Ball screen effectiveness in elite women’s basketball

Abstract

Although ball screens are widely used in modern basketball, little is known about its efficiency in female competitions. In this study, we identified the predictors of success in ball screens considering time, space, player, task, and contextual related variables in elite women’s basketball. The sample comprised 1131 ball screens from 23 close games of the 2018/2019 Women’s Portuguese Basketball League. The following variables were considered: ball screen effectiveness (dependent variable), as well as quarter half, time possession remaining, quarter, zone, orientation, pair of execution, finishing action, defensive strategy, screen type, and offensive system (independent variables). Pearson’s Chi-square test was used to determine the effects of the independent variables on ball screen effectiveness, whereas classification tree analysis with exhaustive CHAID method was employed to identify the set of variables that best predicted the success in ball screens. Results showed that quarter half, time possession remaining, finishing action, defensive strategy, and offensive system were the best predictors of ball screen effectiveness. In conclusion, our findings highlight the importance of playing ball screens in transition (that is, in the first 8 s of the ball possession), at the beginning of each quarter (that is, first 5 min), and against slide through and hedge defensive strategies to excel in female basketball games. In addition, a drive from the ball handler, as well as a pop out from the screener were the finishing actions that ensured greater success after the ball screen. Findings improve our understanding on how ball screens must be played in female competitions. Hence, we argue that this information will be helpful for basketball coaches to make safer decisions when planning tactical strategies for their teams.