What is Pace?
Pace is a basketball statistic that measures the tempo or speed at which a team plays. It represents the number of possessions a team uses in a game. Teams with high pace play faster, while teams with low pace play slower and more deliberately.
Understanding pace helps you:
- Compare playing styles between teams
- Predict game flow when teams with different paces meet
- Analyze team strategy (fast break vs. half-court offense)
- Understand scoring opportunities (more possessions = more chances to score)
How is Pace Calculated?
Pace is derived from Estimated Offensive Possessions (EOP), which accounts for all the ways a possession can end:
EOP = FGA - ORB + TO + (0.44 × FTA)
Pace = EOP × (32 / game minutes)
Understanding the Formula
Each possession ends in one of these ways:
- A field goal attempt that's not followed by an offensive rebound
- A turnover (the possession ends without a shot)
- Free throws from a shooting foul (adjusted by 0.44 to account for and-1s and multi-shot fouls)
When a team gets an offensive rebound after a missed shot, the possession continues - it's not a new possession. That's why we subtract ORB from FGA.
The 0.44 coefficient for free throws accounts for the fact that not every free throw ends a possession - and-1 free throws happen after made baskets, technical free throws don't end possessions, and shooting fouls result in 2-3 FTA for one possession-ending event.
For regulation games (4 quarters × 8 minutes = 32 minutes), pace equals EOP. For overtime games, we normalize to 32 minutes so you can compare games of different lengths.
Example Calculation
If a team has:
- 55 field goal attempts (FGA)
- 10 offensive rebounds (ORB)
- 12 turnovers (TO)
- 15 free throw attempts (FTA)
Their estimated possessions: 55 - 10 + 12 + (0.44 × 15) = 63.6 possessions
In a regulation game, pace = 63.6 possessions per 32 minutes
What's a Good Pace?
Pace is relative and depends on playing style. High school girls basketball typically averages 60-65 possessions per 32-minute game:
-
Fast Pace (65+ possessions): Up-tempo, run-and-gun style
- More transition opportunities
- Higher scoring games
- Requires good conditioning
- Example: Press defense, fast breaks
-
Average Pace (55-65 possessions): Balanced approach
- Mix of transition and half-court offense
- Moderate scoring games
- Adaptable to opponent
-
Slow Pace (< 55 possessions): Deliberate, half-court style
- Emphasis on half-court sets
- Lower scoring games
- Ball control and clock management
- Example: Motion offense, zone defense
League-Relative Pace
On team pages, you'll see pace described as:
- "Very Fast" - More than 1 standard deviation above league average
- "Fast" - Above league average
- "Average" - Near league average
- "Slow" - Below league average
- "Very Slow" - More than 1 standard deviation below league average
These descriptions are based on actual WOAC conference data, not generic high school averages, giving you accurate comparisons within the conference.
Where You'll See Pace
Team Pages
On each team's page, you'll find:
- Offensive Pace: Your team's pace (possessions per game)
- Defensive Pace: Opponent's pace when playing your team
These appear in the top-right of the "Season Statistics" section with color-coded indicators showing whether the pace is fast or slow relative to the league.
Box Score View
After each game, the box score displays:
- Pace Comparison: Shows both teams' pace side-by-side
- Format: "Pace: 48.5 vs 42.3"
- Helps you understand the game's tempo
Player Game Logs
Player game logs include a pace column showing:
- Your team's pace for each game
- Sortable to find fastest/slowest games
- Helps contextualize player performance
Using Pace to Analyze Games
High Pace vs Low Pace Matchups
When a high-pace team plays a low-pace team:
- The game tempo usually falls between the two teams' averages
- The team that controls pace often has an advantage
- High-pace teams try to speed up; low-pace teams try to slow down
Example:
- Team A averages 52 possessions (fast)
- Team B averages 42 possessions (slow)
- Actual game: 47 possessions (compromise)
Impact on Statistics
Pace affects how you interpret stats:
-
Higher pace = More possessions = More scoring opportunities
- A player might score 20 points in a fast game
- The same player might score 14 in a slow game
- Both could be excellent performances!
-
Comparing across games: Consider pace when evaluating performance
- 20 points in a 50-possession game vs. 20 points in a 40-possession game
- The second is more impressive (higher scoring rate per possession)
Strategic Insights
Coaches use pace to:
- Game planning: Match or counter opponent's pace
- Personnel decisions: Fast teams need deep benches
- Timeout strategy: Slow the game or speed it up
- Foul strategy: Fouling can slow a fast-paced team
Pace Trends
Use the pace sparkline chart on team pages to see:
- Season trends: Is the team speeding up or slowing down?
- Home vs Away: Do they play differently at home?
- Conference vs Non-Conference: Different pace against tougher competition?
The sparkline shows:
- Solid line: Games against conference opponents
- Dotted line: Games against non-conference opponents
- Horizontal reference line: League average pace
Common Questions
Q: Is higher pace always better?
A: No! Pace is a style choice, not a quality measure. Some teams win by playing fast, others win by playing slow. The key is executing your style effectively.
Q: Why does pace matter for fans?
A: Understanding pace helps you:
- Appreciate different playing styles
- Set realistic scoring expectations
- Understand why some games are lower-scoring
- Recognize when a team is controlling the game's tempo
Q: How does pace relate to scoring?
A: More possessions generally means more points, but efficiency matters too. A team with high pace but poor shooting might score less than a slow-paced team with great shooting.
Q: Can pace change during a season?
A: Yes! Teams may:
- Adjust pace based on personnel (injuries, lineup changes)
- Adapt strategy as the season progresses
- Play differently against different opponents
Advanced Concepts
Offensive vs Defensive Pace
- Offensive Pace: How fast your team plays
- Defensive Pace: How fast opponents play against you
A team might have different offensive and defensive paces if they:
- Successfully force opponents into their preferred tempo
- Struggle to control game speed
- Adapt their pace based on opponent strength
Pace and Possessions
In basketball analytics:
- Possessions = Opportunities to score
- Pace = Possessions per game
- Efficiency = Points per possession
Elite teams combine:
- Controlled pace (plays at their preferred tempo)
- High efficiency (scores effectively per possession)
Related Statistics
Pace works alongside other stats:
- Points Per Game (PPG): Total scoring (affected by pace)
- Field Goal %: Shooting efficiency (independent of pace)
- Rebounds: More possessions = more rebound opportunities
- Turnovers: Fast pace can lead to more turnovers
Summary
The pace metric gives you insight into: ✓ How fast or slow a team plays ✓ Game tempo and playing style ✓ Strategic matchups between teams ✓ Context for interpreting player statistics
Use pace alongside traditional stats for a complete picture of team and player performance!
Need more help? Check out our Understanding Statistics guide for more basketball analytics explanations.