(Part 3) Top products from r/nba

This might not be what you're looking for, but I'm a new-ish (this is my 2nd year really following the nba) basketball fan and these are the things that have really helped me enjoy the game more.

1. Learn about all the basic plays and defense styles: pick and roll, give and go, zone defense, man defense, etc then try to recognize when people are executing them in a game. Once I started seeing this stuff I feel like watching basketball really opened up for me.
   
   
2. Follow one team and get to know them. For a long time I would randomly watch games and I never really paid attention to a particular team. But recently I've been watching the Nets a lot (because the ticket package was much cheaper than the Knicks), the Celtics (because they are always on TV), the Heat, and the Magic (because they were my favorite team when I was a kid). So, get to know the players and their strengths and their weaknesses. Then, you will get to know the rest of the NBA because you'll see them matched up against the players that you know well. You'll get to know their strengths and weaknesses also.
   
   
3. Go see the games live. There is tons of stuff going on that gets cut out of the TV shot. This helped me understand what was going on a lot more.
   
   
4. To get some history and context for what's going on I like freedarko.com. Also Bill Simmons wrote (http://www.amazon.com/Book-Basketball-NBA-According-Sports/dp/034551176X)[The big book of basketball] which I haven't read, but I have been meaning too.
   
   
5. I like watching NBA GameTime on NBA TV, but I think SportsCenter will get you caught up on all the major games.
   
   Anyway I don't know if this is what you were looking for, but I wish someone would have told this to me when I first started watching bball.

Don't Put me In Coach isn't an NBA read, but he tells great stories, and its very entertaining if that's what you're looking for. Also, he talks a lot about off the court stuff. it's written by a guy who played AAU with Greg Oden and Mike Conley, then walked onto Ohio State and was a benchwarmer for 4 years there. Really fun read.

I found that More than a game by Phil Jackson was an excellent book. It basically is a look into the life and coaching philosophy of one of the greatest coaches of all time as well as an inside look into the 2000 champion Lakers.

Also the Book of Basketball by Bill Simmons is an essential read for all NBA fans.

EDIT: I recently also read the Jordan Rules by Sam Smith. It isn't a particularly eye opening book, but basically it's about the 1990-1991 NBA championship season from the Chicago Bulls perspective, and also a look into MJ's transformation from a ball hogging douchebag to the greatest of all time. Good read.

In the interest of fairness, Dantley also came about 30 seconds from leading the Pistons to the title in '88 and possibly earning Finals MVP honors along the way.

Still, your point regarding his numbers not telling the whole story still stands. For what it's worth, I also remember hearing there was a rift in the locker room prior to the possible clincher in '88 because some possible Finals MVP's (maybe just Isiah Thomas) had agreed to share the reward money with his teammates whereas Dantley insisted he'd be keeping it all for himself (according to Cameron Stauth's The Franchise)

This is an excellent book about the 1984 draft. There are many stories, including some really interesting stuff about Barkley and Stockton and MJ trying out for the Olympic team. Great stuff, especially if you watched these guys play in their primes.

Some people just aren't as talented as others lol. It's like when you put in hard work to achieve something but someone who's a natural also achieves it without much work. There was an interesting book on this topic when it comes to athletics called "The Sports Gene: Inside the Science of Extraordinary Athletic Performance"

I highly recommend reading if you ever have the time:

https://www.amazon.com/Sports-Gene-Extraordinary-Athletic-Performance/dp/161723012X

check out the The captain Class

pretty good book discussing the various GOAT teams, two of which is the ducan spurs and Russell Celtics.

The way that these people click is really interesting, you may not buy the author's theory but it is defiantly interesting. Especially interesting because it kinda forshadowed the Spurs regression

Awesome post. I read Born to Run—a book focused on the benefits of forefoot running and it doesn't argue as well as this post does. The comparison between Westbrook and D. Rose with those pictures really make it clear.

The Franchise by Cameron Stauth

In-depth detailed look at the 88-89 Bad Boy Pistons seasons with a writer who was with the team. It's a great insight into the NBA, the happenings in the locker room, what goes through the mind of a GM, and some Xs and O's from the coaches perspective. Great great read, especially of those nostalgic about the NBA of that time, or for those who want a more detailed NBA book.

List of Chuck's books:

I May Be Wrong but I Doubt It

Who's Afraid of a Large Black Man?

Sir Charles: The Wit and Wisdom of Charles Barkley

Outrageous!: The Fine Life and Flagrant Good Times of Basketball's Irresistible Force

If you enjoy reading these, you can find a ton in the book Tall Tales by Terry Pluto. Great stories about Bill Russell, Oscar Robertson, Jerry West, etc.

One of my favorite Wilt Chamberlain facts is that he played every minute of every game one season, so he ended up averaging over 48 minutes a game due to overtimes. Absolutely insane.

He also never fouled out of a single game.

Tall Tales by Terry Pluto i a pretty good and interesting book about the starting years of the nba, It is made up of only quotes from the players other than the occasional explanation.

here's the amazon link http://www.amazon.com/Tall-Tales-The-Glory-Years/dp/0803287666

Chasing Perfection by Andy Glockner seems really good, and fits your description. Haven't read it but the author is really smart about basketball on Twitter.

I don't know if you've read his book but if you haven't, you should. It's awesome. (If you have Audible, Barkley actually narrates the audiobook himself, which makes it about 19 times better)

Neither of these are about the NBA, but basketball (specifically college ball) is the main focus:

A Sense of Where You Are.

John McPhee is the GOAT non-fiction writer and this is one of his first books about Bill Bradley's senior year at Princeton. Bradley was a big baller back in the day before he became a politician and McPhee is so good at capturing his essence.

