Eurobasket 2009: advanced statistics after group phase
After six rounds of Eurobasket play, here is my second part focusing on advanced team statistics. The first part had concentrated on offensive efficiency, which is why I decided to include defense and rebounding into this one.
Most of the categories include pace adjustment [per team possessions], which allows a more accurate look than the common per game statistics. Looking at oppositions’ production in games versus respective teams allows conclusions regarding defense in particular, as well as a more accurate calculation of rebounding strength.
I also calculated advanced individual statistics, which you can find by choosing a team from the list below.
Bulgaria, Croatia, FYROM, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Israel, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Russia, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain, Turkey
Click on head row to sort a column
General, Scoring
| TEAM | G | P/G | P/G(OP) | PDIFF/G | TPS/G | P/TPS | FG% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Poland | 6 | 74,17 | 80,50 | -06,33 | 71,92 | 1,031 | 0,457 |
| Slovenia | 6 | 77,00 | 67,17 | 09,83 | 67,45 | 1,142 | 0,487 |
| Spain | 6 | 77,50 | 71,17 | 06,33 | 73,43 | 1,055 | 0,457 |
| Turkey | 6 | 77,33 | 67,33 | 10,00 | 68,55 | 1,128 | 0,468 |
| Bulgaria | 3 | 71,00 | 89,33 | -18,33 | 74,89 | 0,948 | 0,381 |
| Croatia | 6 | 73,83 | 73,83 | 00,00 | 68,67 | 1,075 | 0,441 |
| France | 6 | 73,33 | 64,17 | 09,17 | 68,82 | 1,066 | 0,460 |
| FYROM | 6 | 69,83 | 79,17 | -09,33 | 73,13 | 0,955 | 0,402 |
| Germany | 6 | 70,33 | 75,17 | -04,83 | 71,72 | 0,981 | 0,433 |
| Great Britain | 3 | 64,67 | 77,67 | -13,00 | 65,91 | 0,981 | 0,466 |
| Greece | 6 | 81,00 | 69,50 | 11,50 | 71,27 | 1,137 | 0,500 |
| Israel | 3 | 79,33 | 91,33 | -12,00 | 75,97 | 1,044 | 0,544 |
| Latvia | 3 | 62,33 | 67,67 | -05,33 | 72,28 | 0,862 | 0,358 |
| Russia | 6 | 69,83 | 67,67 | 02,17 | 68,69 | 1,017 | 0,430 |
| Lithuania | 6 | 73,67 | 82,17 | -08,50 | 73,90 | 0,997 | 0,450 |
| Serbia | 6 | 73,67 | 69,33 | 04,33 | 70,70 | 1,042 | 0,423 |
G = games; P/G = points per game; P/G(OP) = oppositions’ points per game; PDIFF/G = point difference ; TPS/G = team possessions per game, an estimate origining in the formula = (TmFGA – TmOR + TmTO + (0,47*TmFTA))/G ; P/TPS = points per team possession. Estimates pace adjusted offensive efficiency ; FG% = field goal percentage
I added points per game in order to make visible point difference, but the better measuring stick for offensive production is points per team possessions [P/TPS]. As for point difference, Greece is top with an 11.5 point margin, followed by Turkey. Anyway, the statement power of this statistical category is rather limited. A look at possessions per game [TPS/G], which allows conclusions regarding a team’s pace, offers interesting observations however. 7 of the top 8 in this category are already eliminated, Spain being the lone exception. In contrary, that means that from the 8 slowest teams in this tournament, 7 have made the quarter finals. An observation that goes in line with the Euroleague statistics I did prior to last season’s Final Four: With lone exceptions, the best teams play slow.
Points per possessions [P/TPS], is probably the best tool to measure offensive efficiency, and Slovenia, which plays the second slowest offense of all 16 participants, has taken over first place here, scoring 1,142 points per possession. As far as quarter final participants go, Russia has the lowest efficiency on offense, but as we will see later, defense is where they excel instead.
