Ayrton Oneill
Possession is a critical aspect of basketball, influencing strategies and determining the outcome of the game. Each team aims for efficient use of possessions to maximise their scoring opportunities. The number of possessions can be influenced by various factors, such as the pace of the game, offensive rebounds, free throws, and the ability to secure the last shot of a quarter. Understanding the nuances of possession and developing strategies to optimise possession utilisation are key focuses for coaches and players alike. This topic delves into the strategic depths of basketball, showcasing the intricate interplay between possession, analytics, and in-game decision-making.
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What You'll Learn
The importance of possession in basketball
Possession is a fundamental part of basketball, with the game revolving around teams trading possessions back and forth. Each team's possession starts when they have or pass the ball, and ends when there is a field goal attempt or the opposing team gains possession. The team with the ball can dribble, pass, or shoot. The offensive team aims to score, while the defensive team tries to prevent them.
Possession is key to understanding basketball analytics. Pace, offensive efficiency, and defensive efficiency metrics are all based on possession calculations. Possession counts are adjusted to 100 to calculate offensive and defensive efficiency numbers. Points per Possession (PPP) is a useful statistic, but it can lose interpretability with too many decimal places. Therefore, other metrics such as Offensive Rating or Defensive Rating are used, which standardizes PPP over 100 possessions.
The number of possessions is often more important than the style of play. For example, a team may opt for a wide-open layup under 30 seconds and rely on their defense to get a stop, rather than taking a 15-foot jump shot and risking giving the opposing team a chance to score. Getting the last shot of each quarter can also be crucial, as it can potentially result in three more possessions than your opponent, which could lead to a significant point swing.
The more possessions a team is successful in, the more likely they are to win. Therefore, understanding how to gain more possessions is vital for teams. The alternating-possession procedure, or possession arrow, is used in college basketball to put the ball in play with a throw-in rather than a jump ball. The possession arrow is reset in overtime, adhering to the same format as the start of the game.
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Strategies for getting more possessions
Possession is a critical aspect of basketball, and gaining more possessions than your opponent can significantly influence the outcome of the game. Here are some strategies to achieve that:
Understand Possession Mechanics:
Firstly, it's crucial to understand how possessions are counted and managed in basketball. A possession is typically considered to end with a made shot, a defensive rebound, a turnover, an end-of-quarter buzzer, or a foul. Offensive rebounds don't initiate new possessions, so they are excluded from possession calculations. Understanding these mechanics will help you make strategic decisions to maximize your team's possessions.
Focus on Efficient Offense:
Basketball is a game of efficiency when it comes to possessions. Instead of maximizing possessions, aim to make the most of each possession. This involves selecting high-efficiency plays that increase your chances of scoring. For example, a pick-and-roll play often leads to an easy shot and is more efficient than a long two-point jump shot. By increasing your offensive efficiency, you can extract more value from each possession.
Prioritize Quality Shots:
Encourage your team to take quality shots, especially when there is ample time left on the clock. Taking rushed or low-percentage shots can result in turnovers and reduce your overall offensive efficiency. Assess the situation, and if a quality shot opportunity is available, take it. Otherwise, rely on your defense to retain possession and create a better scoring chance.
Take Advantage of Last Shots:
Timing your shots strategically can give you an edge in possessions. Aim to get the last shot of the first three quarters. This simple tactic can potentially give you three more possessions than your opponent, which could result in a significant point swing. Even if you don't make every shot, preventing the other team from responding right away can be advantageous.
Control the Tempo:
The team that controls the tempo often has a higher chance of winning. Implement strategies that allow you to dictate the pace of the game. This may involve utilizing different offensive schemes, such as the Open Post Offense, to catch the defense off guard and create more scoring opportunities. By controlling the tempo, you can also manage the number of possessions and ensure your team gets more chances to score.
Utilize Defensive Strategies:
Focus on defensive techniques that disrupt your opponent's possession flow. Steals and drawing offensive fouls can be highly effective. Not only do they add value to your team by increasing your possession count, but they also decrease your opponent's expected efficiency. A strong defense can create more scoring opportunities for your team by limiting your opponent's ability to score.
