Who Is the Best NBA Point Guard?

With the NBA season less than 10 games the point guards have dominated this season. If the MVP award were given today, several point guard are making strong cases. The question so far this season and asked by Kenny Smith..."Who is the best point guard in the NBA"? Well lets meet the contestants:

*For argument sakes Chris Paul & Deron Williams will not be mentioned*

Brandon Jennings

Brandon Jennings - Young Money is not having a sophomore slump already dropping a triple double in the first week. Some say the Kenny Anderson clone is the best point guard in the Central Division. Once his jump shot matches his quickness and passing ability, you'll have to consider the Compton native one of the best. 14 points 7 assists 4 rebounds

Russell Westbrook

 Russell Westbrook - The FIBA game did wonders for the former guard out of UCLA. He's not a true point guard but very explosive and finishes very hard at the rim. Compliments Kevin Durant very well. 20 points 7assist 6 rebounds

Derrick Rose

Derrick Rose - "I WANT TO BE MVP" That's what Pooh said in the latest issue of SLAM. Already strong, fast, explosive, great passer. So far Simeon's finest has proven to be a leader of this team and is not afraid of Miami. He worked on his jump shot over the summer and if automatic, he'll be the king of the PGs hands down. Expect him to be in the running for MVP all season long. 27ppg 8assist 5 rebounds

Rajon Rondo

Rajon Rondo - Right now the Black Irish PG is not only the best player on his team, but if the MVP award were given today Rondo would win it in a landslide. Rondo is a classic lead guard and has dished out 60 assist over 4 games (Stockton being the other). Still has a tendency to over dribble but his passing ability is second to none. Jason Kidd never worked on his jumper and he's one of the best ever. 11 points 16 assist 6 rebounds

John Wall

John Wall - Whatever John Calipari is doing it's amazing. Flashes of Derrick Rose are completely accurate. Speed, finisher, #1 overall pick, athleticism, court vision, potential rookie of the year. FYI...he's only a rookie.

Omari

Sports Basketball Expert

For more info please visit my Basketball Blog

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Omari_Prince

Basketball Shooting - 3 Common Shooting Problems and How to Fix Them

Basketball shooting is an art, but it is an art that improves with practice. Does natural shooting talent help? Of course it does. But even without natural shooting ability, most players should be able to develop good, reliable shooting ability with the right guidance and repetition of the skill.

Players should be taught how to hold the ball on the fingertips, to be sure their elbow is under the ball when they raise it, to use leg power to give their shot strength, to snap their wrist for back spin, to put arc on the ball. These are the basics of shooting a basketball, and not every player is taught well at a young age, which is regrettable. But even those that are taught to shoot properly will occasionally need an adjustment, will fall into a bad habit or have an off game (or season). Everyone makes mistakes.

Here are three common problems basketball players have when shooting the ball, along with what they can do to fix the problem and become better basketball shooters:

1. The shot is short. Is there a more common shooting problem? Probably not. If the ball is hitting the front of the rim, the player's shooting form may not need a major change, but rather a more minor, and yet very important, adjustment. When shooting the basketball, the power comes from the legs. Not the relatively small and weaker arm and shoulder muscles, but the strong, powerful leg muscles. Shooters need to use their leg muscles to give power to their shot - i.e., the shooter needs to bend his legs as he is setting up the shot, then explode upwards into the shot release.

Another possibility is that the shooter isn't following through on the release. As the ball is leaving the shooter's hands, he needs to snap his wrist down, as if he is draping his hand over the rim. This snap of the wrist - follow through - gives the ball a little extra power in its flight as well as giving it backspin, which causes it to bounce softly on the rim if it misses, and maybe roll in as opposed to bouncing away.

2.The shot falls to the left or right of the basket. Likely a problem squaring up. When the shooter sets up to shoot, he should be squared to the basket - i.e., a line drawn across his shoulders should be perpendicular to a straight line drawn from the shooter to the basket. This means the player's body will be facing directly to the hoop, and the ball is more likely to fly in the direction the body is facing.

Similarly, it could be that the shooter's elbow is out. The elbow of the shooting hand should be as directly under the ball as possible. The arm acts as a fulcrum, and the straighter that fulcrum is, the straighter the ball will fly. Think of those big catapults that he king's army used centuries ago that, when released, would throw big rocks at castles to break apart the castle walls. The shooting arm is the catapult, the ball is the rock. As long as the catapult is pointed straight in the right direction, the rock hits its mark.

3. The ball skims the rim and circles out or slams hard off the rim and bounces out - no 'shooter's roll'. A couple of possibilities here: if the ball is circling the rim and spinning out, it could be that the ball is being released off the side of the hand, or at least not off the very center. The shooter needs to be sure that on the release, the ball is rolling off the middle finger, and not one of the other fingers. Besides helping the ball to fly straighter, this should also mean the spin on the ball will be back spin, and not side spin.

