How can the number of (Offensive) Possessions differ between two teams in the same game?

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WestGOAT
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How can the number of (Offensive) Possessions differ between two teams in the same game? 

Post#1 » by WestGOAT » Mon Aug 21, 2023 3:19 pm

I was reading the following:https://squared2020.com/2017/11/25/offensive-and-defensive-ratings/

Snippet:
Cleveland 102, Boston 99
On opening night, the Cleveland Cavaliers obtained 98 offensive possessions to Boston’s 95 possessions.

Are these extra possessions resulting from plays at the end of a quarter? Basically teams that successfully pulled off a "2 for 1" play? Would 1 be the max difference in offensive possessions in a quarter? So it's expected to be 4 at the most in a regular 48-min game?
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Re: How can the number of (Offensive) Possessions differ between two teams in the same game? 

Post#2 » by Squared2020 » Sat Aug 26, 2023 5:27 am

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Re: How can the number of (Offensive) Possessions differ between two teams in the same game? 

Post#3 » by Fencer reregistered » Sun Oct 27, 2024 2:59 pm

WestGOAT wrote:I was reading the following:https://squared2020.com/2017/11/25/offensive-and-defensive-ratings/

Snippet:
Cleveland 102, Boston 99
On opening night, the Cleveland Cavaliers obtained 98 offensive possessions to Boston’s 95 possessions.

Are these extra possessions resulting from plays at the end of a quarter? Basically teams that successfully pulled off a "2 for 1" play? Would 1 be the max difference in offensive possessions in a quarter? So it's expected to be 4 at the most in a regular 48-min game?


The source you're referring to would max out at 2. Maybe the team that started the quarter with the ball also finishes with it, so that it has an extra possession. Or maybe that doesn't happen. So any given team can be anywhere from +2 to -2 from that source alone.

Also -- do flagrant fouls create extra possessions?
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