Impact of Playing Middle and Side Pick-and-Roll Actions With Aggressive and Containing Defensive Strategies on Workload During Small-Sided Games in Male Basketball Players

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of executing different pick-and-roll (PnR) actions and performing different defensive strategies on workloads during basketball small-sided games. Methods: Twelve male basketball players (age: 21 [3] y; stature: 192 [5] cm; body mass: 84 [9] kg) completed 4 randomized small-sided games including PnRs executed on 2 court positions (ie, middle and side PnR) and 2 defensive strategies (ie, aggressive [ie, trap] and containing [ie, drop and ice for middle and side PnR, respectively] strategy). PlayerLoad and number of accelerations, decelerations, and changes of direction are classified as low (<2.5 m·s−2), medium (between 2.5 and 3.5 m·s−2), and high (>3.5 m·s−2), and jumps categorized as low (<40 cm) and high (≥40 cm) were used as external-load measures, while rating of perceived exertion was used as an internal-load measure. Results: Higher PlayerLoad values were found when playing middle PnR compared with side PnR (P = .046; effect size [ES] = 0.6; 95% CI, 0.0–1.2; moderate). Furthermore, trap defense showed moderately higher values of PlayerLoad (P < .001; ES = 1.1; 95% CI, 0.5–1.7), high accelerations (P = .006; ES = 0.8; 95% CI, 0.3–1.4), medium changes of direction (P = .047; ES = 0.6; 95% CI, 0.0–1.2), and high changes of direction (P = .050; ES = 0.6; 95% CI, 0.0–1.2) compared with drop and/or ice defense. No effects of court position and defensive strategy were found in rating of perceived exertion (P > .05). Conclusions: When planning small-sided games with tactical target, basketball coaches are advised to use middle PnR and aggressive defensive strategies to increase player’s external load compared with side PnR and containing defensive strategies.