If the ball is hitting the front or back of the rim and bouncing out, it could be there is not enough arc on the shot - the shot is flat. Shooters need to have lots of arc on the shot if they want to get that shooter's roll, where the ball comes down on the rim, stops dead or bounces around lightly, and then drops in. To get that requires the ball to come down from above the rim - not launched like a missile from in front of it.

Every practice should have a few minutes set aside for players to practice their shooting on their own - the first 10 minutes or so immediately before the actual practice begins is the best time to do this. During this time, the coaches can walk around and make necessary adjustments, depending on what they see. If no coaches are available at the time, players can pair up and watch each others shooting and try to pick out problem areas.

You can find more about how to coach basketball shooting, as well as a variety of shooting drills, on the Basketball Shooting Skills page on my Better Basketball Coaching website.

Gary has been coaching varsity basketball for over fifteen years. Read more of his coaching advice on his website http://betterbasketballcoaching.com/ Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gary_Donovan

The Secret To Basketball Training For Perfect Shooting

If anyone asked you what you need in order to become a superb basketball player, what would you say? Most people would answer that you need master the game and its basic techniques such as basketball shooting with specialized basketball training. The answer is good, but it is not all correct. To become a perfect basketball player as much as you need training you need practice and at the same time you need to have that fire in your belly that drives to learn more than anyone else because you want to be the best. Listed below are a few key traits of champions in any field:

1. Hunger to be first. You need to want it happen and want it bad enough to visualize it. You need to see it before your eyes as it has already happened. You are the best; you are the champion; you have played the perfect game. The more you develop this hunger within you, the more you have the chance to become this champion.

2. Practice. When asked what lead them to success, most of the champions answered, 'fourteen to sixteen hours of practice every day'. This is known as dedication. You need to hone your body in becoming a perfect tool for your favorite sport and for that you need to practice, practice, practice, practice and practice more. There are no two ways about this.

3. Practice with better players than you are. You want to learn, go for players who are better than you in some or other aspect. Watch them, copy their style, improve on it and make it your own. It would not do to play against people who play at a lower level than you for this would actually sap your caliber. You would feel good in comparison and instead of striving to get better, you would learn to stagnate for in your eyes you are already the best.

4. Find a tough coach. If you want to succeed, find a coach who shares that hunger with you. This person should want it as bad as you do, so he or she could push you so hard that you would outdo yourself. Do not worry about coping up; your body is a phenomenal machine, it continuously improves on itself. With time, you would be able to realize that the more you push yourself the better you become and that there is always scope for more.

5. Practice round the year. Champions do not prepare only before the event takes place, they train round the year. They train and practice so they stay in shape and keep the body's reflexes sharp and in control. This is why, when you want to become the best basketball player, there is not off-season for you as your coach would tell you, if you chose the right one. You need to keep your mind and body in shape and tuned to perfection in the sport. The more you practice, the closer you would be to becoming the champion of basketball.

Coach Stewart Wrighter operates a basketball web site that offers basketball shooting videos and training aids and coaching/instructional videos along with lots of free coaching content. He also offers basketball training techniques which are helpful for coaches and parents alike.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Stewart_Wrighter

Jumping Workouts - The Simple Workout

Before you start your Jumping Workouts, you do have a goal in mind, right? Is it more than just to jump higher or to be able to dunk, because there are a lot of people who can dunk, maybe you should be able to make an awesome dunk. Or just grab rim easily. Either way, don't skip over this important part which is vital to see success.

But otherwise, start with a warmup. I usually start with jump rope and some sprints. As for specifics, start with 300 jump rope jumps, and about 4 sprints of about 100 meters each. Either way, make sure that it is quick, powerful, and explosive. So use whatever space you have, and use it to the best you can.
After you are warmed up, begin on the following workout.

Box Jumps - This is a vital part of your jumping workouts because you can gauge how easy or hard it is to jump on the same box. And as you get better, increase the size of the box. Stand in front of the box, feet together. And using your arms and bending at your knees and hips, explode up onto the box with both feet. Land on top of the box, and hold for at least a second. Make sure you have your balance, then hop back down and repeat. Do at least 3 sets of 15 jumps each.

High Jumps - Pick a spot on a wall or something high. Make sure it is out of reach and jumping up to it will be a challenge. Stand directly under this mark and reach up, with your body extended. Using just your lower legs, jump up and touch the mark. When you come back down and hit the ground, immediately explode back up. Continue to bounce without missing the mark, if you do miss, then start over with that set.
For your jumping workouts, do the high jumps 15 times and 3 sets.

Tuck Jumps - Many people have used tuck jumps as part of their jumping workouts as a warmup instead of an actual exercise. But by using it as a real exercise, you can improve your vertical quite a bit. Tuck jumps are when you stand in one place and leap up as high as you can and bring your knees to your chest. Continue to leap higher and keep bringing your knees as high as possible. Repeat 15 times with 3 sets.

Use this as one of your jumping workouts at least 4 times per week for best results.