More Scoring
| TEAM | G | 3FGA/G | 3FG% | 3FG/FG | FT/FG | FTA/TPS | FT% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Poland | 6 | 22,17 | 0,361 | 0,345 | 0,174 | 0,155 | 0,672 |
| Slovenia | 6 | 26,17 | 0,389 | 0,455 | 0,270 | 0,230 | 0,699 |
| Spain | 6 | 20,67 | 0,363 | 0,352 | 0,420 | 0,336 | 0,662 |
| Turkey | 6 | 22,00 | 0,348 | 0,372 | 0,349 | 0,301 | 0,694 |
| Bulgaria | 3 | 24,00 | 0,236 | 0,330 | 0,202 | 0,196 | 0,682 |
| Croatia | 6 | 15,33 | 0,391 | 0,271 | 0,438 | 0,362 | 0,718 |
| France | 6 | 17,17 | 0,359 | 0,307 | 0,457 | 0,371 | 0,621 |
| FYROM | 6 | 24,83 | 0,309 | 0,410 | 0,344 | 0,285 | 0,648 |
| Germany | 6 | 24,33 | 0,390 | 0,433 | 0,318 | 0,249 | 0,682 |
| Great Britain | 3 | 14,67 | 0,432 | 0,273 | 0,261 | 0,212 | 0,595 |
| Greece | 6 | 19,00 | 0,351 | 0,345 | 0,494 | 0,381 | 0,712 |
| Israel | 3 | 13,33 | 0,375 | 0,237 | 0,314 | 0,233 | 0,736 |
| Latvia | 3 | 21,67 | 0,292 | 0,401 | 0,549 | 0,410 | 0,584 |
| Russia | 6 | 18,50 | 0,342 | 0,346 | 0,505 | 0,393 | 0,648 |
| Lithuania | 6 | 21,33 | 0,305 | 0,363 | 0,340 | 0,271 | 0,708 |
| Serbia | 6 | 23,67 | 0,331 | 0,400 | 0,355 | 0,297 | 0,754 |
G = games; 3FGA/G = three point field goal attempts per game ; 3FG% = three point field goal percentage ; 3FG/FG = three point field goal percentage divided through overall field goal attempts. Allows conclusions on how big a part of the offense the three point shot is ; FT/FG = free throw attempts per field goal attempts. Allows conclusions on whether or not a team is able to go to the line at a high rate ; FTA/TPS = free throw attempts divided through team possessions. More accurate than FTA/G, since pace adjustment
As for the characteristics of an offense, Slovenia is first in three point attempts per field goal attempts [3FG/FG], with 45,5 percent of their field goal attempts being three pointers. That is an incredibly high value, and it also shows in their lack of ability to go the free throw line [FT/FG], but if you are making those shots on 38,9 percent, as Slovenia does, there is nothing to complain … so far. Lets hope for Slovenia that the shots keep falling. Croatia and France are not relying on the three instead.
Latvia, Russia and Greece are meanwhile the teams that go to the free throw line on a consistent basis, but it didn’t really pay off for Latvia and Russia [so far], since they have shot 58,4 percent and 64,8 percent from the stripe respectively. Greece has an average free throw percentage at 71,2 percent. Poland had problems going to the line: 17,2 percent is an extremely low ratio.
