRmax in 4 v. 6).Conclusion: These data suggest that different game formats including numerical imbalance could be prescribed for squad management to target conditioning stimuli for specific players (e.g. to target a higher training load for players that do not get consistent match exposure).

Assessing the key game-related statistics in Brazilian professional basketball according to season phase and final score difference

ABSTRACT This study aimed to identify the game-related statistics that best discriminate winning and losing teams during the regular season and playoff phase of Brazilian professional basketball. Data were retrieved from game-related statistics of 1271 games (1048 from regular season and 223 from playoffs phase) of five seasons between 2014 and 2019 of the Brazilian professional basketball league [Novo Basquete Brasil (NBB)]. All games were clustered into close, balanced, and unbalanced games. A discriminant analysis was performed. Results showed that defensive rebounds (SC = 0.407) were determinant to win close games in the regular season, while defensive rebounds, assists, and 3-point shooting efficiency were determinant (SC > 0.3) to win balanced and unbalanced games in this phase. In the playoff phase, winning teams performed more defensive rebounds and assists (SC > 0.3), having relevant contribution of 3-point shooting efficiency (SC = 0.311) in close games, and 2-point shooting efficiency (SC = 0.336) in balanced games. These findings should be useful for coaches to plan training and playing strategies emphasising the game-related statistics that are more determinant to the game outcome.

The Effect of Game-Related Contextual Factors on Sleep in Basketball Players.

Fox, JL, Scanlan, AT, Stanton, R, and Sargent, C. The effect of game-related contextual factors on sleep in basketball players. J Strength Cond Res 36(10): 2942-2945, 2022-The purpose of this study was to determine whether contextual factors including game location, game outcome, and score-line margin influence subsequent nightly sleep duration and quality in basketball players. Seven semiprofessional, male basketball players were monitored across one competitive season using self-reported sleep diaries and activity monitors. Linear mixed models and effect sizes (ESs) were used to compare sleep duration and quality following games based on game location (played at home or away venues), game outcome (win or loss), and score-line margin (balanced [≤ 8-point margin] or unbalanced [≥ 9-point margin]). Sleep onset was later following away games (ES = 0.79 ± 0.86 [ moderate ], p = 0.12), losses (ES = 0.63 ± 0.79 [ moderate ], p = 0.18), and unbalanced games (ES = 1.36 ± 0.90 [ large ], p = 0.01). Wake time was later following losses (ES = 1.14 ± 0.85 [ moderate ], p = 0.02). Sleep fragmentation was higher following wins (ES = 0.65 ± 0.74 [ moderate ], p = 0.17). Sleep efficiency was higher following losses (ES = 0.70 ± 0.80 [ moderate ], p = 0.14). All other differences in sleep variables yielded trivial - small ESs ( p > 0.05). Because of the later sleep onset times of players, basketball practitioners should consider avoiding early morning travel or training sessions following away games, losses, and unbalanced games, to maintain similar nightly sleep durations in light of the contextual factors encountered. Basketball practitioners may also need to ensure player sleep is optimized following wins compared with losses given the lower quality observed.

Quarter’s external workload demands of basketball referees during a European youth congested-fixture tournament

ABSTRACTThe study’s purposes were to ascertain referees’ external workload, and to analyse the match periods and match outcome effects during an European youth basketball championship. Through principal component analysis, the variables relative distance at walking, high intensity (>16 km/h; Distance Explosive), sprinting, and maximum sprinting, number of events >24 km/h, maximum and average speed, total and maximum acceleration, accelerations between 1–2 (Acc 1–2), 2–3 and 4–5 m/s 2, and total impacts between 3–5 (Impacts 3–5 g) and 5–8 g were selected. Twelve elite-level basketball referees were assessed using inertial devices with ultrawide-band indoor tracking technology. Statistical analysis was composed by MANOVA with Bonferroni post-hoc. Referees’ activity profile in Q1 was explained in 80.6% by 5 Principal Components (PCs), in Q2 79.71% by 4 PCs, in Q3 74.82% by 4 PCs and in Q4 74.69% by 3 PCs. Regarding match periods, performance decreasing throughout quarters was found in Distance Explosive, Acc 1–2 and Impacts 3–5 g in close and balanced games, but unbalanced games did not present differences. Match periods and match outcome influenced the workload profile of elite-level referees. Thus, simulated training conditions are necessary to face competition in optimal conditions.