For more exercises and jumping workouts, go to JustJumpHigher.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Colin_Reay

The Vitality of Jump Higher Programs to Sports Enthusiasts

There are many athletes and sports enthusiasts that are looking for jump higher programs. It is very important for them to learn the techniques to jump higher to perform better on their physical and sports activities. As an athlete, having jumping programs will make you attain your goals. This will then help you get a successful career in your most loved sports which require activities such as jumping.

It is crucial to have training for this will improve your jumping skills. Part of good vertical jumping programs is right and ample training. You can ask help from the experts for they will help you achieve higher jump which can greatly help in becoming a good athlete and the star player of the team.

You need to pay attention largely on your calf muscles because it plays an important role in achieving a higher vertical jump that can be useful in your game. Most of these programs also require from athletes an increased speed and the ability to jump. Being able to follow a program with really good techniques will not only increase your vertical jump, it also helps a player boost confidence in the game.

The reason why people are relying on following jump higher programs is because there are objectives included such as strength and speed. These two elements are very important for athletes who want to increase your ability to jump higher. It is a fact that not all of the athletes have incomparable speed and strength. It is important to take note of your weakest point between these two. If you think you do not possess any of these, you should work in improving your strength or speed. If you are excellent in speed and a bit weaker in strength, you should working with it and if you have exceptional strength but slightly weaker on speed, then it is something that you need to work out with.

Building your own stability is another important aspect that you should consider when improving your vertical strength. This should immediately follow after perfecting your speed and strength and should be an important factor when you are signing up for a jumping higher program.
Another thing that can help you achieve higher jumps is by increasing stamina and confidence. A motivated player will not find it difficult to achieve their goals. This can dramatically improve your chance of having a good career in your chosen sports.

If you can integrate jump higher programs into your daily workout, you will be able to obtain benefits such as improving the aspects of speed, stability, stamina and strength. While you do all of these, you should not forget to show enjoyment of what you are doing. But of course it is easily understood that the process should be done with much of your patience and focus. That way, you will be able to see after completing your program that you have done the right things. It may be time consuming, but the results are definitely worth it.

Ken Wynn helps athletes jump higher. For a free mini course with more great tips on Jump higher program visit http://dunkandjumphigher.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ken_Wynn

Basketball Post Moves - 3 Ways to Get the Ball in the Low Post

We teach basketball post moves like the drop step and baby hook every season, starting with the basics and then drilling our post players practice after practice until the moves become second nature. And when they know these moves and can execute them with power and confidence, they can be scoring machines.
But if they can't get the ball, they can't use the moves. So we need to teach not just what to do with the ball, but what to do to get the ball. Here are a few considerations for setting up in the post.

1. Stability. In the post, it is very important that a player has stability - there is lots of pushing, lots of body contact, and a player not able to hold his ground will soon find himself sitting on the hardwood looking a little dazed and confused.
Players need to always be wide, with their knees bent, feet wider than shoulder-width apart, arms raised, elbows out - low enough to maintain a low and stable center of gravity, wide as possible to take up as much room as possible. The post man must always have a hand out, giving his teammates a target for a pass.

2. Position. The post man should always set up above the box - preferably between the box and the second hash mark on the foul lane - so he is only one step away from the hoop and can move either direction to score. If he sets up below the box, he will often find himself behind the backboard, which effectively takes him out of the game.

3. Positioning. The player at the post must open up a passing lane. How he does this depends on how the defense is playing him. Unless he is being double-teamed, the defense can be in one of three positions, and the post player will need to adjust accordingly.

• If being guarded from behind, the post player needs to stay low and reach forward to give a target for the pass. The post player needs to maintain contact with the defensive man by pushing his back against him, and when the ball is passed to him, the post player should move slightly toward the ball.
• If being fronted, the post player should turn sideways, so that his shoulder is against the defensive player. He needs to maintain contact with the defensive player - leg and hip against his, arm against his back - and give the target far inside, looking for a lob pass over the defensive man and towards the basket
• If guarded on the side, the post player positions the same as if being fronted, except set up to the side of the defensive man. When the pass comes in, the post player moves towards the ball and shields it with his body

Be sure to incorporate some of these ideas - in teaching skills as well as in practice drills - for your post players and help them become offensive threats.

You can find more discussion of basketball post moves as well as drills for post players on the Basketball Post Drills page on my Better Basketball Coaching website.

Gary has been coaching varsity basketball for over fifteen years. Read more of his coaching advice on his website http://betterbasketballcoaching.com/ Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gary_Donovan

Common techniques and practices

Positions

 

Basketball positions in the offensive zone

Although the rules do not specify any positions whatsoever, they have evolved as part of basketball. During the first five decades of basketball's evolution, one guard, two forwards, and two centers or two guards, two forwards, and one center were used. Since the 1980s, more specific positions have evolved, namely:

1. point guard: usually the fastest player on the team, organizes the team's offense by controlling the ball and making sure that it gets to the right player at the right time
2. shooting guard: creates a high volume of shots on offense; guards the opponent's best perimeter player on defense
3. small forward: often primarily responsible for scoring points via cuts to the basket and dribble penetration; on defense seeks rebounds and steals, but sometimes plays more actively
4. power forward: plays offensively often with their back to the basket; on defense, plays under the basket (in a zone defense) or against the opposing power forward (in man-to-man defense)
5. center: uses height and size to score (on offense), to protect the basket closely (on defense), or to rebound.