Assists, Turnovers, Efficiency
| TEAM | G | A/G | A/TPS | A/TO | TO/G | TO/TPS | EFF/G |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Poland | 6 | 17,17 | 0,239 | 1,36 | 12,67 | 0,176 | 85,33 |
| Slovenia | 6 | 15,83 | 0,235 | 1,56 | 10,17 | 0,151 | 88,83 |
| Spain | 6 | 17,67 | 0,241 | 1,22 | 14,50 | 0,197 | 88,17 |
| Turkey | 6 | 12,83 | 0,187 | 1,24 | 10,33 | 0,151 | 87,00 |
| Bulgaria | 3 | 11,67 | 0,156 | 0,90 | 13,00 | 0,174 | 67,33 |
| Croatia | 6 | 14,33 | 0,209 | 1,23 | 11,67 | 0,170 | 78,00 |
| France | 6 | 15,33 | 0,223 | 1,23 | 12,50 | 0,182 | 82,17 |
| FYROM | 6 | 10,00 | 0,137 | 0,83 | 12,00 | 0,164 | 63,83 |
| Germany | 6 | 12,00 | 0,167 | 0,83 | 14,50 | 0,202 | 69,50 |
| Great Britain | 3 | 11,33 | 0,172 | 0,83 | 13,67 | 0,207 | 61,33 |
| Greece | 6 | 14,33 | 0,201 | 1,19 | 12,00 | 0,168 | 92,50 |
| Israel | 3 | 16,67 | 0,219 | 1,09 | 15,33 | 0,202 | 84,33 |
| Latvia | 3 | 11,67 | 0,161 | 0,83 | 14,00 | 0,194 | 55,00 |
| Russia | 6 | 12,17 | 0,177 | 0,90 | 13,50 | 0,197 | 74,33 |
| Lithuania | 6 | 15,33 | 0,207 | 0,95 | 16,17 | 0,219 | 78,33 |
| Serbia | 6 | 16,17 | 0,229 | 1,33 | 12,17 | 0,172 | 83,17 |
G = games; A/G = assists per game; A/TPS = assists per team possessions. More accurate than A/G, since pace adjustment ; A/TO = assists per turnovers ; TO/G = turnovers per game ; TO/TPS = turnovers per team possessions. More accurate than TO/G, since pace adjustment ; EFF/G = effieciency per game
As for assists, two fast paced teams – Spain and Poland – are leading in assists per possession [A/TPS], while two slow-paced teams – Slovenia and France – are next. As for taking care of the basketball, Russia and Spain are having difficutlies, ranking at 5 and 6 among all sixteen teams, while – again – Slovenia and Turkey are topping the rankings with lowest turnovers per possessions [TO/TPS] ratios.
Defense
| TEAM | G | TPS/G(OP) | P/TPS(OP) | S/TPS-OP | B/TPS-OP | F/TPS-OP | FG%(OP) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Poland | 6 | 72,05 | 1,117 | 0,060 | 0,053 | 0,252 | 0,473 |
| Slovenia | 6 | 68,71 | 0,978 | 0,078 | 0,032 | 0,301 | 0,413 |
| Spain | 6 | 72,55 | 0,981 | 0,094 | 0,055 | 0,241 | 0,429 |
| Turkey | 6 | 68,16 | 0,988 | 0,103 | 0,044 | 0,293 | 0,426 |
| Bulgaria | 3 | 74,20 | 1,204 | 0,090 | 0,031 | 0,279 | 0,508 |
| Croatia | 6 | 69,00 | 1,070 | 0,075 | 0,036 | 0,343 | 0,479 |
| France | 6 | 69,48 | 0,924 | 0,094 | 0,046 | 0,338 | 0,395 |
| FYROM | 6 | 72,28 | 1,095 | 0,099 | 0,021 | 0,288 | 0,529 |
| Germany | 6 | 70,19 | 1,071 | 0,069 | 0,028 | 0,382 | 0,456 |
| Great Britain | 3 | 65,38 | 1,188 | 0,066 | 0,051 | 0,367 | 0,500 |
| Greece | 6 | 71,30 | 0,975 | 0,122 | 0,028 | 0,285 | 0,429 |
| Israel | 3 | 77,40 | 1,180 | 0,060 | 0,017 | 0,306 | 0,495 |
| Latvia | 3 | 70,95 | 0,954 | 0,075 | 0,028 | 0,315 | 0,406 |
| Russia | 6 | 70,00 | 0,967 | 0,095 | 0,057 | 0,350 | 0,380 |
| Lithuania | 6 | 75,43 | 1,089 | 0,086 | 0,031 | 0,256 | 0,465 |
| Serbia | 6 | 69,66 | 0,995 | 0,110 | 0,026 | 0,328 | 0,444 |
G = games; TPS/G(OP) = opponents’ possessions per game ; P/TPS(OP) = opponents’ points per team possessions. Allows conclusions on defensive efficiency. More accurate than P/G(OP) since pace adjustment ; S/TPS-OP = own team’s steals divided through oppositions’ possessions per game; B/TPS-OP = own team’s blocks divided through oppositions’ possessions per game; F/TPS-OP = own team’s fouls divided through oppositions’ possessions per game; FG%(OP) = oppositions’ field goal percentage
To allow conclusions on defensive performance, we are mostly looking at opponents’ stats. Going pace-adjusted, France, Latvia, Russia, Greece and Slovenia are allowing the fewest points per possession [P/TPS(OP)]. Russia forces the lowest field goal percentage [FG%(OP], followed by France. Steals, blocks, and fouls per opponents’ possessions do not really allow drawing a conclusion on defensive performance. We cannot say that teams that steal more usually up on top. It is just a characteristic, nothing more.