Analysis of discriminatory game variables between winners and losers in women’s handball world championships from 2007 to 2017

The aim of this study was to identify game variables that discriminated winning from losing teams and to understand how these variables contributed to victory by observing goal differences in matches of the women’s handball world championships. The sample comprised 471 WCh’s games played between 2007 and 2017. The games were grouped into three clusters: balanced games – difference of 1-8 goals; unbalanced games – difference of 9-20 goals; and very unbalanced games – difference of &amp;gt; 20 goals. Generally, the performance of winning teams was significantly higher (in most variables), or lower in the case of the number of technical faults (p&amp;lt;.05). In the balanced games, there was a greater contribution of defensive variables (stolen balls, blocked throws, and goalkeeper’s efficiency indicators) in relation to attack variables (attack efficiency and throw efficiency indicators). For victory, the number of technical faults reduce the chances of winning. Games with the unbalanced and very unbalanced goal differences seem to follow the same tendency; however, in the very unbalanced games, there were more assists, yellow cards and 2-min suspensions. We concluded that the decisive variables for victory in the balanced games showed a greater weight, with a special emphasis on stolen balls followed by offensive variables (throw efficiency indicators, attack efficiency, and technical faults). There was an equal tendency for the games with unbalanced and very unbalanced outcomes.

The Impact of Contextual Factors on Game Demands in Starting, Semiprofessional, Male Basketball Players.

To quantify and compare external and internal game workloads according to contextual factors (game outcome, game location, and score-line). Starting semiprofessional, male basketball players were monitored during 19 games. External (PlayerLoad™ and inertial movement analysis variables) and internal (summated-heart-rate-zones and rating of perceived exertion [RPE]) workload variables were collected for all games. Linear mixed-effect models and effect sizes were used to compare workload variables based on each of the contextual variables assessed. The number of jumps, absolute and relative (in min-1) high-intensity accelerations and decelerations, and relative changes-of-direction were higher during losses, whereas session RPE was higher during wins. PlayerLoad™ the number of absolute and relative jumps, high-intensity accelerations, absolute and relative total decelerations, total changes-of-direction, summated-heart-rate-zones, session RPE, and RPE were higher during away games, whereas the number of relative high-intensity jumps was higher during home games. PlayerLoad™, the number of high-intensity accelerations, total accelerations, absolute and relative decelerations, absolute and relative changes-of-direction, summated-heart-rate-zones, sRPE, and RPE were higher during balanced games, whereas the relative number of total and high-intensity jumps were higher during unbalanced games. Due to increased intensity, starting players may need additional recovery following losses. Given the increased external and internal workload volumes encountered during away games and balanced games, practitioners should closely monitor playing times during games. Monitoring playing times may help identify when players require additional recovery or reduced training volumes to avoid maladaptive responses across the in-season.

Reliability of Teams’ Game-Related Statistics in Basketball: Number of Games Required and Minimal Detectable Change

ABSTRACTIn basketball, game-related statistics are the most common measure of performance. However, the literature assessing their reliability is scarce. Purpose: Analyze the number of games required to obtain a good relative and absolute reliability of teams’ game-related statistics. Method: A total of 884 games from the 2015–2016 to 2017–2018 seasons of the Spanish men’s professional league were analyzed using all games and clustered by scoring difference. Intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) was calculated for each variable. The number of games required to detect a change and to achieve good relative reliability was calculated using minimal detectable change and Spearman-Brown prophecy formula respectively. Results: Using all games, the results showed that the minimal number of games required in each group was 30 to detect a medium change (d > .5), 187 for a small change (d > .2), and 100 for good relative reliability (ICC ≥ .75). Using balanced and unbalanced games, the minimal number of games required in each group was respectively 31 and 30 to detect a medium change (d > .5), 190 and 188 for a small change (d > .2), and 191 and 121 for good relative reliability (ICC ≥ .75). Conclusions: The sample needs to consist of at least 30 games in each group to detect a medium size change, and at least 190 games to detect a small size change. To be able to rank teams with good reliability, at least 100 games are required when including both balanced and unbalanced games.

Wheelchair Basketball Competition Heart Rate Profile According to Players' Functional Classification, Tournament Level, Game Type, Game Quarter and Playing Time.