The above descriptions are flexible. On some occasions, teams will choose to use a three guard offense, replacing one of the forwards or the center with a third guard. The most commonly interchanged positions are point guard and shooting guard, especially if both players have good leadership and ball handling skills.

Strategy

 

The strategies also evolve with the game. In the 1990s and early 2000s, teams played with more "isolation". Teams that had one superstar would let one player, usually the point guard or shooting guard, run most of the offense while the other four offensive players get out of his/her way. Nowadays, teams tend to play with more teamwork. The "Center" position has evolved to become more of a taller "Small Forward" position. Since teams play more teamwork, ball movement has evolved with the game, and more jump shots have been taken as a result.

There are two main defensive strategies: zone defense and man-to-man defense. Zone defense involves players in defensive positions guarding whichever opponent is in their zone. In man-to-man defense, each defensive player guards a specific opponent and tries to prevent them from taking action.
Defense has also evolved with offense. "Zone defense" has changed with many variations. There are defensive schemes called "2–3 zone", "3–2 zone", "box-and-1", "2–1–2 zone" and many more. All of these variations were created to defend different varieties that offense has. "Man-to-man defense" has been the most preferred of all the options because many basketball games are not as organized as the entertainment part of basketball.
Offensive plays are more varied, normally involving planned passes and movement by players without the ball. A quick movement by an offensive player without the ball to gain an advantageous position is a cut. A legal attempt by an offensive player to stop an opponent from guarding a teammate, by standing in the defender's way such that the teammate cuts next to him, is a screen or pick. The two plays are combined in the pick and roll, in which a player sets a pick and then "rolls" away from the pick towards the basket. Screens and cuts are very important in offensive plays; these allow the quick passes and teamwork which can lead to a successful basket. Teams almost always have several offensive plays planned to ensure their movement is not predictable. On court, the point guard is usually responsible for indicating which play will occur.
Defensive and offensive structures, and positions, are more emphasized in higher levels in basketball; it is these that a coach normally requests a time-out to discuss.

Shooting

 

Shooting is the act of attempting to score points by throwing the ball through the basket. Methods can vary with players and situations.
Typically a player faces the basket with both feet facing the basket. A player will then allow the ball to rest on the fingertips of the dominant hand (the shooting arm) slightly above the head, with the other hand supporting the side of the ball. The ball is typically shot by jumping (though not always) and straightening the shooting arm. The shooting arm, fully extended with the wrist fully bent is held stationary for a moment following the release of the ball, known as a follow-through. Players often try to put a steady backspin on the ball to deaden its impact with the rim. The ideal trajectory of the shot is somewhat arguable, but generally coaches recommend a proper arch. Players may shoot directly into the basket or may use the backboard to redirect the ball into the basket.
The two most common shots that use the above described setup are the set shot and the jump shot. The set shot is taken from a standing position, with neither foot leaving the floor, typically used for free throws. The jump shot is taken while in mid-air, when the ball is released near the top of the jump. This provides much greater power and range, and it also allows the player to elevate over the defender. Failure to release the ball before the feet return to the ground is considered a traveling violation.
Another common shot is called the layup. This shot requires the player to be in motion toward the basket, and to "lay" the ball "up" and into the basket, typically off the backboard (the backboard-free, underhand version is called a finger roll). The most crowd-pleasing and typically highest-percentage accuracy shot is the slam dunk, in which the player jumps very high and throws the ball downward, straight through the hoop.
Another shot that is becoming common is the "circus shot." The circus shot is a low-percentage shot that is flipped, heaved, scooped, or flung toward the hoop while the shooter is off-balance, airborne, falling down, and/or facing away from the basket.
A shot that misses both the rim and the backboard completely is referred to as an air ball. A particularly bad shot, or one that only hits the backboard, is jocularly called a brick.

Rebounding

 

The objective of rebounding is to successfully gain possession of the basketball after a missed field goal or free throw, as it rebounds from the hoop or backboard. This plays a major role in the game, as most possessions end when a team misses a shot. There are two categories of rebounds: offensive rebounds, in which the ball is recovered by the offensive side and does not change possession, and defensive rebounds, in which the defending team gains possession of the loose ball. The majority of rebounds are defensive, as the team on defense tends to be in better position to recover missed shots.

