Ja'Kobe Walter 2023/2024 Defensive Analysis 

Defensive Switch Metric Appendix

Charting Sample Size - how many games were observed and charted

Total Active Possessions- total number of possessions where a player guarded the ball, forced a deflection or was involved in an off-ball action.

Total Switch Possessions- total number of possessions with a switch or cross-match where a wing player is guarding a lead ball handler or post player.

Total Shots Defended- number of shots where a player was the primary defender or directly contesting the opposing player’s shot.

Synergy Points Per Possession- points per possession for all defensive plays marked by Synergy.

Switch Points Per Possession- points per possession while a player was switched or cross-matched onto an opposing ball handler or big (post player).

Shot Contest Grade- rates a player’s shot contest on a scale of 1-4 under the following criteria

1. Wide Open- player was not within 8-10 feet of the scorer or no contest at all (1 Contest Point)

2. Open- hands down on a contest, within 8-10 feet of the shooter (2 Contest Points)

3. Light Contest- hands up on a contest and within 5-8 feet of a shooter (3 Contest Points)

4. Heavy Contest- close to the shooter and forcing an off-balance, fading, or double-clutch shot, or a light contest preceded by a non-fouling bump in the legal guarding position (4 Contest Points)

Switch Position Grade - rates a player’s positionality on a scale of 1-4 during the process of switching throughout a possession

•   Bad- out-of-control closeout, pinned in under the basket or fronting too far out from the basket on a post up, blow-by, or trailing heavily behind a play because of screen navigation, no ball pressure (1 SP Grade Point)

•   Neutral- on the side/slightly behind a player, flat-footed or with little ball pressure, not ready to move in a closeout situation, directly behind a post player on the block or on the side in a deny coverage (2 SP Grade Points)

•   Good- under control closeout and good on-ball defense, moderate ball pressure, close follow in trail position for a pick and roll or lock and trail scenario, fronting or keeping post player outside of the restricted area on a post-up (3 SP Grade Points)

•   Very Good- excellent closeout and on-ball defense, switching “into” a player with high ball pressure and intensity, strongly denying a post player in a post-up or pushing them out of the paint (4 SP Grade Points)

Stocks per 100 - steals and blocks per 100 active possessions

Blown Coverage- a missed closeout or rotation, blow by, reaching/gambling for steals with no

turnover forced, flopping, and any shooting foul

Total Switch Frequency- the percentage of total active possessions that a player is switched or cross-matched onto a ball handler or big overall

Guard Switch Frequency- the percentage of total switch possessions that a wing player is switched onto a lead guard

Big Switch Frequency - the percentage of total switch possessions that a wing player is

switched onto a post player