Knowledge Bank

This study examines whether and how steal and block statistics affect team defensive play, including player decision-making and overall defensive success. As blocks and steals are the only defensive statistics included in box scores, they can be taken at face value by fans and media when evaluating a player's defensive ability. This is problematic given that many effective defensive practices do not translate to statistics. Does a narrow focus on steal and block statistics impact team defensive behaviors?

I conducted an ethnographic study of the Ohio State men's basketball team to examine these questions. The study involved observations of their practices and games and interviews with the players and coaches. Through my fieldwork, I examined the relationship between the role of blocks and steals in effective defense through the iterative, recursive, and abductive approach. I developed a model for successful defense that contextualizes the roles of blocks and steals as defensive practice and evaluates the advantages and limitations. Recognition of the recorded natures of blocks/steals informed my interview questions as I sought to understand the team's mental and strategic approaches towards defense. I found that while blocks and steals are important to successful defense and have distinctive benefits regarding crowd momentum, intimidation factors, and easier, instant offense, there are other defensive practices that are just as important, such as deflecting passes, contesting shots, and boxing out. I propose that the focus on steal and block statistics (and the lack of other defensive statistics) does not seem to impact team defensive play. Additionally, I learned about many defensive practices unrecorded in box scores that are equally as important as blocks and steals in executing successful defense. While players may pursue blocks and steals, they do so because blocks and steals contribute to winning rather than because blocks and steals increase their stats.

This study relates to the larger question of whether measuring a phenomenon changes the nature of the phenomenon itself. This study seems to indicate that recording blocks and steals does not impact team defensive play. As such, the focus on block/steal statistics does not seem to drive team behaviors. This indicates differences in viewpoints beyond and within the team. This study also reveals differences in crowd momentum and team momentum, and the former may explain why certain defensive practices are recorded in box scores while others are not.