Passing

 

A pass is a method of moving the ball between players. Most passes are accompanied by a step forward to increase power and are followed through with the hands to ensure accuracy.
A staple pass is the chest pass. The ball is passed directly from the passer's chest to the receiver's chest. A proper chest pass involves an outward snap of the thumbs to add velocity and leaves the defence little time to react.
Another type of pass is the bounce pass. Here, the passer bounces the ball crisply about two-thirds of the way from his own chest to the receiver. The ball strikes the court and bounces up toward the receiver. The bounce pass takes longer to complete than the chest pass, but it is also harder for the opposing team to intercept (kicking the ball deliberately is a violation). Thus, players often use the bounce pass in crowded moments, or to pass around a defender.
The overhead pass is used to pass the ball over a defender. The ball is released while over the passer's head.
The outlet pass occurs after a team gets a defensive rebound. The next pass after the rebound is the outlet pass.
The crucial aspect of any good pass is it being difficult to intercept. Good passers can pass the ball with great accuracy and they know exactly where each of their other teammates prefers to receive the ball. A special way of doing this is passing the ball without looking at the receiving teammate. This is called a no-look pass.
Another advanced style of passing is the behind-the-back pass which, as the description implies, involves throwing the ball behind the passer's back to a teammate. Although some players can perform such a pass effectively, many coaches discourage no-look or behind-the-back passes, believing them to be difficult to control and more likely to result in turnovers or violations.

Dribbling

 

Dribbling is the act of bouncing the ball continuously with one hand, and is a requirement for a player to take steps with the ball. To dribble, a player pushes the ball down towards the ground with the fingertips rather than patting it; this ensures greater control.

When dribbling past an opponent, the dribbler should dribble with the hand farthest from the opponent, making it more difficult for the defensive player to get to the ball. It is therefore important for a player to be able to dribble competently with both hands.
Good dribblers (or "ball handlers") tend to bounce the ball low to the ground, reducing the distance of travel of the ball from the floor to the hand, making it more difficult for the defender to "steal" the ball. Good ball handlers frequently dribble behind their backs, between their legs, and switch directions suddenly, making a less predictable dribbling pattern that is more difficult to defend against. This is called a crossover, which is the most effective way to move past defenders while dribbling.
A skilled player can dribble without watching the ball, using the dribbling motion or peripheral vision to keep track of the ball's location. By not having to focus on the ball, a player can look for teammates or scoring opportunities, as well as avoid the danger of having someone steal the ball away from him/her.

Blocking

 

A block is performed when, after a shot is attempted, a defender succeeds in altering the shot by touching the ball. In almost all variants of play, it is illegal to touch the ball after it is in the downward path of its arc; this is known as goaltending. It is also illegal under NBA and Men's NCAA basketball to block a shot after it has touched the backboard, or when any part of the ball is directly above the rim.

To block a shot, a player has to be able to reach a point higher than where the shot is released. Thus, height can be an advantage in blocking. Players who are taller and playing the power forward or center positions generally record more blocks than players who are shorter and playing the guard positions. However, with good timing and a sufficiently high vertical leap, even shorter players can be effective shot blockers.

Height

 

At the professional level, most male players are above 6 feet 3 inches (1.91 m) and most women above 5 feet 7 inches (1.70 m). Guards, for whom physical coordination and ball-handling skills are crucial, tend to be the smallest players. Almost all forwards in the men's pro leagues are 6 feet 6 inches (1.98 m) or taller. Most centers are over 6 feet 10 inches (2.08 m) tall. According to a survey given to all NBA teams, the average height of all NBA players is just under 6 feet 7 inches (2.01 m), with the average weight being close to 222 pounds (101 kg). The tallest players ever in the NBA were Manute Bol and Gheorghe Mureşan, who were both 7 feet 7 inches (2.31 m) tall. The tallest current NBA player is Yao Ming, who stands at 7 feet 6 inches (2.29 m).
The shortest player ever to play in the NBA is Muggsy Bogues at 5 feet 3 inches (1.60 m). Other short players have thrived at the pro level. Anthony "Spud" Webb was just 5 feet 7 inches (1.70 m) tall, but had a 42-inch (1.07 m) vertical leap, giving him significant height when jumping. The shortest player in the NBA (and second shortest ever in the NBA) as of the 2009–10 season is Earl Boykins at 5 feet 5 inches (1.65 m). While shorter players are often not very good at defending against shooting, their ability to navigate quickly through crowded areas of the court and steal the ball by reaching low are strengths.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basketball

Rules and Regulation

Measurements and time limits discussed in this section often vary among tournaments and organizations; international and NBA rules are used in this section.

The object of the game is to outscore one's opponents by throwing the ball through the opponents' basket from above while preventing the opponents from doing so on their own. An attempt to score in this way is called a shot. A successful shot is worth two points, or three points if it is taken from beyond the three-point arc which is 6.25 metres (20 ft 6 in) from the basket in international games and 23 feet 9 inches (7.24 m) in NBA games. A one-point shot can be earned when shooting from the foul line after a foul is made.

