Basketball game-related statistics that discriminate between teams season-long success

The aim of the present study was to identify the game-related statistics that discriminate between season-long successful and unsuccessful basketball teams participating in the Spanish Basketball League (LEB1). The sample included all 145 average records per season from the 870 games played between the 2000-2001 and the 2005-2006 regular seasons. The following game-related statistics were gathered from the official box scores of the Spanish Basketball Federation: 2- and 3-point field-goal attempts (both successful and unsuccessful), free-throws (both successful and unsuccessful), defensive and offensive rebounds, assists, steals, turnovers, blocks (both made and received), and fouls (both committed and received). To control for season variability, all results were normalized to minutes played each season and then converted to z-scores. The results allowed discrimination between best and worst teams' performances through the following game-related statistics: assists (SC=0.47), steals (SC=0.34), and blocks (SC=0.30). The function obtained correctly classified 82.4% of the cases. In conclusion, season-long performance may be supported by players' and teams' passing skills and defensive preparation

Intensity of Resistance Exercise Determines Adipokine and Resting Energy Expenditure Responses in Overweight Elderly Individuals

OBJECTIVE - To evaluate the time course of leptin, adiponectin, and testing energy expenditure (REE) responses in overweight elderly mates after acute resistance exercise protocols of various intensity configurations. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS - Forty inactive men (65-82 years) were randomly assigned to one of four groups (n = 10/group): control, low-intensity resistance exercise, moderate-intensity resistance exercise, and high-intensity resistance exercise. Exercise energy cost, REE, leptin, adiponectin, cortisol, insulin, lactate, glucose, nonesterified fatty acids (NEFAs), and glycerol were determined at baseline, immediately after exercise, and during a 72-h recovery period. RESULTS - Exercise energy cost was lower in high-intensity than in low-intensity and moderate-intensity groups (221.6 +/- 8.8 vs. 295.6 +/- 10.7 and 281.6 +/- 9.8 kcal, P < 0.001). Lactate, glucose, NEFAs, and glycerol concentrations increased (P < 0.001) after exercise and returned to baseline thereafter in all groups. REE increased (P < 0.001) in all groups at 12 h in an intensity-dependent manner (P < 0.05). REE reached baseline after 48 h in the low- and mode rate-intensity groups and after 72 h in the high-intensity group. Cortisol peaked in all active groups after exercise (P < 0.001) and remained elevated (P < 0.001) for 12 h. After adjustment for plasma volume shifts, leptin remained unaltered. Adiponectin concentration increased after 12 hand remained elevated for 24 h only in the high-intensity group (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS - Resistance exercise does not alter circulating leptin concentration but does increase REE and adiponectin in an intensity-dependent manner for as long as 48 and 24 h, respectively, in overweight elderly individuals. It appears that resistance exercise may represent an effective approach for weight management and metabolic control in overweight elderly individuals

Factors characterizing the offensive game of the playmaker position in basketball

Observation à partir d'enregistrement vidéo et analyse statistique des actions de jeu effectuées par le meneur de jeu pour trois niveaux de compétion : olympique, nationale A et B

Oxidative stress responses in older men during endurance training and detraining

Purpose: Aging is Associated with increased oxidative stress, whereas Systematic exercise Training has been shown to improve Quality of life and Functional Performance of the aged. This Studies aimed to evaluate responses of selected markers of oxidative stress and antioxidant status in inactive older men during endurance training and detraining. Methods: Nineteen older men (65-78 yr) were randomly assigned into either a control (C, N = 8) or an endurance-training (ET, N = 11, three training sessions per week, 16 wk, walking/jogging at 50-80% of HRmax) group. Before, immediately posttraining, and after 4 months of detraining, subjects performed a progressive diagnostic treadmill test to exhaustion (GXT). Plasma samples, collected before and immediately post-GXT, were analyzed for malondialdehyde (MDA) and 3-nitrotyrosine (3-NT) levels, total antioxidant capacity (TAC), and glutathione peroxidase activity (GPX). Results: ET caused a 40% increase in running time and a 20% increase in maximal oxygen consumption (V̇O2max) (P &amp;lt; 0.05). ET lowered MDA (9% at rest, P &amp;lt; 0.01; and 16% postexercise, P &amp;lt; 0.05) and 3-NT levels (20% postexercise, P &amp;lt; 0.05), whereas it increased TAC (6% at rest, P &amp;lt; 0.01; and 14% postexercise, P &amp;lt; 0.05) and GPX (12% postexercise, P &amp;lt; 0.05). However, detraining abolished these adaptations. Conclusions: ET may attenuate basal and exercise-induced lipid peroxidation and increase protection against oxidative stress by increasing TAC and GPX activity. However, training cessation may reverse these training-induced adaptations

Evaluation of Plyometric Exercise Training, Weight Training, and Their Combination on Vertical Jumping Performance and Leg Strength

The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of 3 different training protocols - plyometric training, weight training, and their combination - on selected parameters of vertical jump performance and leg strength. Forty-one men were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 groups: plyometric training (n = 11), weight training (n = 10), plyometric plus weight training (n = 10), and control (n = 10). Vertical jump, mechanical power, flight time, and maximal leg strength were measured before and after 12 weeks of training. Subjects in each training group trained 3 days per week, whereas control subjects did not participate in any training activity. Data were analyzed by a 2-way (4 × 2) analysis of variance (repeated-measures design). Results showed that all training treatments elicited significant (p &lt; 0.05) improvement in all tested variables. However, the combination training group produced improvements in vertical jump performance and leg strength that were significantly greater than improvements in the other 2 training groups (plyometric training and weight training). This study provides support for the use of a combination of traditional and Olympic-style weightlifting exercises and plyometric drills to improve vertical jumping ability and explosive performance in general