ABOUT BASKETBALL

Article posted February 15, 2007 at 05:13 PM GMT0 • Reads 70

Basketball is a sport in which two teams of five players each try to score points on one another by throwing a ball through a hoop (the basket) under organized rules.



Points are scored by passing the ball through the basket from above; the team with more points at the end of the game wins. The ball can be advanced on the court by bouncing it (dribbling) or passing it between teammates. Disruptive physical contact (foul) is not permitted and there are restrictions on how the ball can be handled (violations).



Through time, basketball has developed to involve common techniques of shooting, passing and dribbling, as well as players' positions, and offensive and defensive structures. While competitive basketball is carefully regulated, numerous variations of basketball have developed for casual play. In some countries, basketball is also a popular spectator sport.



While competitive basketball is primarily an indoor sport, played on a basketball court, less regulated variations have become exceedingly popular as an outdoor sport among inner city  youth.

HEIGHT

Article posted March 13, 2007 at 05:42 PM GMT0 • Reads 37

At the professional level, most male players are above 1.90 meters (6 ft 3 in) and most women above 1.70 meters (5 ft 7 in). 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 2 meters (6 ft 6 in) or taller. Most centers are over 2.1 meters (6 ft 10.5 in) tall. The tallest players ever in the NBA, Manute Bol and Gheorghe MureÅŸan, were 2.31 m (7 ft 7 in). The tallest current NBA player is Yao Ming, who stands at 2.29 m (7 ft 6 in).



The shortest player ever to play in the NBA is Muggsy Bogues at 1.60 meters (5 ft 3 in). 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 today 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.[LINK]

ABOUT THE NBA PLAYOFFS

Article posted May 3, 2007 at 06:15 PM GMT0 • Reads 58

Toronto, which saw its 14-point fourth-quarter lead wither down the stretch Tuesday, escaped with a 98-96 Game 5 victory over the Nets after Bostjan Nachbar's last-second 3-point try came up empty. The Raptors still trail in the series, 3-2.



New Jersey closed to within one on Mikki Moore's putback of a Vince Carter miss with 16.8 seconds to play. Chris Bosh then split a pair from the free throw line, which set up Nachbar's potential game-winner on the other end.



Jose Calderon led Toronto with 25 points, picking up extra minutes after T.J. Ford went down in the first quarter and did not return. Andrea Bargnani and Anthony Parker each scored 18, and Morris Peterson added 17.



Vince Carter, who finished with 30 points, and Richard Jefferson, who added 23, combined for 19 points in the final frame. Jason Kidd registered 11 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds.



The series continues with Game 6 on Friday night at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN. i got it from www.nba.com/playoffs2007/series/series_e1s3.html