 

Playing regulations

Games are played in four quarters of 10 (FIBA) or 12 minutes (NBA). College games use two 20-minute halves, while high school varsity games use 8 minute quarters. Fifteen minutes are allowed for a half-time break under FIBA, NBA, and NCAA rules and 10 minutes in high school. Overtime periods are five minutes in length except for high school which is four minutes in length. Teams exchange baskets for the second half. The time allowed is actual playing time; the clock is stopped while the play is not active. Therefore, games generally take much longer to complete than the allotted game time, typically about two hours.
Five players from each team may be on the court at one time. Substitutions are unlimited but can only be done when play is stopped. Teams also have a coach, who oversees the development and strategies of the team, and other team personnel such as assistant coaches, managers, statisticians, doctors and trainers.
For both men's and women's teams, a standard uniform consists of a pair of shorts and a jersey with a clearly visible number, unique within the team, printed on both the front and back. Players wear high-top sneakers that provide extra ankle support. Typically, team names, players' names and, outside of North America, sponsors are printed on the uniforms.
A limited number of time-outs, clock stoppages requested by a coach (or sometimes mandated in the NBA) for a short meeting with the players, are allowed. They generally last no longer than one minute (100 seconds in the NBA) unless, for televised games, a commercial break is needed.
The game is controlled by the officials consisting of the referee (referred to as crew chief in the NBA), one or two umpires (referred to as referees in the NBA) and the table officials. For college, the NBA, and many high schools, there are a total of three referees on the court. The table officials are responsible for keeping track of each teams scoring, timekeeping, individual and team fouls, player substitutions, team possession arrow, and the shot clock.

 

Equipment

Traditional eight-panel baske

The only essential equipment in a basketball game is the basketball and the court: a flat, rectangular surface with baskets at opposite ends (or in the case of 3-on-3 street basketball, half a court with one basket). Competitive levels require the use of more equipment such as clocks, scoresheets, scoreboard(s), alternating possession arrows, and whistle-operated stop-clock systems.

An outdoor basketball net.

A regulation basketball court in international games is 28 metres (91.9 ft) long and 15 metres (49.2 ft) wide. In the NBA and NCAA the court is 94 feet (28.7 m) by 50 feet (15.2 m). Most courts have wood flooring, usually constructed from maple planks running in the same direction as the longer court dimension. The name and logo of the home team is usually painted on or around the center circle.
The basket is a steel rim 18 inches (45.7 cm) in diameter with an attached net affixed to a backboard that measures 6 feet (182.9 cm) by 3.5 feet (106.7 cm), and one basket is at each end of the court. The white outlined box on the backboard is 18 inches (45.7 cm) high and 2 feet (61.0 cm) wide. At almost all levels of competition, the top of the rim is exactly 10 feet (305 cm) above the court and 4 feet (121.9 cm) inside the baseline. While variation is possible in the dimensions of the court and backboard, it is considered important for the basket to be of the correct height - a rim that is off by just a few inches can have an adverse effect on shooting.
The size of the basketball is also regulated. For men, the official ball is 29.5 inches (74.9 cm) in circumference (size 7, or a "295 ball") and weighs 22 ounces (624 g). If women are playing, the official basketball size is 28.5 inches (72.4 cm) in circumference (size 6, or a "285 ball") with a weight of 20 ounces (567 g).

 

Violations

The ball may be advanced toward the basket by being shot, passed between players, thrown, tapped, rolled or dribbled (bouncing the ball while running).
The ball must stay within the court; the last team to touch the ball before it travels out of bounds forfeits possession. The ball is out of bounds if touches or crosses over a boundary line, or touches a player who is out of bounds. This is in contrast to other sports such as football, volleyball, and tennis (but not rugby or American football) where the ball (or player) is still considered in if any part of it is touching a boundary line.
The ball-handler may not move both feet without dribbling, an infraction known as traveling, nor may he dribble with both hands or catch the ball in between dribbles, a violation called double dribbling. A player's hand cannot be under the ball while dribbling; doing so is known as carrying the ball. A team, once having established ball control in the front half of the court, may not return the ball to the backcourt and be the first to touch it. The ball may not be kicked, nor be struck with the fist. A violation of these rules results in loss of possession, or, if committed by the defense, a reset of the shot clock (with some exceptions in the NBA).
There are limits imposed on the time taken before progressing the ball past halfway (8 seconds in international and NBA; 10 seconds in NCAA men's play and high school for both sexes, but no limit in NCAA women's play), before attempting a shot (24 seconds in the NBA, 30 seconds in NCAA women's and Canadian Interuniversity Sport play for both sexes, and 35 seconds in NCAA men's play), holding the ball while closely guarded (5 seconds), and remaining in the restricted area below the foul line (the lane, or "key") (3 seconds). These rules are designed to promote more offense.
No player may touch the ball on its downward flight to the basket, unless the ball has no chance of entering the basket (goaltending). In addition, no player may touch the ball while it is on or in the basket; when any part of the ball is in the cylinder above the basket (the area extended upwards from the basket); or when the ball is outside the cylinder, if the player reaches through the basket and touches it. This violation is known as "basket interference". If a defensive player goaltends or commits basket interference, the basket is awarded and the offending team gets the ball. If a teammate of the shooter goaltends or commits interference, the basket is cancelled and play continues with the defensive team being given possession.

