How do you play horse with a basketball

Basketball HORSE Rules

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Table of Contents

• Basketball HORSE
• HORSE Competitions In The NBA
• Number of Players
• Deciding Who Goes First
• Taking Turns Shooting
• Horse With Multiple Players
• Boundary Rules
• Types of Shots in HORSE
• Style and Trick Shots
• The Referee
• Strategy in HORSE
• Variations of HORSE
• Creative Add-On Rules
• FAQ

Basketball HORSE

Let’s learn about the rules and regulations of HORSE and how to play.

Here’s what you’ll need to play HORSE:

• A basketball
• A hoop
• At least two players (or more)

In order to set up the game, there are a few things you need to do. You first need to decide who goes first by flipping a coin and calling Heads or Tails. You should also make sure the rim is at least 10ft above the ground and that the basketball is at a pressure of 7. 5-8.5 PSI. Once you’ve done all these things, you’re ready to start playing!

HORSE Competitions In The NBA

The game of HORSE has had a history within the NBA. It is a fun way for players to be competitive with one another while staying connected. The NBA has held three HORSE tournaments over the years: in 1978, 2009, and 2010. Paul Westphal took home the first and Kevin Durant the most recent two. 

Number of Players

HORSE can be played with as many players as you want. The one requirement is that there are at least two. However, the game becomes slower and less exciting the more players it has. You do not want too many players to a point where it takes several minutes in between shots. A good number of players to have in one game is between three and six.

Deciding Who Goes First

Whoever goes first in HORSE gets the first opportunity to put the other players on the defensive. It is a coveted spot, which is why there has to be a fair way to choose who gets to go first.

A popular way to decide who goes first is by seeing who can hit a jump shot first, with the successful player getting to go first. Another method is by flipping a coin. The player who gets to shoot first picks out their first shot and attempts it.

Taking Turns Shooting

At the start of the match, players decide the order in which they will shoot. Determining the order is usually done the same way as deciding who goes first.

During the game, players alternate shooting following that order. If a player misses a shot, the person after them shoots from wherever they want on the court.

If a player makes a shot, the person after them must make the same exact shot. If they miss the shot then they will receive a letter, H for the first miss, O for the second, R for the third, and so on until the word HORSE is spelled. A player loses if they earn every letter in the word HORSE.

In a three-person HORSE game, if there are two consecutive shots made, then player 3 must make that same shot or get a letter.

Horse With Multiple Players

There are two common ways of playing HORSE. In one version, the remaining players DO NOT have to shoot if the person before them misses. In the other version, all players have to shoot the same shot that was made. Neither is considered the "official" way, although some people are more preferential to a particular version. Therefore, it just depends what version of HORSE you are playing. These are important rules that should be discussed before playing so everyone is on the same page.

Boundary Rules

Unlike the sport of basketball, there are no boundaries in HORSE. You can shoot from anywhere and a ball that bounces away is simply picked back up and play resumes.

Creativity is encouraged in the game of HORSE, so long shots outside the traditional boundaries are allowed.

Types of Shots in HORSE

As touched on earlier, creativity is key in the game of HORSE. When you’re shooting you do not need to stick to basic jump shots. Some popular shots that are used in HORSE are as follows:

• Bank Shot: the ball must hit the backboard before going in.
• Swish: the ball is not allowed to touch the rim.
• Opposite Hand Shot: the player shooting must use their nondominant hand.
• No Look: the shot is attempted without looking at the hoop.
• Sitting Down: the player sits down while shooting.

Style and Trick Shots

Trick shots are an excellent way to trip up your opponents and give you a better shot to win the game. Below is a list of a few trick shots to try the next time you’re playing a game of HORSE.

• Behind The Back Shot: The player shoots with their back to the rim, and throws the ball backwards.
• Bounce: The ball must take a bounce off of the ground before going in.
• Swish or no Swish: The ball must go through the hoop cleanly, touching only the net on its way down.

The Referee

Recreational HORSE games do not require a referee, as players can keep track of the score and determine who goes first on their own. On the occasional instance where a ruling is needed, the players talk it out and make their own rulings. Part of this is because the game of HORSE has different rules depending on where you are playing.