Heart rate is a popular parameter observed in team sports to plan training sessions with regard to load and sport specificity. Wheelchair basketball is an intermittent team game for physically impaired players. The study aim was to define heart rate profile of wheelchair basketball players in terms of their functional classification (category A: 1.0–2.5 points, category B: 3.0–4.5 points), tournament level (championships and friendly games), game type (close, balanced, and unbalanced), game quarter (1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th) and playing time (40–59%, 60–79%, and 80–100% in a quarter). Heart rate of 18 wheelchair basketball players was monitored in 22 games in four different tournaments, i.e., European Championships 2017, World Championships 2018, two friendly international tournaments of national teams (2017 and 2018). Heart rate (HRmean, HRpeak, %HRpeak, HRR, and %HRR) was monitored by Polar Team Pro (Kempele, Finland) during playing time on the court. Timeouts, quarter breaks, a half break, time on a bench were not taken into account in HR monitoring. The Kolmogorov–Smirnov test, the Mann–Whitney U test and the Kruskal–Wallis test were used. Fourteen players divided according to the classification into category A and B were included in the final calculations (n = 457 cases). Significantly higher HRmean, %HRpeak, HRpeak, and %HRR were noted among category B players, and higher %HRpeak and %HRR among category A players at the highest tournament level compared to friendly games. There were significant differences in %HRR and the percentage of time spent in HR zone I between the players with different playing time (40–59% versus 60–79%) in category B. No significant differences in HR were noted between four quarters. Among category A players, differences in HR in zone II were observed. Among category B players, statistically significant differences in % HRpeak, the percentage of time spent in HR zones I, II, III, and %HRR between close, balanced and unbalanced games were found. In conclusion, the intermittent nature of wheelchair basketball was confirmed. Monitoring heart rate in a game could be helpful in creating exercises with proper loads for better physical preparation of wheelchair basketball players. High intensity training sessions would be more beneficial in preparing players for game demands.

Only unbalanced games are affected by technical and tactical aspects able to discriminate winning and losing performance in women’s water polo Olympic Games

This study aimed to analyze technical and tactical parameters characterizing the women's water polo Olympic Games (Rio, Brazil, 2016) to discriminate winning and losing performance profile in general and according to close and unbalanced games with different margin of victory (i.e., ≤ or > of 3, 4, and 5 goals of difference between teams). Twenty-four games were analysed through the frequency of occurrence of the following technical and tactical indicators: goals scored (GS), goals scored and shots without goals inside (AsG, AsWG) and outside (5-mG, 5-mWG) the 5-m area, goals scored (5-mFG) and shots without goals (5-FWG) after a 5-m fouls, penalties scored (PS) and failed (PWG), turnovers (TO), assists (AS), blocked shots (BS), and counterattack goals (CG). Mann–Whitney U test was applied to compare the values of winning and losing teams for each indicator. Regardless of GS, no difference between teams emerged in close games. Conversely, for unbalanced games, differences between teams emerged for AS (p ≤ 0.001; effect size, ES ≥ 0.5) in each margin of victory, and for AsWG and 5-mWG (p ≤ 0.05; ES ≥ 0.3) in > 5 goals of margin of victory. The outcomes of women’s water polo Olympic close and unbalanced games are determined by not specific playing events, and few technical and tactical factors (such as AS), respectively. Therefore, top-level women’s water polo coaches and physical trainers can plan a sound training session according to specific game data reported for the Olympic Games contest.

GAME-RELATED STATISTICS THAT DISCRIMINATED WINNING AND LOSING TEAMS IN NLB LEAGUE

The purposes of this study were (I) to examine which game-related statistics can serve to discriminate between winning and losing teams according to final game outcome in NLB League basketball, and (II) to determine the differences in game-related statistics for teams who play in the NLB League and EuroLeague when they win and lose in two competitions. The game-related statistics that were analyzed are 2- and 3-point field-goals (both successful and unsuccessful), free-throws (both successful and unsuccessful), defensive and offensive rebounds, assists, turnovers, steals, blocks made, blocks received, fouls committed and fouls received. Results of the discriminant analysis showed that winning teams differ from losing teams in assists (SC=0.417), defensive rebounds (SC=0.399) and in successful 2-point (SC=0.355) and 3-point field goals (SC=0.325). In balanced games winning differ from losing teams in defensive rebounds (SC=0.388), successful 2-point field goals (SC=0.343) and blocks committed (SC=0.303), and in unbalanced games winners were better in assists (SC=0.434), defensive rebounds (SC=0.304) and successful 3-point field goals (SC=0.353). When the teams Partizan, Olimpija and Cibona played in the NLB League, the difference between wins and losses was in assists (SC=0.395), successful 2-point field goal attempts (SC=0.371) and defensive rebounds (SC=0.326). When they played in the EuroLeague, the difference was only in unsuccessful 2-point field goal attempts (SC=0.414) and blocks received (SC=0.318). Data obtained in this study may be useful for coaches in preparing their teams and analyzing opponents during preparations for competitions.

