1. QUANTIFYING THE EFFECTS OF ASSISTS ON LAY-UPS IN THE FREE-THROW LANE
(RESTRICTED AREA) IN A HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL GAME
Brian VanDongen
B.A., West Virginia University, 2012
Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements of
for the course PEMJ547: Advanced Coaching Techniques
Department of Exercise Science and Physical Education
Montclair State University
December 18, 2013

2. 2
Introduction
The object of the game of basketball is to score points by shooting a ball into a raised
basket at the opponent’s end of the court and to prevent the opponent from doing the same on a
team’s own basket. There are many different strategies that teams can employ to score baskets,
all of which ultimately result in the goal a shot attempt, either as a lay-up or jump shot. Teams
establish plays in order to create open shots (unguarded by the defense).
Asking coaches, players, and analysts which statistics are most important to successful
team performance and winning basketball games may prove troubling and unsuccessful in
gaining a consensus. Arguably, field goal percentage (percentage of successful shot attempts)
would be considered an important statistic: having more successful shots than the opponent
would likely result in more points scored, therefore, a win. However, every different coach,
player, or analyst might provide additional, differing answers, potentially listing a variety of
statistics including free-throw percentage, turnover ratio, assists, points in the “paint” (or free-
throw lane), and amount of rebounds. The statistics might differ depending on level of play, as
well. For example, shot clock differences (24 seconds in the National Basketball Association, 35
seconds in men’s college basketball, and no shot clock in New Jersey high school basketball)
may affect which statistics potentially are viewed as essential.
Research conducted by Lorenzo, Gomez, Ortega, Ibanez, and Sampaio (2010) identified
game-related statistics that contribute to winning teams at the elite youth level. In a review of
122 games at the 2004 and 2005 U-16 European Championships, Lorenzo et al. (2010) found
that successful two-point field goals, offensive rebounds, and assists were among key
determinants of winning balanced (winning margin of 10 to 29 points) games. In close games
(winning margin of equal to or less than nine points), assists were also significant (Lorenzo et al.,

3. 3
2010). Coaches commonly refer to the need to take “high-percentage shots,” generally
considered shots close to the basket that have a higher probability of being made. Some teams
have greater success with jump shooting, while some are better with lay-ups. The purpose of this
tactical analysis is to determine whether, in their game against the East Brunswick Bears, the
Hillsborough Raiders were more successful at scoring two-point field goals on lay-ups from an
assist, from unassisted lay-ups, or from jump shots from inside the three-point arc.
Methods
The game analyzed in this tactical report was held at Hillsborough High School’s main
gymnasium. The varsity basketball teams from Hillsborough High School and East Brunswick
High School were the teams competing. Most of the players, at least on Hillsborough, were
juniors and seniors in high school.
Video of the game was recorded and uploaded to Krossover, a film and advanced
statistics study website. This software allows coaches to define each individual play along with a
result (successful/unsuccessful lay-up/jump shot, turnover, foul, etc.). The program also can
produce a shot chart, but for this analysis, the coach should create their own which will allow for
additional statistics and information.
To collect appropriate data necessary for
the study, the coach should create a shot chart
diagram with notation zones (Figure 1) and
correlating chart providing information such as
assists, type of shot, result, and, if the shot was
unsuccessful, if an offensive rebound was secured
(Figure 2). An example of the use of these
Figure 1 Basketball shot chart with notation zones

4. 4
notation tools is provided in
the chart and table. Shot
attempt one was an
unsuccessful jump shot from the elbow zone; Hillsborough rebounded the missed shot and made
the subsequent “follow” layup.
This notation system was completed for Hillsborough’s offensive possessions and shots.
Possessions that resulted in a turnover without a shot attempt were not included in the analysis.
A shot attempt would be listed as “assisted” in the chart if a teammate passed the ball to the
shooter with an immediate shot attempt. One dribble of the basketball before a shot attempt also
counted as an assist. For example, a player who “feeds the post” (passing the ball to a player
underneath the basket) is credited with an assist, even if the player receiving the pass dribbles
before a shot attempt. A player is not credited with an assist with a pass to a player at the top of
the free throw lane, who then “drives to the hoop” (aggressively moves from the foul line to the
layup zone). While the strict definition of an assist requires a successful field goal, for the
purposes of this study, an assist was also credited if a successful shot would have resulted in an
assist.
Results
The data from the shot chart and corresponding table were compiled and translated into
graphs. Figure 3 depicts the amount of
successful and unsuccessful assisted layups,
unassisted layups, and jump shots.
Hillsborough was made 9 assisted layups
compared to 2 missed assisted layups, made 4
Shot
Attempt
Zone Shot Type Assisted? Result Offensive
Rebound
1 Left elbow Jump No Miss Yes (shot 2)
2 Lay-up Layup No Make
Figure 2 Basketball notation chart with examples from Figure 1
Figure 3 Number of successful and unsuccessful shot
types

5. 5
unassisted layups and missed 5 unassisted layups, and missed all their two-point jump shots in
the game.
Figure 4 shows the percentage of successful two-point field goal shot type points in
relation to the total amount of points
scored from two-point field goals. In
their game against East Brunswick,
Hillsborough scored 69.2% of their two-
point field goals from assisted layups,
30.8% from unassisted layups, and 0.0%
from jump shots.
Findings
Hillsborough won the game by a margin two points. This is classified as a close game by
the research of Lorenzo et al. (2010). According to the Lorenzo et al. study (2010), assists are a
significant determinant of winning close games. By analyzing the data from this game, points
scored from assisted layups are noticeably more than points scored from unassisted layups.
During the game, Hillsborough seemed to focus on scoring points from the free throw lane, as
there were more shot attempts taken from the layup zone than the jump shooting zone. This
speaks to the “high percentage shot” philosophy held by many coaches in all coaching ranks.
From this game, it appears that Hillsborough is much more successful at “high percentage
shots” when a player finds a teammate in the layup zone and passes the ball to that teammate,
rather than attacks the basket on their own.
Figure 4 Percentage of two-point field goals by shot type

6. 6
Based on the offense run by Hillsborough and the defensive tactics employed by East
Brunswick, Hillsborough was able to exploit the East Brunswick defense and pass the ball into
the “post” well. When Hillsborough plays teams with similar defensive schemes as East
Brunswick, Hillsborough should continue to find opportunities to pass the ball to players in the
free throw lane for a layup. In close games, Hillsborough should work for assisted layups, as
data in this report and previous research support assists as a key determinant of winning games
with a margin of less than 9 points.
Future tactical and match analysis can also be done using this type of data for games.
The coach can also take data from the opponents and compare these sets.

7. 7
References
Lorezno, A., Gomez, M. A., Ortega, E., Ibanez, S. J., & Sampaio, J. (2010). Game related
statistics which discriminate between winning and losing under-16 male basketball
games. Journal of Sports Science and Medicine, 9, 664-668.