What is basketball?

Basketball is a game between two teams of five players each. The goal is simple: put the ball through the opponent's hoop more times than they put it through yours before time runs out.

The basic idea

Each team has one hoop to attack and one to defend. When your team has the ball you are on offense and you try to score; the moment the other team gets the ball, you switch to defense and try to stop them. Possession changes constantly, which is why the game flows so fast.

A player moves the ball by dribbling (bouncing it while walking or running) or by passing it to a teammate. You cannot simply run while holding the ball — that is a violation called traveling, which we cover later.

Winning

The team with the most points when the final buzzer sounds wins. If the score is tied, the game goes to overtime — an extra period — and they keep playing extra periods until someone is ahead at the end of one.

Why it matters for predictions

Almost everything FinalSkore models — pace, scoring runs, who has the edge late — comes back to these basics: possessions, scoring efficiency, and time remaining. Understanding the game itself makes every stat and every prediction easier to read.