My second underthe radar pick: My Losing Season

Pat Conroy played ball at the Citadel and writes beautifully about his shitty basketball team that he loved so much

Part Jerry Krause, part Michael Jordan having a shit town of pride and desire for complete control of his come back (hence the hiring of Doug Collins, who he knew he could override), part him previously having ownership stake in the Wizards franchise.

Abe Pollin, then longtime owner of the Wizards, had wanted Jordan out of the organization for various reasons by the time he started contemplated his comeback. Since Pollin knew you couldn't play in the NBA and retain your ownership stake, he encouraged Jordan to follow through on his come back (not to mention the HUGE increase in revenue for those two years) so that when his two years were up, he was effectively out of the organization. Jordan always assumed he would be let right back into the organization after the 2 years of playing, but Pollin essentially dismissed him (not entirely unwarranted, as has been noted, Jordan had a bit of an ego problem).

Source: Michael Leahy's When Nothing Else Matters

Totally, highly recommend everyone pick up the book Why We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams.

It goes over the torrent of health problems that are all directly connected to obtaining less than optimal amounts of sleep, or less than optimal quality of sleep.

For those who would rather watch something, here is the author presenting at Google: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aXflBZXAucQ

He's not a "one time associate"
Rosen was Jackson's assistant coach back during the CBA days, they coauthored a book together, and if you've ever read Rosen's articles back when he was at FoxSports, he spent a part of every single article name-dropping his good buddy Phil Jackson.

Read the rest of the Jordan Rules and try When Nothing Else Matters about Jordan's last years with the Wizards. Lots of good behind-the-scenes stuff there. Your local library might have both of them.

The quotes on the Amazon page are hilarious.

"Mark Titus knows a lot of personal secrets of mine. If he revealed any of them in this book, I will kick him right in the testicles. I’m not joking." -Greg Oden

“Of all the players I’ve coached in my career, Mark Titus is one of them.” -Thad Matta

I recommend this book

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0307279189/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1486497161&sr=8-2&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=Born+to+run

It also advocates for running barefoot as shoes have increased ankle splints and other lower body injuries

I read in Tip Off (great book BTW) about how the Rockets were tanking to get the #1 pick in the 1984 draft so they could pick Hakeem Olajuwon. Elvin Hayes played all 53 minutes of an overtime game at age 38 in his second-to-last game in the league.

Why We Sleep by Matthew Walker. This book will scare you into sleeping more.

There is also a great Joe Rogan interview with the author. Everyone should watch it.

The essence of the game is deception

http://www.amazon.com/The-essence-game-deception-basketball/dp/0316502014


Second wind: Memoirs of an opinionated man

http://www.amazon.com/Second-Wind-Memoirs-Opinionated-Man/dp/0394503856/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1405288135&sr=1-1&keywords=second+wind+bill+russell


West by West: My Charmed Tormented Life

http://www.amazon.com/West-My-Charmed-Tormented-Life/dp/B00C2HFV6M/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1405288153&sr=1-1&keywords=jerry+west


A sense of where you are

http://www.amazon.com/Sense-Where-You-Are-Princeton/dp/0374526893/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1405288186&sr=1-1&keywords=a+sense+of+where+you+are

The source mentions that the concept is fully explained in this book: http://www.amazon.com/Stumbling-Wins-Economists-Pitfalls-Professional/dp/013235778X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1326358267&sr=8-1

I guess you could buy the book if you want full details on methodology.

"Almost nothing supports that nonsense"

Except most players basketball reference pages. Go look at it sometime.

And this.
http://wagesofwins.com/nba-players-age-like-milk/

From this book by 2 professors/ sports economists.
https://www.amazon.com/Stumbling-Wins-Economists-Pitfalls-Professional/dp/013235778X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1326358267&sr=8-1

This article is an excerpt from the book Showboat: The Life Of Kobe Bryant by Roland Lazenby

Showboat: The Life of Kobe Bryant

https://www.amazon.com/Showboat-Life-Bryant-Roland-Lazenby/dp/031638724X

i think i read somewhere it was this book

I think I heard it was from this.

http://www.amazon.com/Chasing-Perfection-Behind-Scenes-High-Stakes/dp/0306824027

http://www.amazon.com/Arm-Billion-Dollar-Mystery-Valuable-Commodity/dp/0062400363/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1458068653&sr=1-1&keywords=jeff+passan

Hollup I got you fam

check this out

windhorst and dave mcmenamin wrote a book chronicling the comeback, here.

Never read the book, but this guy seems pretty mad.

Nah, I think it's specifically appropriate to say here. OP was referencing this book, which basically discusses the impact that genetic traits has on athletic performance. Susceptibility to injury is an important factor which likely has at least some basis in genetics, and he's not "destined" for NBA success if his body betrays him.

Didn't Pat Riley say he was unaware they had planned that, and he thought it was a bad idea?

edit: I think it was in either The Soul of Basketball by Ian Thomsen or Return of the King by Brian Windhorst. I don't own either book, anyone interested in checking?

The one exception to that would be stealing away Iggy. Because ... reasons.

https://www.amazon.com/Captain-Class-Hidden-Creates-Greatest/dp/0812997190

Whether you like him or not, "The Whore of Akron" by Scott Rabb" is a pretty good account of sports hate bridging personal hate.

Here is an excerpt regarding "The Decision"... "When I see the footage of LeBron with the little boys and girls. I am both sickened and outraged. Idi Amim: I'm watching LeBron James, the King of Cleveland, using children as a prop, as ornaments, as moral deodorant. You want to stay, whore, stay. You want to go, whore, go. But spare us an hour of ESPN eunuchs lapping your scrotum while you void your bowels and bladder on the only fans who'll ever love you like a member of the tribe."

My take away? LeBron really is a truly gifted asshole.