Calculate NBA defensive possessions based on team stats to analyze defensive efficiency
Learn how to use the NBA Defensive Possessions Calculator and its working principles
Defensive possessions are a way to measure the number of opportunities the defense has to score against. This metric helps in analyzing defensive efficiency and is particularly useful for comparing teams with different playing styles.
The formula used in this calculator is:
Defensive Possessions = (Defensive Minutes / 5) + (Field Goal Attempts + Free Throw Attempts) / 2
This formula accounts for both the time spent on defense and the number of scoring opportunities created by the offense.
If your team spent 240 defensive minutes, the opponent made 40 field goals and 20 free throws, the defensive possessions would be:
Defensive Possessions = (240 / 5) + (40 + 20) / 2 = 48 + 30 = 78