🗑️ Garbage Time Explained

Understanding when a game's outcome is effectively decided

What is Garbage Time?

Garbage time refers to the final minutes of a game when the outcome is no longer in doubt. During this period, teams often substitute bench players for starters, and the intensity of play typically decreases since the result is effectively decided.

We use the same garbage time detection methodology as Cleaning the Glass.

Detection Criteria

A game enters garbage time when all of the following conditions are met:

Must be in Q4 or Overtime
Garbage time can only occur in the final period or overtime
Score margin exceeds threshold based on time remaining:
• 25+ points with 5+ minutes left
• 20+ points with 2-5 minutes left
• 10+ points with <2 minutes left
≤2 starters on court combined
Both teams combined have 2 or fewer starters on the floor (out of 10 total players)

Important Notes

Once started, garbage time doesn't revert - even if starters return or the margin decreases
Starters are tracked from Q1 - we accurately track substitutions throughout the entire game
Not all blowouts have garbage time - coaches must actually pull their starters for it to qualify

Example Scenarios

✓ Garbage Time

Q4, 3:00 remaining, 22-point lead, only 1 starter on court for each team (2 total)

✗ Not Garbage Time

Q4, 3:00 remaining, 22-point lead, but 3 starters still on court combined

✗ Not Garbage Time

Q4, 6:00 remaining, 18-point lead, only 1 starter on court - margin not large enough for time remaining

Why Track Garbage Time?

Identifying garbage time is important for accurate statistical analysis. Stats accumulated during garbage time can be misleading when evaluating player or team performance, as the competitive intensity is significantly reduced.

On This Site

Games that entered garbage time are marked with a 🗑️ emoji on:

The games list page
Individual box score pages (showing when garbage time started)
Score flow charts (marked with an X at the garbage time moment)