Matchmaking Problems in MOBA Games

&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;&lt;span lang="EN-US"&gt;MOBA is a popular genre that requires teamwork to achieve victory. A close and tight match is what make MOBA fun to play and increase its user satisfaction, but some factor may ruin the matchmaking and create unbalanced match between the two team. Those problems factors are high latency, players with bad attitude, and players doing unfamiliar role. We use DOTA 2 as our case study. Then we compare the DOTA 2 matchmaking system in other sector to make comparison. Lastly, we discuss about solution to solve MOBA matchmaking problem such as displaying live information about online players, players searching for games, servers online and ETA for gaming to start. In addition, we proposed new variable to be considered in the matchmaking system, which are Preferences Role, player’s chosen preferences role will be considered while the system set up the game to minimize the number of unbalanced games in MOBA.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

Game-related statistics which discriminate elite senior Gaelic football teams according to game outcome and final score difference

ABSTRACTThe aim of this study was to investigate the game-related statistics that discriminate winning and losing teams, and examine the influence of technical performance markers on final score margin in men’s senior Gaelic football. The sample comprised 28 games from 3 years (2015–2017) of the All Ireland Senior Football Championships. This sample was subdivided into close (n = 14) and unbalanced (n = 14) games and analysed using structure coefficients (SC). Across all games, fouls committed (SC = 0.56), goals (SC = 0.39) and total attacks (SC = 0.31) presented the highest discriminatory power. In close games (final score difference <6 points), total attacks (SC = 0.47), shot efficiency (SC = 0.56), goals (SC = 0.50), fouls committed (SC = 0.37) and black cards (SC = 0.43) contributed to winning. Unbalanced games yielded 8 statistics which discriminated winners from losers. In close games, attack efficiency (SC = 0.34), percentage of opposition kick-outs won (SC = 0.37) and yellow cards (SC = 0.32) were associated with winning and red cards (SC = −0.46) with losing. Total attacks and goals discriminated teams across all game contexts. The findings provide performance norms which can be utilised to evaluate and predict performance and inform in-game tactical decisions.

Scoring Strategies Differentiating between Winning and Losing Teams during FIBA EuroBasket Women 2017.

This study aimed to examine the scoring strategies differentiating between winning and losing teams during FIBA EuroBasket Women 2017 in relation to different game scores. Data were gathered for all games of FIBA EuroBasket Women 2017 from the official website. The investigated scoring strategies were fast break points (FBP); points in the paint (PP); points from turnover (PT); second chance points (SCP); and points from the bench (PB). Games were classified with cluster analysis based on their score difference as close, balanced, and unbalanced and the differences in the scoring strategies between winning and losing teams were assessed using magnitude-based statistics. Results revealed no substantial differences in FBP in any investigated cluster. Furthermore, winning teams showed a substantially higher number of PP and PT (in close and unbalanced games) and SCP (in balanced and unbalanced games) compared to losing teams. Finally, winning teams scored substantially lower and higher number of BPs in close games and unbalanced games, respectively, compared to losing teams. In conclusion, all the investigated scoring strategies discriminate between winning and losing teams in elite women’s basketball except for FBP. These results provide useful information for basketball coaches to optimize their training sessions and game strategies.

What is the difference between a winning and a losing team: insights from Euroleague basketball

The purpose of this study is to determine which game-related factors have the most influence on game outcome for basketball matches based on the 2016–2017 Euroleague season. Games are divided into three groups with cluster analysis based on final score differences. First, independent samples t-test is used to detect differences between winning and losing teams among game-related variables. Later, Bayesian Model Averaging is employed to determine key candidate variables. Finally, conditional interference classification trees are constructed for all game groups. According to classification tree results, true shooting percentage, steals and committed fouls separates winners from losers for the close games. While 2-point field goal made, 3-point field goal made, steals and defensive rebounds are crucial for the balanced games; 2-point field goal made and defensive rebounds are the most influential game statistics on the game outcome for the unbalanced games. The results from the classification trees implied that in close games, quality of the shots are more important than the quantity of shots, whereas, the inverse deduction can be made for balanced and unbalanced games. These results may show guidance to basketball coaches and players in terms of training and game preparation.