Offensive Patterns and Performance Analysis in One-Possession Scenarios During the Last Minute and Overtime in the EuroLeague

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

Dear,

Please find my comments attached.

Kind regards

Comments for author File: Comments.pdf

Author Response

Please see the attachment

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

This article takes a look at the offensive methods used in the last seconds and overtime in 2022–2023 EuroLeague games, highlighting the importance of fast breaks, free throws, and certain player positions.

Some minor improvements are required.

1-     The paper's introduction section should emphasize the contribution's novelty.

2-      At the beginning of Section 2, introduce this section to facilitate the reader's following.

3-     what is meant by “critical moments”? Please define or explain.

4-     Does the software generate the results for the tables results?

5-     Please explain the added value of the paper.

6-     Please unify the style of writing the papers to meet that of MDPI.

 

7-     Proofreading is required.

Author Response

Please see the attachment

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 3 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

Comments However, there are several issues that the authors need to address in order to allow the publication of the manuscript.

Below are reported the comments to the article “OFFENSIVE PATTERNS AND PERFORMANCE ANALYSIS IN ONE-POSSESSION SCENARIOS DURING THE LAST MINUTE AND OVERTIME IN THE EURO-LEAGUE”

 

The article highlights some important aspects, but also some critical points that could be explored further for a more complete and accurate understanding. It focuses on analyzing offensive dynamics and performance during single-possession game situations, typical of the final minute and overtime in EuroLeague games. The approach adopted appears valid for understanding how teams react in high-pressure scenarios, with a focus on offensive patterns and effectiveness during crucial moments of the match. However, from my perspective, a significant gap emerges, as the study does not include a comparison with a control group (such as other leagues or championships). For a more comprehensive view of the impact of the final minute of play, it would have been useful to analyze how behavior and performance in similar situations manifest in other competitions, such as the NBA or other European leagues. This comparison could reveal structural differences in the game dynamics between leagues and provide insights into the specifics of the EuroLeague.

Furthermore, the article does not adequately consider the temporal variability that could affect team results throughout the season. The analysis would have been more complete if it had included a reflection on how results change in relation to the teams' standings during the period in question. Performance may also depend on the seasonal context, teams’ physical and psychological form, and their position in the standings—factors that influence competitiveness and strategies in the final minutes.

In my opinion, a deeper exploration of these aspects would be useful to enrich and better contextualize the conclusions.

 

ABSTRACT

I suggest reorganizing the abstract to improve its clarity and overall structure. A more detailed and well-defined framework could include introduction, methodology, results, and conclusions.

Line 19: It would be more correct to say "an observational methodology was employed using the..."

 

METHODS

Line 10: The content is somewhat generic; adding more details could help clarify the point.

Line 11: The phrase "the process involved..." seems redundant and does not explain how the non-participant observation was conducted. Providing more methodological details would make this part more specific.

Line 12: For the term "closing moments", it would be important to specify the exact time frame being referred to, to avoid ambiguity.

Line 13: I suggest you use clearer language.

 

DISCUSSION

Line 27: You should specify whether this difference varies depending on the level of competition, the rankings, and the playing style of the teams. The lack of a temporal analysis could lead to overly general conclusions that may not always be applicable to different competitions.

 

CONCLUSIONS

Line 38: It cannot be concluded that the results obtained are immediately applicable by coaches for formulating strategies in high-pressure situations, considering that the analyzed context is limited exclusively to the Euroleague competition. To establish general guidelines useful for defining the best strategy, it would be essential to extend the comparison to different categories and other competitive contexts. Only a broader analysis, considering various realities and game situations, could provide valid and transferable insights for coaches, allowing them to adapt strategies to the different challenges that arise throughout the season.

 

Comments on the Quality of English Language

I recommend having the paper by a native speaker

Author Response

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Author Response File: Author Response.pdf