The main purpose of this master's thesis was to analyze and determine the structure of assists by the best men's basketball teams at the 2022 European Championship. The goal was to investigate whether there are differences in the number of assists received and given among different playing positions, analyze the various ways assists are executed, and examine the passer's location and the shooter's movement before receiving the assist. Additionally, we included a comparison of the percentage of assists involving a third player and the difference in the average number of assists between winning and losing teams.
The research included 640 assists performed by the 16 best teams of that year, who made it to the final part of the competition. The data was obtained in the form of video recordings using the Synergy Sports video-analytical tool. The assist recordings were then categorized into a table based on observed criteria. This data was processed using Microsoft Excel and IBM SPSS.
The analysis results showed that there are differences in the number of assists received and given among different playing positions. Most assists were executed by players while in motion, with a smaller portion executed from a stationary position. For scoring passes, players predominantly used passes while dribbling, and two-handed passes accounted for 53.8% of all assists compared to one-handed passes. The vast majority (80.6%) of assists were executed directly without bouncing off the floor. The most frequently chosen location for assists was above the free-throw line, with the paint being the second most common area, while assists from the wings were less frequent. When seeking a good shooting opportunity, players used various movements before receiving the assist equally, with a slight prevalence of finding open space over cutting. The involvement of a third player in assists was not common, occurring in only 21.9% of cases. Winning teams had, on average, one more assist per game than losing teams.
The results provide a clear picture of the structure of assists among the best European teams. From this, we can determine the trends in the use of this basketball element. Given the lack of research in this area, the obtained results will aid in further research.
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