Basketball, More Than Just a Game

James Naismith

James Naismith is the man who, in 1891, started the incredible game of basketball. All of the plays, from perfect pick 'n' rolls, to breathtaking crosscourt passes, to blocks and posterizing dunks that leave the crowd with chills down their spine, it all started from a single peach basket. The NBA (National Basketball Association), now has 30 official teams, a sixteen team playoff, and seven game series. This was not the case in years past. 

 January 20th, 1892. The first official basketball game is played in Albany, New York, with an end score of 1-0. February 14, 2017. Cavaliers 116, Timberwolves 108. How did this happen, might ask. How did 125 years and 23 days change the sport of basketball? That is what I'm gonna tell you about. The first recorded college game was in 18953 Hamline University played Minnesota A&M. Minnesota won 9-3. The following are some of the major rule changes and other events that affected basketball. 

• 1954-54 season. The 24-second shot clock is introduced
• 1979-80 season. Three-point line is established
• 1947-48 season. Foul out limit is increased from 5 to 6. Roster size reduced from 12-10
• 1972-73 season. The bonus, double bonus is invented
• 1977-78 season. During the last two minutes of regulation or overtime, if teams call a timeout right after getting possession of the ball, they get the choice of where they inbound the ball, midcourt of spot of possession. 
• 1980-81 season. Coach on opposing team chooses who shoots free throw after flagrant. 

Basketball means a lot to me. I went from the kid who couldn't make a layup, who was worst on his b team, to leading the B team as the youngest kid, to being on the A team as a young kid. It isn't great, but that improvement has meant a lot to me. I went from not knowing who Lebron James was, to taking NBA quizzes for fun to test my knowledge. When I needed someplace to go, outside to my basketball hoop is where I go. Playing basketball at lunch. Basketball after school. Watching the Blazers in the evening. Basketball has become a daily routine that I love. This year I've been trying to focus on my defense and physicality, getting one foot in front of the ball handler and stopping his drive. I've been known as the sharpshooter, the guy who is great at threes. While I like that, I want to be more. This season I worked on ramming into the defender in the key, right after I make a sweet shot fake and drive in. I want to get rebounds, and that has worked given that my leading stat is in fact rebounds. Basketball has become part of me, and I love it in every different way. 

CJ McCollum is my favorite player. Shooting Gaurd, just like me. Not the tallest guy, just like me. I admire his athleticism, going from averaging 5 points a game, to Most Improved Player, averaging over twenty points. He's extremely physical, and is also a sharpshooter, like me. He goes to the small name schools. Catlin Gabel. Lehigh. He is what I'd love to be. Basketball player, yet part-time journalist. I would love to be a sports writer. It is my dream job, going to major sports events, front row seats, writing about sports. Perfect for me. If I ever meet CJ, I'd be incredibly honored, knowing that he is my living dream.

I don't know if I could live without basketball. What would I do? How would I procrastinate :)? Going outside to shoot a sphere into the 18-inch diameter circle, going straight through the orange lining and creating the perfect "swoosh" sound as it ripples through the net. My favorite part about basketball though, is away games. I love away games. They are way better than home. The crowd cheering loudly fuels me, players who's faces I just look at and I want to cross up and drain a three in their face, they fuel me. Team's pregame chants and loud clapping, the rowdy parents who yell at the ref, that used to scare me. Now it just brings a smile to my face, thinking, 'wow, this is gonna be a fun night'.