More defense
| TEAM | G | 3FG%(OP) | 3FG/FG(OP) | FTA/TPS(OP) | FT/FG(OP) | A/TPS(OP) | A/TO(OP) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Poland | 6 | 0,362 | 0,345 | 0,208 | 0,225 | 0,217 | 1,774 |
| Slovenia | 6 | 0,305 | 0,338 | 0,264 | 0,312 | 0,194 | 1,081 |
| Spain | 6 | 0,298 | 0,399 | 0,207 | 0,238 | 0,191 | 0,976 |
| Turkey | 6 | 0,326 | 0,429 | 0,249 | 0,304 | 0,203 | 0,976 |
| Bulgaria | 3 | 0,408 | 0,380 | 0,283 | 0,337 | 0,256 | 1,326 |
| Croatia | 6 | 0,373 | 0,431 | 0,324 | 0,431 | 0,191 | 0,940 |
| France | 6 | 0,305 | 0,359 | 0,331 | 0,419 | 0,149 | 0,747 |
| FYROM | 6 | 0,387 | 0,281 | 0,293 | 0,384 | 0,237 | 1,272 |
| Germany | 6 | 0,378 | 0,347 | 0,465 | 0,613 | 0,169 | 1,092 |
| Great Britain | 3 | 0,344 | 0,416 | 0,403 | 0,513 | 0,270 | 1,514 |
| Greece | 6 | 0,325 | 0,332 | 0,248 | 0,301 | 0,180 | 0,928 |
| Israel | 3 | 0,400 | 0,361 | 0,332 | 0,397 | 0,228 | 1,514 |
| Latvia | 3 | 0,365 | 0,382 | 0,338 | 0,436 | 0,179 | 0,927 |
| Russia | 6 | 0,307 | 0,321 | 0,360 | 0,425 | 0,169 | 0,973 |
| Lithuania | 6 | 0,401 | 0,367 | 0,214 | 0,251 | 0,250 | 1,378 |
| Serbia | 6 | 0,346 | 0,312 | 0,321 | 0,402 | 0,182 | 0,962 |
G = games; 3FG%(OP) = oppositions’ three point field goal percentage ; 3FG/FG(OP) = oppositions’ three point field goal attmepts divided through their overall field goal attempts ; FTA/TPS(OP) = oppositions’ free throw attempts per their team possessions ; FT/FG(OP) = oppositions’ free throw attempts divided through their field goal attempts ; A/TPS(OP) = oppositions’ assists per team possessions. More accurate since pace adjustment ; A/TO = oppositions’ asssists/turnover ratio
Spain is forcing the lowest three point percentage on opponents [FG%(OP)], and the same time Scariolo’s team is forcing opponents to 39,9 percent three point field goals / field goals ratio [3FG/FG(OP)], which is a very healthy combination, at least for Spain. Croatia meanwhile is having difficulties defending the perimeter game. Opponents are shooting a high number of three pointers, and making a comparably high percentage [37,3] of those. As for defensive characteristics, Russia is not forcing a whole lot of three pointers, but they are forcing opponents to the line frequently [FTA/TPS(OP)], coming third in the rankings after Great Britain and Germany.