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The relationship between possession and pace
Possession and pace are two of the most important metrics in basketball analytics. Possession is the unit of measurement for many advanced statistics, and pace is the total number of possessions a team uses in a game.
The average League Pace is around 74 possessions per game. By comparing team paces, we can identify the fastest and slowest teams. For instance, Brindisi is the fastest, while Sassari is the slowest.
Understanding the relationship between possession and pace is crucial for effective coaching and strategy development. Some coaches prioritize the number of possessions over shooting opportunities, especially in the fourth quarter when the game's outcome may be determined. Getting the last shot of a quarter can also be advantageous, as it can potentially result in more possessions and a significant point swing.
Additionally, the team that controls the tempo has a greater chance of winning. This can involve utilizing strategies such as the Open Post Offense to exploit lazy defense and create scoring opportunities. Different coaching styles and philosophies may also influence the approach to possessions and pace.
In summary, possession and pace are interconnected aspects of basketball that significantly impact the flow and outcome of a game. By understanding this relationship, coaches and analysts can make more informed decisions to optimize their team's performance.
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The impact of offensive rebounds on possession
Offensive rebounds have a significant impact on possession in basketball. A rebound occurs when a player retrieves the basketball after a missed shot attempt, providing the offensive team with a second chance to score. Offensive rebounds are highly valuable as they reset the shot clock, giving the offensive team extended possession and an increased chance to score. This leads to a positive possession differential, which results in more scoring opportunities and a higher chance of victory.
The value of offensive rebounds is further highlighted in possession formulas. These formulas consider factors such as field goal attempts, free throw attempts, offensive rebounds, and turnovers to estimate team possessions. Offensive rebounds are crucial in extending possessions and are often weighted heavily in these calculations.
Additionally, offensive rebounds contribute to a team's offensive efficiency. By securing offensive rebounds, teams can increase their scoring opportunities and improve their offensive performance. This is reflected in metrics such as points per possession (PPP), which considers the impact of offensive rebounds on subsequent possessions and overall scoring output.
Overall, offensive rebounds play a pivotal role in basketball strategy. They directly influence a team's possession count, providing extended possession periods and increasing the likelihood of scoring. Teams that excel in offensive rebounding often gain a competitive advantage, showcasing the significant impact of offensive rebounds on possession and, ultimately, the outcome of the game.
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How possession differs in college basketball
In college basketball, the possession arrow is used to determine which team gets the ball when there is a question of possession. This is different from the NBA and WNBA, which use a jump ball to resolve possession disputes. In a jump ball, the ball is tossed into the air between two opposing players, who then attempt to gain control of it.
The possession arrow is used in college basketball to speed up the game and prevent players from getting hurt or having a size mismatch during a jump ball. Each team alternates possession based on the arrow for every situation in which there is a question of possession. The arrow points towards one team's bench and then flips to the other team after possession has been established.
If the ball goes out of bounds on its own or off the hands of a player, possession is awarded to the other team. In the case of a tie-up before either team has gained possession, a new jump ball is held.
The possession arrow is reset during overtime, which begins with a jump ball. If additional overtime periods are needed, the arrow is reset again after the initial jump ball.
The use of the possession arrow in college basketball adds an interesting dynamic to the game, as it can be a team's best friend or worst enemy. While it can help speed up the game and prevent injuries, it can also lead to a team losing possession at a crucial time.
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Frequently asked questions
Increasing possessions can be done by getting the last shot of each quarter. This can potentially lead to a significant point swing in your favour. Additionally, focusing on getting rebounds and drawing fouls can extend your team's possession.
Possession is crucial because basketball is a game of efficiency. Each team gets a similar number of possessions, so maximising the value of each possession is key to winning.
The number of possessions directly impacts your team's pace. A higher number of possessions indicates a faster pace and vice versa. Therefore, if you want to play at a faster pace, focus on increasing your team's possessions.
The number of possessions can be calculated by dividing the total number of possessions by the minutes played and then multiplying by 40. This formula can be used even for games that go into overtime.
