OFFENSIVE TECHNICAL-TACTICAL ANALYSIS ON NBA FINALIST TEAMS: A CASE STUDY

ABSTRACT The San Antonio Spurs (SAS) teamwork and the team led by three players of the Miami Heat (MIA) marked the 2014 NBA finals. This study aimed to analyze the offensive actions on those games. Game indicators were obtained through the official NBA box-scores and game analysis took place through an adapted version of the IAD-BB. Field goals made, assists, and total points presented significant association between the teams, in which the SAS presented higher scores in comparison to the MIA. While the SAS presented a significantly higher absolute frequency of offenses with three to five and six to eight passes made, the MIA had a higher number of offenses with zero to two passes made. Significant association was identified for the shooting conditions between the teams, in which the SAS presented a higher number of shots under ‘passively guarded’ and wide-open conditions, whereas the MIA had a higher number of shots under pressure. However, neither teams’ shooting efficacy indicated a significant association. We belive that the higher number of field goals made, assists, total score, and a higher frequency of offenses with a bigger number of passes can be considered the determining factors for the SAS success in the games investigated.