The Role of Time-Outs in Shaping Basketball Performance: A Euroleague Perspective / Molaların Basketbol Performansını Şekillendirmedeki Rolü: Bir Euroleague Perspektifi: The Role of Time-Outs in Shaping Basketball Performance

Erkan KONCA; Necati Alp ERİLLİ

Authors

Erkan KONCA Sivas Cumhuriyet Üniversitesi
Necati Alp ERİLLİ

Keywords:

Basketball, analysis, training science, performance, euroleague, Analiz, Antrenman Bilimi, EuroLeague, Performans, Basketbol

Abstract

ABSTRACT

Aim: This research aims to evaluate the strategic impact of time-outs on scoring efficiency in basketball. It analyzes the first five offensive possessions following each time-out and examines how factors such as time-out type, game period, and home/away status influence outcomes. The primary objective is to identify which post-timeout actions are most effective in generating points.

Material and Method: The dataset includes 2,773 time-outs recorded during the 2023–2024 EuroLeague season, covering regular season, play-in, playoffs, and Final Four matches. The analysis focused on the first five possessions by the team that called the time-out. Each possession was coded as positive (resulting in points) or negative (no points scored). The Kolmogorov–Smirnov test was used to assess normality. For multiple comparisons, the Kruskal–Wallis test and Bonferroni-adjusted Dunn post-hoc test were applied. Categorical variables were analyzed using the chi-square test. All analyses were conducted using SPSS 25 at a 0.05 significance level.

Results: : Action 1 yielded the highest scoring efficiency, with statistically significant results particularly in the second quarter and overtime (p < 0.05). Action 2 showed reduced effectiveness, while TV time-outs had no significant impact. Differences were also observed between home and away team performance, indicating the influence of crowd pressure.

Conclusion: Post-timeout actions carry not only tactical but also psychological importance. Coaches are advised to design structured offensive sets to maximize the first action and prepare for defensive adjustments. These findings provide valuable insights for optimizing in-game strategies in modern basketball.

Keywords: Analysis, Basketball, EuroLeague, Performance, Training Science

ÖZET

Amaç: Bu araştırma, basketbolda molaların sayı verimliliği üzerindeki stratejik etkisini değerlendirmeyi amaçlamaktadır. Molayı izleyen ilk beş hücumun sonuçları incelenerek; mola türü, maç periyodu ve ev sahibi/deplasman durumu gibi değişkenlerin bu hücumlara etkisi ortaya konulmaya çalışılmıştır. Araştırmanın temel hedefi, hangi aksiyonların sayı üretimi açısından daha etkili olduğunu belirlemektir.

Materyal ve Metod: Veriler, 2023–2024 EuroLeague sezonunda oynanan normal sezon, play-in, playoff ve Final Four maçlarında kullanılan toplam 2.773 moladan elde edilmiştir. Her molayı takiben, molayı alan takımın gerçekleştirdiği ilk beş hücum analiz edilmiş; bu hücumlar sayı ile sonuçlandıysa “pozitif”, sonuçlanmadıysa “negatif” olarak kodlanmıştır. Verilerin normalliği Kolmogorov–Smirnov testi ile değerlendirilmiştir. Ardından çoklu karşılaştırmalar için Kruskal–Wallis testi, anlamlı farklar için Bonferroni düzeltmeli Dunn testi; kategorik değişkenler için ise ki-kare testi uygulanmıştır. Tüm analizler SPSS 25 programında gerçekleştirilmiş, anlamlılık düzeyi 0.05 olarak belirlenmiştir.

Bulgular: Aksiyon 1, en yüksek skor katkısını sağlamış; bu etki özellikle ikinci çeyrek ve uzatma periyotlarında anlamlı bulunmuştur (p < 0.05). Aksiyon 2'de verimlilik düşmüş, TV molalarının etkisi önemsiz bulunmuştur. Ev sahibi ve deplasman performansları arasında fark gözlemlenmiştir.

Sonuç: Mola sonrası aksiyonlar, yalnızca taktiksel değil, psikolojik yönleriyle de stratejik önem taşımaktadır. Antrenörlerin, ilk aksiyonu maksimize edecek hücum yapıları planlaması ve savunma uyumlarına karşı hazırlıklı olması önerilmektedir.

Anahtar Kelimeler: Analiz, Antrenman Bilimi, Basketbol, EuroLeague, Performans,

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URL-1: Euroleague Basketball official website. Date of Access: November 10-20, 2024, from https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/

The Role of Time-Outs in Shaping Basketball Performance: A Euroleague Perspective / Molaların Basketbol Performansını Şekillendirmedeki Rolü: Bir Euroleague Perspektifi