 

Fouls

An attempt to unfairly disadvantage an opponent through physical contact is illegal and is called a foul. These are most commonly committed by defensive players; however, they can be committed by offensive players as well. Players who are fouled either receive the ball to pass inbounds again, or receive one or more free throws if they are fouled in the act of shooting, depending on whether the shot was successful. One point is awarded for making a free throw, which is attempted from a line 15 feet (4.6 m) from the basket.

The referee signals that a foul has been committed.

The referee may use discretion in calling fouls (for example, by considering whether an unfair advantage was gained), sometimes making fouls controversial calls or no-calls. The calling of fouls can vary between games, leagues and even among referees.
A player or coach who shows poor sportsmanship, such as by arguing with a referee or by fighting with another player, can be charged with a more serious foul called a technical foul. The penalty involves free throws (where, unlike a personal foul, the other team can choose any player to shoot) and varies among leagues. Repeated incidents can result in disqualification. Blatant fouls with excessive contact or that are not an attempt to play the ball are called intentional fouls (or flagrant fouls in the NBA). In FIBA, a foul resulting in ejection is called a disqualifying foul, while in leagues other than the NBA, such a foul is referred to as flagrant.
If a team exceeds a certain limit of team fouls in a given period (quarter or half) – four for NBA and international games – the opposing team is awarded one or two free throws on all subsequent non-shooting fouls for that period, the number depending on the league. In the US college and high school games, if a team reaches 7 fouls in a half, the opposing team is awarded one free throw, along with a second shot if the first is made. This is called shooting "one-and-one". If a team exceeds 10 fouls in the half, the opposing team is awarded two free throws on all subsequent fouls for the half.
When a team shoots foul shots, the opponents may not interfere with the shooter, nor may they try to regain possession until the last or potentially last free throw is in the air.
After a team has committed a specified number of fouls, it is said to be "in the penalty". On scoreboards, this is usually signified with an indicator light reading "Bonus" or "Penalty" with an illuminated directional arrow indicating that team is to receive free throws when fouled by the opposing team. (Some scoreboards also indicate the number of fouls committed.)
If a team misses the first shot of a two-shot situation, the opposing team must wait for the completion of the second shot before attempting to reclaim possession of the ball and continuing play.
If a player is fouled while attempting a shot and the shot is unsuccessful, the player is awarded a number of free throws equal to the value of the attempted shot. A player fouled while attempting a regular two-point shot, then, receives two shots. A player fouled while attempting a three-point shot, on the other hand, receives three shots.
If a player is fouled while attempting a shot and the shot is successful, typically the player will be awarded one additional free throw for one point. In combination with a regular shot, this is called a "three-point play" or "four-point play" (or more colloquially, an "and one") because of the basket made at the time of the foul (2 or 3 points) and the additional free throw (1 point).

Source:

The History of Basketball

History
The first rules, court, and game

In early December 1891, Dr. James Naismith, a Canadian-born physical education professor and instructor

The first basketball court: Springfield College

at the International Young Men's Christian Association Training School (YMCA) (today, Springfield College) in Springfield, Massachusetts, USA, was trying to keep his gym class active on a rainy day. He sought a vigorous indoor game to keep his students occupied and at proper levels of fitness during the long New England winters. After rejecting other ideas as either too rough or poorly suited to walled-in gymnasiums, he wrote the basic rules and nailed a peach basket onto a 10-foot (3.05 m) elevated track. In contrast with modern basketball nets, this peach basket retained its bottom, and balls had to be retrieved manually after each "basket" or point scored; this proved inefficient, however, so the bottom of the basket was removed, allowing the balls to be poked out with a long dowel each time. The peach baskets were used until 1906 when they were finally replaced by metal hoops with backboards. A further change was soon made, so the ball merely passed through, paving the way for the game we know today. An association football was used to shoot baskets. Whenever a person got the ball in the basket, his team would gain a point. Whichever team got the most points won the game. The baskets were originally nailed to the mezzanine balcony of the playing court, but this proved impractical when spectators on the balcony began to interfere with shots. The backboard was introduced to prevent this interference; it had the additional effect of allowing rebound shots.

Naismith's handwritten diaries, discovered by his granddaughter in early 2006, indicate that he was nervous about the new game he had invented, which incorporated rules from a children's game called "Duck on a Rock", as many had failed before it. Naismith called the new game "Basket Ball".

The first official game was played in a YMCA gymnasium on January 20, 1892 with nine players. The game ended at 1–0; the shot was made from 25 feet (7.6 m), on a court just half the size of a present-day Streetball or National Basketball Association (NBA) court. By 1897–1898 teams of five became standard.

Women's basketball

Women's basketball began in 1892 at Smith College when Senda Berenson, a physical education teacher, modified Naismith's rules for women. Shortly after she was hired at Smith, she went to Naismith to learn more about the game.Fascinated by the new sport and the values it could teach, she organized the first women’s collegiate basketball game on March 21, 1893, when her Smith freshmen and sophomores played against one another.[9] Her rules were first published in 1899 and two years later Berenson became the editor of A.G. Spalding’s first Women's Basketball Guide.