In official NBA HORSE games, a referee is responsible for the following:

• Determining the order of players.
• Deciding if a shot is legal.
• Keeping track of which letters each player has.

Strategy in HORSE

In HORSE there are specific strategies used to gain an advantage over the opponent.

Opponent Weaknesses

The number one strategy is to find your opponent's weakness. For example, if they aren’t a good long range shooter, take more long range shots. If they struggle with a certain trick shot like one handed, keep doing those.

Order of Shooting

The order of who goes first in HORSE is a critical advantage. If you have the chance to go first, you can dictate what happens in the game until you miss your first shot.

Variations of HORSE

The game does not always have to be played using the HORSE acronym. Players looking for a shorter game will often play to P.I.G. while players that desire a longer game can make up their own acronym with more than five letters. Another set of differences within the game are the rules themselves.

Creative Add-On Rules

As mentioned, the game of HORSE has many variations. It can be fun to make your own rules. Below are some examples of additional rules that can be added.

• Tip-ins: When the shooter misses the shot you can tip the ball in and the shooter gets a letter if the ball goes into the basket.
• Restrictions: If a player has more skills than you on the court, it is possible to add restrictions such as no dunking in the game.
• Shooter Gets a Letter: If all players make the same shot in the basket the original shooter gets a letter.
• Championship Shot: On the final shot (the E) you get two tries to make it.

FAQ

Are you allowed to do the same shot/trick twice?

The game of HORSE is one with several variations. There is no one set of official rules that one can follow from. However, some iterations of the game state that you cannot perform the same exact shot twice. Other versions state you can do the same shot/trick as long as you didn’t previously make it. It's your decision as to which version you would like to play by.

Are you allowed to bounce the ball of objects?

Bouncing the ball off of objects or the ground is a great way to win a game of HORSE. Not only is it allowed, but it is encouraged. Throw the ball off the fence, the roof, or a tree, whatever works. It’s a tough act to follow, and with a make, the person after you will have a hard time making it themselves.

How do styles work in HORSE?

Style shots are another way to say trick shots. Style shots are an excellent way to give your opponents letters. Shots such as one handed, backwards, and no-look shots are an alternative to the traditional jump shot. They add to the fun of the game of HORSE, keeping it from being the same as the sport of basketball. It is what makes HORSE its own unique game.

How many players can play HORSE?

HORSE can be played with as many players as you want. If you had 20 people who all wanted to play, they all could. However, generally when there’s more people the game becomes less fun. That’s because it takes much longer in between your shots. If you have more than 8 players you might want to consider breaking it up into two smaller games.

What are the rules of HORSE for multiple players?

The game of horse is relatively simple. A shooting order is chosen at the beginning of the game. Players follow that order taking turns shooting. If the player in front of you makes their shot, you have to take the same exact shot. If you miss you get a letter. If you spell HORSE you lose the game. The last player without HORSE wins the game.

What happens when the first player makes the shot?

After it is decided which player gets to go first, they attempt the first shot of the game. They have free range to shoot from wherever they want.  If they are to make the shot then the player after them in the order must make that same exact shot.

What happens when the first player misses the shot?

Alternatively, the first player may miss their shot. If that happens then the next player in the order still shoots, but they do not have to take the same shot that player 1 took. There is a reset of sorts and the second player can shoot whatever shot they choose to.

What happens when the second player makes the shot?

There are two different situations where the second player could make their shot. The difference is based on how many players are in the game. If there are more than two players, the third player would have to take the same shot that player two just made. If there are only two players there is a small catch. If player two makes the same shot that player one had just made, then that shot is over and player one can shoot from anywhere.

What happens when the second player misses the shot?

If the first player makes their shot, then the second player must take that same exact shot. If the second player misses then they receive a letter H for their first miss. The second player must make the same shot only if the player before them made their shot. Otherwise, they can take a shot from anywhere on the court.

Who gets to shoot first in HORSE?

Shooting first in the game of HORSE has its advantages. It allows you to put the pressure on the other players right away with a make. Due to the advantage that it holds it isn’t fair for the same person to start every game. There are two common ways to distinguish who gets to go first: a coin flip or a shootout. A coin flip works well in a two player game. A shootout is good for a game with more people, where the first to make a shot gets to go first.

