Help me be clear on NBA.com's "Play Type Statistics" so that I may make better "scouting" videos:
Posted: Tue Oct 20, 2015 11:51 pm
I intend to start making "scouting video" breakdowns on players that could do inside and out all-around play/everything. Such as Oscar Robertson, Elgin Baylor, Jerry West, or Connie Hawins. In order to do this and in order to improve the videos I make in general, I think I need to better understand the fundamental ways at least the NBA itself tends to "group" events that happen on the floor that lead to a player scoring points.
Here's NBA.com's "Play Type Statistics" that are supposed to be able to encapsulate all possible events that directly lead to a player making a basket:
http://stats.nba.com/playtype/#!/?PT=player&OD=offensive
Transition
When the possession-ending event comes before the defense sets following a possession change and a transition from one end of the court to the other.
Isolation
When the possession-ending event is created during a “one-on-one” matchup. The defender needs to be set and have all of his defensive options at the initiation of the play.
Pick & Roll: Ball Handler
A screen is set on the ball handler’s defender out on the perimeter. The offensive player can use the screen or go away from it and as long as the play yields a possession-ending event, it is tagged as a pick and roll.
Pick & Roll: Roll Man
When a screen is set for the ball handler, and the screen setter then receives the ball for a possession-ending event. This action can include: pick and rolls, pick and pops and the screener slipping the pick.
Post-Up
When an offensive player receives the ball with their back to the basket and is less than 15' from the rim when the possession-ending event occurs.
Spot-Up
When the possession-ending event is a catch-and-shoot or catch-and-drive play.
Hand-Off
The screen setter starts with the ball and hands the ball to a player cutting close by. This enables the player handing the ball off to effectively screen off a defender creating space for the player receiving the ball.
Cut
An interior play where the finisher catches a pass while moving toward, parallel to or slightly away from the basket. This will include back screen and flash cuts as well as times when the player is left open near the basket.
Off Screen
Identifies players coming off of screens (typically downs screens) going away from the basket toward the perimeter. This includes curl, fades, and coming off straight.
Offensive Rebound (putbacks)
When the rebounder attempts to score before passing the ball or establishing themselves in another play type.
Miscellaneous
When the action doesn't fit any of the other play types. This includes, but is not limited to, last second full court shots, fouls in the backcourt, or errant passes not out of a different play type, etc.
I have a few questions about certain types of plays.
* Under the category "Spot-Up" it includes catch-and-drive as a play type. What is an example of a catch and drive? Does it matter where the defender is? (IE if the defender is totally "ready" and set does it suddenly make it an isolation "one on one" play or is it still catch and drive if there's little to no hesitation on the "catch and drive"?)
* Under the category "Transition" do you think it includes a stolen inbound pass where the defense technically isn't set/ready even though the play technically didn't go from one basket to the other? Or would those fall under "miscellaneous"?
* Under the category "Pick and Roll: Ball Handler" it basically seems to imply any time a screen is set for you, as the ball handler, whether you choose to use it or not, if you score on that possession it's a "Pick and Roll" possession... even if no rolling to the basket is done!? I'm envisioning many plays where picks are set, and the ball handler runs his man by the screen and just pops off a shot... does that fall under this category? It must because that play doesn't fall under the other categories involving screens as those are all off-ball screen categories correct?
Here's NBA.com's "Play Type Statistics" that are supposed to be able to encapsulate all possible events that directly lead to a player making a basket:
http://stats.nba.com/playtype/#!/?PT=player&OD=offensive
Transition
When the possession-ending event comes before the defense sets following a possession change and a transition from one end of the court to the other.
Isolation
When the possession-ending event is created during a “one-on-one” matchup. The defender needs to be set and have all of his defensive options at the initiation of the play.
Pick & Roll: Ball Handler
A screen is set on the ball handler’s defender out on the perimeter. The offensive player can use the screen or go away from it and as long as the play yields a possession-ending event, it is tagged as a pick and roll.
Pick & Roll: Roll Man
When a screen is set for the ball handler, and the screen setter then receives the ball for a possession-ending event. This action can include: pick and rolls, pick and pops and the screener slipping the pick.
Post-Up
When an offensive player receives the ball with their back to the basket and is less than 15' from the rim when the possession-ending event occurs.
Spot-Up
When the possession-ending event is a catch-and-shoot or catch-and-drive play.
Hand-Off
The screen setter starts with the ball and hands the ball to a player cutting close by. This enables the player handing the ball off to effectively screen off a defender creating space for the player receiving the ball.
Cut
An interior play where the finisher catches a pass while moving toward, parallel to or slightly away from the basket. This will include back screen and flash cuts as well as times when the player is left open near the basket.
Off Screen
Identifies players coming off of screens (typically downs screens) going away from the basket toward the perimeter. This includes curl, fades, and coming off straight.
Offensive Rebound (putbacks)
When the rebounder attempts to score before passing the ball or establishing themselves in another play type.
Miscellaneous
When the action doesn't fit any of the other play types. This includes, but is not limited to, last second full court shots, fouls in the backcourt, or errant passes not out of a different play type, etc.
I have a few questions about certain types of plays.
* Under the category "Spot-Up" it includes catch-and-drive as a play type. What is an example of a catch and drive? Does it matter where the defender is? (IE if the defender is totally "ready" and set does it suddenly make it an isolation "one on one" play or is it still catch and drive if there's little to no hesitation on the "catch and drive"?)
* Under the category "Transition" do you think it includes a stolen inbound pass where the defense technically isn't set/ready even though the play technically didn't go from one basket to the other? Or would those fall under "miscellaneous"?
* Under the category "Pick and Roll: Ball Handler" it basically seems to imply any time a screen is set for you, as the ball handler, whether you choose to use it or not, if you score on that possession it's a "Pick and Roll" possession... even if no rolling to the basket is done!? I'm envisioning many plays where picks are set, and the ball handler runs his man by the screen and just pops off a shot... does that fall under this category? It must because that play doesn't fall under the other categories involving screens as those are all off-ball screen categories correct?