Analysis of men’s and women’s basketball fast-breaks

Abstract

In the present study, the way basketball fast breaks are executed was analysed, while determining how the bestresults are obtained and studying the differences between the men’s and women’s game. Utilizing observational methodology, atotal of 294 fast breaks were analysed from 30 games played at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. Eighteen of the games werehigh-level men’s games and 12 were high-level women’s games. Statistically significant differences were observed between themen’s and the women’s game in the following aspects with regard to fast breaks: (1) duration, (2) completion area, and (3) shotopposition. For men, some dependence relationships were found between the fast break result and the following variables:duration, completion area, and opposition to its completion. For women, the results revealed a weak association between the fastbreak result and the opposition to its completion.