NBA For Beginners

[love_balls]

Hi guys, saw a thread like this on the soccer board and this would be helpful. Watched the basketball at the Olympics and was hooked and so now I want to start following the NBA.

I know the basics of the how the conferences and playoffs work and I know the usual big names. Can anyone give me a quick rundown of what I should know? Stuff like most hated/liked teams, hated/liked players, who's a chance this year, how relevant are Bogut and Mills. AFL comparisons would be nice.

Also probably most importantly, how did you guys pick your teams?

Thanks!

 

[Westy Bogan]

Welcome Brother...

Best way to learn is to start reading some of the threads.

Pies = Lakers
Carlton = Boston
Richmond = Knicks
Lions = Bulls (Well there ya go - you just found your team)

 

[peternorth]

a good way to determine your team of choice:

1. fave colours. you're a lions fan (maroon, blue, red, yellow) so you can basically follow anyone
2. fave city
3. friends/relos live in usa?

 

[Vincent Chase]

Welcome Brother...
Best way to learn is to start reading some of the threads.

I wouldn't bother with the offseason threads though

wasn't there a diagram with different choices that lead you to a nba team? can't remember where i saw that.

i had a family member get me hooked on the knicks about 10 years ago.

 

[silverscope]

Hi guys, saw a thread like this on the soccer board and this would be helpful. Watched the basketball at the Olympics and was hooked and so now I want to start following the NBA.

I know the basics of the how the conferences and playoffs work and I know the usual big names. Can anyone give me a quick rundown of what I should know? Stuff like most hated/liked teams, hated/liked players, who's a chance this year, how relevant are Bogut and Mills. AFL comparisons would be nice.

Also probably most importantly, how did you guys pick your teams?

Thanks!

I created said thread on the soccer board




I would suggest watching some teams before choosing a side. You can then see the players or teams you like and decide on which one.

To add to Westy's AFL comparison I'd say

Charlotte Bobcats - Melbourne Demons
New Orleans Hornets - GC/GWS (now they are starting from scratch basically)
Sacramento Kings - North Melbourne

Most Hated and Liked players are hard to point out because simply some people hate them (everyone) and some people love them ( nbaman1 ) Garnett that is

You'll find as you watch you'll like certain players more than others. (I like LeBron and Durant but am not a fan of Kobe or Rose )

Mills will be 2nd/3rd backup Point Guard for the Spurs this coming season so he may get 5-10mins on a good night or more if Poppovich (the coach) decides to rest the players, as he does generally through the season.

Bogut was traded towards the end of last year to the Golden State Warriors (from the Bucks) and has yet to play a game for them having broken his ankle early in the season. He should be right for the start of the year and is still top 10 or even 5 in terms of Centre's in the game currently. As long as he and Steph Curry (Starting PG for GSW) stay healthy they should make playoffs.


Hope that helps to start with.

 

[stewie griffen]

Can anyone give me a quick rundown of what I should know?

Stuff like most hated/liked teams
Personally.... hated Miami, Lakers, liked - Chicago of course. OKC and the Clippers are fun to watch. Denver should be great to watch this year as well.

hated/liked players,
Hated - Dwight Howard, Dwyane Wade, Kevin Garnett, and now Ray Allen. Kobe's always a given. James Harden and Blake 'flop Griffin go in both columns
Liked - DRose (of course), Durant, Chris Paul, Nowitzki

who's a chance this year,
Miami Lakers OKC

How relevant are Bogut and Mills.
Bogut yes, Patty not so much. GSW could be a chance to fight out for the last spot in the playoffs depending on injuries - the easiest comparison for them is Richmond. Boguts a top 5 centre in the A for mine.

Also probably most importantly, how did you guys pick your teams?
Grew up with ball in the 90's, Jordan, nuff said

Hope that answers some questions.

Also, first posts should always address the vital question - who is better Kevin Garnett or Tim Duncan

Check out some of the youtube highlights vids to get a feel for any players you might like.

Assuming you will be watching on TV its easier to follow a 'big market' team, purely as they are the ones on tv a lot. If you are going to watch League Pass then you can watch every game, so any teams easy to watch

 

[love_balls]

Thanks for the responses so far guys.

One other thing, which is also very important. Where can you watch it outside of Foxtel. I'm actually willing to pay. NBA TV Live at 5 bucks a month the way to go?

 

[stewie griffen]

Thanks for the responses so far guys.

One other thing, which is also very important. Where can you watch it outside of Foxtel. I'm actually willing to pay. NBA TV Live at 5 bucks a month the way to go?

League Pass if you are gonna be watching every day (its around 200 for the year), otherwise NBA TV if its only weekends

 

[Vincent Chase]

Thanks for the responses so far guys.