Disrupting an offense/stopping the opponents’ rhythm is decisive, and consequently, France and Russia are topping this ranking as well, allowing only 0,149 and 0,169 assists respectively per oppositions’ possession [A/TPS(OP)]. Turkey is lowest here among all quarter final participants.
Rebounding
| TEAM | G | TR/G | TR/G(OP) | TRDIFF | OR% | DR% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Poland | 6 | 37,00 | 36,50 | 0,50 | 0,281 | 0,281 | |
| Slovenia | 6 | 32,83 | 33,50 | -0,67 | 0,245 | 0,290 | |
| Spain | 6 | 36,83 | 34,33 | 2,50 | 0,333 | 0,314 | |
| Turkey | 6 | 35,00 | 33,33 | 1,67 | 0,314 | 0,291 | |
| Bulgaria | 3 | 38,33 | 42,00 | -3,67 | 0,373 | 0,374 | |
| Croatia | 6 | 32,50 | 29,50 | 3,00 | 0,338 | 0,257 | |
| France | 6 | 36,17 | 32,00 | 4,17 | 0,343 | 0,288 | |
| FYROM | 6 | 30,83 | 36,00 | -5,17 | 0,236 | 0,226 | |
| Germany | 6 | 32,33 | 34,50 | -2,17 | 0,226 | 0,272 | |
| Great Britain | 3 | 25,67 | 32,67 | -7,00 | 0,261 | 0,361 | |
| Greece | 6 | 33,83 | 30,50 | 3,33 | 0,288 | 0,273 | |
| Israel | 3 | 28,00 | 32,33 | -4,33 | 0,158 | 0,314 | |
| Latvia | 3 | 34,67 | 35,00 | -0,33 | 0,271 | 0,265 | |
| Russia | 6 | 35,17 | 36,00 | -0,83 | 0,325 | 0,353 | |
| Lithuania | 6 | 34,83 | 34,17 | 0,67 | 0,306 | 0,298 | |
| Serbia | 6 | 35,33 | 34,67 | 0,67 | 0,294 | 0,277 |
G = games; TR/G = total rebounds per game ; TR/G(OP) = oppositions’ total rebounds per game ; TRDIFF = rebound difference ; OR% = more accurate estimation of offensive rebounding strength, since it sets offensive rebounds in relation to missed shots. The higher the value, the better. Formula = offensive rebounds divided through own offensive rebounds + opponents’ defensive rebounds = OR/(OR+DR(OP)) ; DR% = more accurate estimation of defensive rebounding strength, since it sets defensive rebounds in relation to the opponents’ missed shots. The lower the value, the better. Formula = defensive rebounds divided through own defensive rebounds + opponents’ offensive rebounds = DR/(DR+OR(OP))
The rebounding statistics are a perfect example why it is important to consider game pace. Bulgaria is leading the rebounds per game rankings at 38,3 boards per game, but what the commong statistics don’t show: Their opponents average 42,0 rebounds per game. In order to measure offensive and defensive rebounding, rebounding percentage offers a more accurate look. In offensive rebounding percentage, Bulgaria is indeed a top level team, leading the rankings in front of France, Croatia, Spain and Russia, while Slovenia is worst among quarter final participants. However, we cannot really say they are bad offensive rebounders, maybe they simply don’t crash the board as a strategy in order to prevent fastbreak attacks.
In defensive rebounding percentage [DR%], Bulgaria is worst among all participants, while Russia and Spain are the worst among quarter final participants [remember that the lower the value, the better it is in this case]. Croatia and Greece, despite a horrible outing against Russia, are best in this category.