Basketball Hall of Fame founded

By the 1950s, basketball had become a major college sport, thus paving the way for a growth of interest in professional basketball. In 1959, a basketball hall of fame was founded in Springfield, Massachusetts, site of the first game. Its rosters include the names of great players, coaches, referees and people who have contributed significantly to the development of the game. The hall of fame has people who have accomplished many goals in their career in basketball.

National Basketball Association

In 1946, the Basketball Association of America (BAA) was formed. The first game was played in Toronto, Ontario, Canada between the Toronto Huskies and New York Knickerbockers on November 1, 1946. Three seasons later, in 1949, the BAA merged with the National Basketball League to form the National Basketball Association (NBA). An upstart organization, the American Basketball Association, emerged in 1967 and briefly threatened the NBA's dominance until the ABA-NBA merger in 1976. Today the NBA is the top professional basketball league in the world in terms of popularity, salaries, talent, and level of competition.

The NBA has featured many famous players, including George Mikan, the first dominating "big man"; ball-handling wizard Bob Cousy and defensive genius Bill Russell of the Boston Celtics; Wilt Chamberlain, who originally played for the barnstorming Harlem Globetrotters; all-around stars Oscar Robertson and Jerry West; more recent big men Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Shaquille O'Neal and Karl Malone; playmaker John Stockton; crowd-pleasing forward Julius Erving; European stars Dirk Nowitzki and Dražen Petrović and the three players who many credit with ushering the professional game to its highest level of popularity: Larry Bird, Earvin "Magic" Johnson, and Michael Jordan.

In 2001, the NBA formed a developmental league, the NBDL. As of 2008, the league has sixteen teams.

Women's National Basketball Association

The NBA-backed Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) began in 1997. Though it had shaky attendance figures, several marquee players (Lisa Leslie, Diana Taurasi, and Candace Parker among others) have helped the league's popularity and level of competition. Other professional women's basketball leagues in the United States, such as the American Basketball League (1996-1998), have folded in part because of the popularity of the WNBA.

The WNBA has been looked at by many as a niche league. However, the league has recently taken steps forward.

In June 2007, the WNBA signed a contract extension with ESPN. The new television deal runs from 2009 to 2016. Along with this deal, came the first ever rights fees to be paid to a women's professional sports league. Over the eight years of the contract, "millions and millions of dollars" will be "dispersed to the league's teams."

The WNBA gets more viewers on national television broadcasts (413,000) than both Major League Soccer (253,000)[23] and the NHL (310,732).

In a March 12, 2009 article, NBA commissioner David Stern said that in the bad economy, "the NBA is far less profitable than the WNBA. We're losing a lot of money amongst a large number of teams. We're budgeting the WNBA to break even this year."

Philippine Basketball Association

The Philippine Basketball Association's first game was played on April 9, 1975 at the Araneta Coliseum in Cubao, Quezon City. Philippines. It was founded as a "rebellion" of several teams from the now-defunct Manila Industrial and Commercial Athletic Association which was tightly controlled by the Basketball Association of the Philippines (now defunct), the then-FIBA recognized national association. Nine teams from the MICAA participated in the league's first season that opened on April 9, 1975.

Source:

Introduction to Basketball

Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules. Basketball is one of the most popular and widely viewed sports in the world.

A regulation basketball hoop consists of a rim 18 inches (45.7 cm) in diameter and 10 feet (3.05 m) high mounted to a backboard. A team can score a field goal by shooting the ball through the hoop during regular play. A field goal scores two points for the shooting team if a player is touching or closer to the hoop than the three-point line, and three points (a "3 pointer") if the player is "outside" the three-point line. The team with more points at the end of the game wins, but additional time (overtime) may be issued when the game ends with a tie. The ball can be advanced on the court by bouncing it while walking or running (dribbling) or passing it to a teammate. It is a violation (traveling) to walk with the ball, carry it, or to double dribble (to hold the ball and then resume dribbling).

Various violations are generally called "fouls". Disruptive physical contact (a personal foul) is penalized, and a free throw is usually awarded to an offensive player if he is fouled while shooting the ball. A technical foul may also be issued when certain infractions occur, most commonly for unsportsmanlike conduct on the part of a player or coach. A technical foul gives the opposing team a free throw.

Basketball has evolved many commonly used techniques of shooting, passing, and dribbling, as well as specialized player positions and offensive and defensive structures (player positioning) and techniques. Typically, the tallest members of a team will play "center", "small forward", or "power forward" positions, while shorter players or those who possess the best ball handling skills and speed play "point guard" or "shooting guard".

While competitive basketball is carefully regulated, numerous variations of basketball have developed for casual play. Competitive basketball is primarily an indoor sport played on carefully marked and maintained basketball courts, but less regulated variations are often played outdoors in both inner city and rural areas.

Source: