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What variables are responsible for the variation in performance across the four quarters of a game? I'm thinking stamina, but that should lead to deterioration in performance. But in my team we're very, very slow starters. Often scoring in single figures for the first quarter, after which it's hard work to come back.

In tonight's game, with the first eight minutes played, my boys have scored just two points, and both of those were from the line. If that form continued for the whole game, we'd be lucky to hit 40 points in a match. We always do better than that, so why is the scoring so poor in the first quarter, and what can I do about it?

1 possibility is that if you choose a wrong tactic, running into a wall of defenders. After the first Q the coach adapts to the game and gives your players other orders than initially.

Another thing might indeed be that his players start to tire, while yours don't (as much).

if this happens all the time , it is very strange though...

If he has less good back-ups, and you have good back-ups, this is also an explanation for a come-back. Mostly starters will play a big part of the 1st Q, but in the second Q, back-ups get more time, unless the starters are clearly better, and by that time either the lesser back-ups, or tired starters, will defend not so good as in the 1st Q.

I think there is a suggestion in the rules that players adapt during a game. That is their initial shot selection isn't based entirely on their skills (eg a player doesn't think "I have a pitiful jump shot, I better not shoot"). But then after he misses his 1st five shots, he stops shooting as much.

The other team had a ton of fouls in the 1Q, and since you only had 11 shots, some of your misses may have been due to being fouled. If you are going to get 33 FT in a game, it probably wouldn't hurt to improve your FT shooting. With the number of a 1 and 1 opportunities, you might have pulled the game out.

The other team had several starters in foul trouble, so this may have been a factor since during the rest of the game they were on the bench more. I don't know if players with more fouls play more tentative defense or not. It would be logical, and it might be relatively straightforward to implement.

I'd work on improving your inside shooting and your passing. The passing will help get better shots, and the shooting will help you make the shots.

Thanks, guys. That's really helpful. I'll work on the passing and inside shooting. Having been promoted to I in the bot cleanup, I don't feel like I've got much room for manouvre - one mistake and I think I could be facing a season of defeats.

I 've had also a very poor 1st q.
18-9 1Q
4-22 2Q
18-26 3Q
23-20 4Q
At the end i won 63-77. Any idea why i've scored so badly in 1Q? The score was 16-0 for the other team (fighters53) in the eight minute. But in the second Q I won 4-22!! What was this about!?!

Forrest explained this in the USA chat at one point.

The basic concept is that everyone is fresh and has maximum intensity in the 1st quarter - everything is contested, everyone is highly alert.

As fatigue sets in, and offenses adjust, then you see the scores rise.

The basic concept is that everyone is fresh and has maximum intensity in the 1st quarter - everything is contested, everyone is highly alert.
As fatigue sets in, and offenses adjust, then you see the scores rise.

I think it is even more than just that.
At the beginning of the game the shots are taken only considering the offensive skills of the attacking team.
As time goes on the attacks are adjusted to the defensive skills of the opponent.
The adjustment concerns both the shots distribution among the players and the shot distance for each player.
If your best shooter is opposed to an even better defender, he will probably shoot and miss a lot at the beginning of the match, and then the team will start looking for better offensive solutions...

The game engine is really smart :)

Forrest explained this in the USA chat at one point.

The basic concept is that everyone is fresh and has maximum intensity in the 1st quarter - everything is contested, everyone is highly alert.

As fatigue sets in, and offenses adjust, then you see the scores rise.

Is this true also (maybe to a lesser degree) in the 3rd quarter when players are presumably somewhat rested after the HT break?

Steve
Go Bruins!