NBA - Run the Court of Half Court Offense

**mattmc419** · 02-07-11, 03:31 AM

NBA Stats - NBA Team Possessions per Game | TeamRankings.com

http://www.teamrankings.com/nba/stat/possessions-per-game

NBA possessions per game, by team.

This breaks it down by number of possessions a team has per game on average. This corresponds directly to their pace on the offensive end.

**Derrick Bros** · 02-07-11, 03:34 AM

Originally posted by mattmc419

http://www.teamrankings.com/nba/stat...sions-per-game This breaks it down by number of possessions a team has per game on average. This corresponds directly to their pace on the offensive end.

Thx for the quick response, but can you explain how number of possessions per game correlates to if a team likes to run the court vs run half court offense?

**mattmc419** · 02-07-11, 03:41 AM

Well, since there's only 48 minutes per game, teams with a higher number of offensive possessions have to spend less time per possession, aka shoot earlier in the clock. A fast break burns very little time and allows more possessions within the game.

Getting steals/forcing turnovers also increases the possession count, and will often lead to fast break opportunities as well.

Looking at the list, it really does do a good job of showing pace. For example, everyone knows Phoenix and Minnesota play quickly and get shots up early, whereas teams like Boston, Detroit, etc play in a half court offense to slow the game down (and therefore fewer possessions)

**Derrick Bros** · 02-07-11, 03:45 AM

Thanks for the response.. Points as promised.

**mattmc419** · 02-07-11, 03:51 AM

Thanks!

Replied to your PM with some more information on my take on totals. I don't mess with them much in basketball, but maybe it'll be useful.

**Glitch** · 02-07-11, 08:14 AM

Originally posted by mattmc419

http://www.teamrankings.com/nba/stat...sions-per-game

This breaks it down by number of possessions a team has per game on average. This corresponds directly to their pace on the offensive end.

wow what a site.