One other thing, which is also very important. Where can you watch it outside of Foxtel. I'm actually willing to pay. NBA TV Live at 5 bucks a month the way to go?

League Pass if you are gonna be watching every day (its around 200 for the year), otherwise NBA TV if its only weekends

Yeah, League Pass is the go.

http://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/79133

15% League Pass discount code

 

[PHX]

Welcome Brother...

Best way to learn is to start reading some of the threads.

Pies = Lakers
Carlton = Boston
Richmond = Knicks
Lions = Bulls (Well there ya go - you just found your team)

Surely Essendon are LA? They are the ones in the race with Carlton to get another title to be top of the table and have heaps of soft fairy supporters who aren't really interested in the game unless the team is winning.

To me Collingwood would be Dallas. Forever near the top of the tables and boast being a team of riches but never able capitalise and win titles.

Hated teams aren't really universal like the AFL and chop and change a lot as teams change rapidly with trades and such. It really depends on the team you choose and the conference you're in as teams you consistently dislike but generally the Lakers are hated, Miami are currently hated, and the Mavs and have torn their team apart but after they won a championship that seemed to lessen.

 

[JP Sauce]

New Orleans Hornets - GC/GWS (now they are starting from scratch basically)

Also getting the draft rigged in their favour

 

[Footypie32]

When picking a team, you may want to consider whether you want to go for a traditional team with lots of history, a new start up team or even I perenial battler such as a Washington or Blazers. Also, if you can name some AFL players you admire, we may be able to match you with a similar NBA player eg. do you prefer X-factor or consistency, athletism or power players.

 

[ioppolo]

A fair comparision for Brisbane Lions would be the Minnesota Timberwolves imo.

If you can, just watch a few games with different teams each time, and the team you support may come naturally

 

[JP Sauce]

I think it's pretty pointless trying to match up NBA teams to AFL. Almost none of it makes real sense.

Basically there are 4 types of teams and players:
Full-on hated (LAL, Dawight)
Transition - either on the way to being hated (Griffin) or on the way back from being hated (Lebron, possibly). Almost every player ends up being hated at some point. Even Durant is on the way there!
Generally liked - (Wolves, Durant)
Lulz - (Wizards, so many players)

 

[JP Sauce]

As for picking a team, it can be tough. Depends what type of ball you like to watch or if you have any standout favourite players.

If you go Heat, Lakers or Thunder people will hate you/call you a band wagoner.

I can't recommend League Pass highly enough. Get it, watch a shit load of ball and chose your favourite team after a month?

 

[OrdinaryJoel]

If we are going to compare AFL teams to NBA teams... What would Orlando be?

 

[silverscope]

If we are going to compare AFL teams to NBA teams... What would Orlando be?

The Umpires?

 

[OrdinaryJoel]

The Umpires?

 

[PHX]

Surely Orlando are the Saints. Actually looked relevant for a few years there and made it to deep in the finals but managed to snatch defeat from from the jaws of victory, but now everything is going backwards and we still don't have anything to show for our history.

 

[love_balls]

When picking a team, you may want to consider whether you want to go for a traditional team with lots of history, a new start up team or even I perenial battler such as a Washington or Blazers. Also, if you can name some AFL players you admire, we may be able to match you with a similar NBA player eg. do you prefer X-factor or consistency, athletism or power players.

I've definitely ruled out the Heat, Lakers and probably OKC. Jumped on the Manchester United bandwagon as a kid and there is no excuse whatsoever to jump on a bandwagon now that I'm older and realise that bandwagonning is a sin . A couple of mates have said to not pick a team at all and just watch, but I think I'll wait and see.

Here a some basic traits if that would help:
Favourite AFL player: Excluding Brisbane players, someone really classy like Scott Pendlebury, athletic freaks don't do much for me in footy, but is probably more relevant in basketball.
Style: An exciting team like the recent Geelong.
Mates: Most of them go for the Lakers or Heat (surprise, surprise). One goes for Portland.

Was thinking about GSW because of Bogut, but I had actually never heard of them before the trade so nah.

Players that I like: none so far. Players I dislike: Blake Griffin seems like a w***er based on the Youtube vids I've seen so far.

 

[Vincent Chase]

I'm obviously going to suggest the Knicks.

Never know what you're going to get, but you know it'll be entertaining*

*frustrating as fk

 

[love_balls]

Is it possible to have two different people logging into the same League Pass account at the same time?

 

[Vincent Chase]

Is it possible to have two different people logging into the same League Pass account at the same time?

99% sure you can't.

 

[Vincent Chase]

can't see shit, brah

 

[love_balls]

can't see shit, brah

Yeah dailymotion sucks.
http://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/digital-short-laser-cats-the-musical/1317561