Abstract

The purpose of this study was both to record and assess the 1 on 1 situation and evaluate its role in modern basketball games. The sample was selected from 46 games played in: the 2001 men’s European bas- ketball championship (N=20) that took place in Turkey, and the 2003 men’s European basketball champion- ship (N=26) that took place in Sweden; from these games, 7302 offenses were analyzed. The parameters of the analyses were a) the way of carrying out the offense, b) the way in which 1 on 1 situation is executed both in general an in relation to the player’s position, c) the frequency of 1 on 1 situation for each playing position in relation to both winners and losers. For the data analysis the non-parametric test χ2 (chi-square) was used, the significance level was being set at p<.05. The results showed that 1 on 1 situations, facing the basket, were the most common way of attacking. The analysis also showed that guards (point guards, shoot- ing guards and small forwards) tended to use the one on one situation, facing the basket; while power for- wards and centers, although often playing facing the basket, tended to use the post up game more than the other players. The results of the study showed that the 1on 1 situation is the most frequently used offensive situation irrespective of the tactics chosen by the coaches.

Key words: basketball, offensive actions, video analysis