$1f4|2-NBA





|2-Basketball





|2-Introduction






$588|1-By Case




   This  article  was written really for those who don't know much about
Basketball or the NBA league.  It will go through the basic rules of the
game, and how the season works, so you can hopefully get involved in the
wonderful game of B'Ball.


|1-TEAMS


   Basketball  teams  consist  of  five  players  on  court  at one, and
substitutes.  The five which begin are on court at the start of the game
are  called  the  'starting  five',  and the substitutes are called 'the
bench'.



|1-SCORING


There are only three types of scoring:

3 point shot - taken from outside a semicircle known as the perimeter.
 A three point shot is often referred to as 'shooting from downtown'.

2 point shot - taken from anywhere inside the perimeter.  This includes
 slam dunks and lay ups.

1 point free throw - taken after a foul from the free throw line within
 the key.


|1-THE LEAGUE


The  NBA  league is split into two conferences (East and West), and four
divisions (Atlantic, Central, Midwest & Pacific) as follows:

*NB - I don't know the names of Boston or Toronto's teams, mainly
      because they're so crap they're hardly ever mentioned. :)

|1-EASTERN CONFERENCE


ATLANTIC DIVISION

Team:
Orlando Magic
New York Knicks
Miami Heat
Washington Bullets
New Jersey Nets
Boston ??
Philadelphia 76ers

CENRTAL DIVISION

Team:
Chicago Bulls
Indiana Pacers
Cleveland Caveliers
Atlanta Hawks
Detroit Pistons
Charlotte Hornets
Milwaukee Bucks
Toronto ??

|1-WESTERN CONFERENCE


MIDWEST DIVISION

Team:
Utah Jazz
San Antonio Spurs
Houston Rockets
Denver Nuggets
Dallas Mavericks
Minnesota Timberwolves
Vancouver Grizzlies

PACIFIC DIVISION

Team:
Seattle Supersonics
Los Angeles Lakers
Sacremento Kings
Portland Trailblazers
Phoenix Suns
Golden State Warriors
Los Angeles Clippers



|1-THE NBA TEAMS



CHICAGO  BULLS  -  Last  years Playoff winners.  Considered the best, no
questions asked.  Their team hasn't changed much since last year either.

Players to watch: Michael Jordan - Some say the best player in the NBA.
                                   Has perfected almost every attack
                                   move, esp the jump shot this season.
                  Scottie Pippen - Combined with Jordan a dazzling
                                   attack force.
                  Dennis Rodman  - NBA's badboy, recently suspened from
                                   twelve games because of kicking a
                                   photographer. Easily noticable
                                   because of his multi-coloured hair.


ORLANDO MAGIC - Beaten by the bulls in last years conference finals.
                This season missing Shaquille O'Neal who transferred to
                The L.A Lakers, which could be a blow to the teams
                performance.

Players to watch: Anfernee "Penny" Hardaway - Keeping the team alive
                                              this year. Very fast.


SEATTLE SUPERSONICS - Last years runners up return with the dynamic duo
                      Of Shawn Kemp and Gary Payton.

Players to watch: Shawn "Rain Man" Kemp - Brilliant player probably
                                          best known for his earth
                                          shattering slam dunks.

                  Gary "The Glove" Payton - Watch ouf for his alley
                                            oops to Kemp. Also an
                                            excellent player in his own
                                            right.


These  were  the  main  teams  last  year,  although things seem to have
changed vastly.

Other Players to Watch:

Shaquille "Shaq" O'Neal - L.A. Lakers

Moved  from  Orlando.   Very  Powerful Centre Forward also known for his
dunks.


Charles Barkley - Houston Rockets

Moved from Phoenix. Fast and versitile player with quite a temper.


John  Starks,  Patrick  Ewing,  Hakeem  Olajuwon,  Kevin  Johnson,  John
Stockton, Karl Malone, Reggie Miller


end