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How to Play HORSE | PRO TIPS by DICK'S Sporting Goods

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A longtime staple of gym class and driveways, HORSE offers a fun and competitive reprieve from conventional basketball practice routines. Players get to invent new shot challenges and match those designed by opponents. While this game may be a classic, there are plenty of opportunities to get creative with your shots. Prove yourself to be the GOAT with the help of this HORSE guide.

One of the great things about HORSE is that you don’t need a full court to play. Here is what you do need to saddle up:

• Basketball Hoop: Unlike a traditional game of basketball, only one hoop is needed to play HORSE. This makes it easy to play in your driveway at home or on neighborhood courts. If the game is being used as an alternative practice technique, using only one hoop frees up the rest of the court for running other drills.

Need help finding the right hoop for your setup? Learn how to buy a basketball hoop for your home with our Pro Tips guide.

• Basketball: While some classic games like knockout require two basketballs, you only need one to play HORSE. However, it is important to keep in mind the surface area that you are playing on. If you are playing outside, be sure that you have a rubber or synthetic ball. Leather balls can be damaged by gravel and concrete and are best used indoors.
• Two or More Players: Trick shots can be practiced on your own, but in order to play HORSE, you need at least two participants. The more players you have, the longer the game will last.

1. Jockey for Position: Before the game begins, players must decide on the order in which they are going to shoot. This can be decided among the group in many ways, from a brief free-throw competition to rock, paper, scissors.
2. Fire Away: Whichever player was chosen to go first will choose a shot challenge. It can be as simple as a layup or as complex as spinning three times and shooting a behind-the-back shot from the foul line. As the player demonstrates their shot, they must say exactly what they are doing so the other players can accurately imitate their steps.
3. Replicate or Create: The next step is determined by player one’s success. If their shot makes it in the net, all of the remaining participants must attempt the exact same shot. If any of the players fail to score or follow all of the rules laid out by the shooting player, they will receive a letter of the word “horse,” starting with “H.” However, if the first player misses, the next shooter gets a chance to create a new challenge and the cycle repeats.
4. Spell It Out: When a player misses five shots and acquires each letter of HORSE, they are eliminated. The winner is determined when there is only one player left standing.

The game of HORSE is easily customizable for whatever your needs may be, and there are a few ways to extend or shorten the game.

• Race to the Finish: If you are playing with a larger group and want to speed the game up, one variation allows for players to earn a letter when they make a shot rather than when they miss one. In this gameplay, the player who spells out HORSE the quickest is the winner.
• Think Outside the Stable: Another common way to extend or shorten the game is to use different words. One of the more popular variations to shorten gameplay is to use the word “P-I-G,” but longer versions like “G-I-R-A-F-F-E” can also work if you are playing with a smaller group and want to increase playing time.

Part of the fun of HORSE is inventing and trying new shots that would be impossible (or impractical) in a normal basketball game. You may have a go-to move that beats the competition, but in case you want to mix it up, here are some HORSE shot ideas:

• Take a Seat: Test your aim and your strength by attempting a shot from a seated position. (This can also double as a way to get a bit of rest in.)
• Bounce Around: Put your dribbling skills to the test and throw in some between-the-legs moves before taking a shot.
• One-Handed: If your grip strength is an asset, attempting a one-handed toss may give you an advantage over the competition. It may also help you get more velocity on long-distance shots.
• No-Look: Have you ever thought to yourself, “I can do that with my eyes closed!” Well, now is your chance to prove it. Close your eyes or face backward while attempting a no-look shot.

Bring some friendly competition to your driveway with these tips on how to play HORSE. Looking for more ways to play? Work on your shooting skills with the star drill or try Knockout.

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How well do you know basketball and the NBA? — Tricky — tests for girls

In this test, can you find out how well you know the game of basketball? If you are at least a little familiar with this art, then I am sure that you will pass this test. Pass honestly) All concepts are checked and the error is excluded. Play basketball, love basketball)

Question 1.

Shaquille O'Neal played in position ..

point guard

center

attacking defender

in general xs

power forward

small forward

Question 2.

Who is in charge on the field?

coach

secretary

player

i

judge

Question 3.

Which rule does not exist?

rules 8 seconds

3 second rules

rules 7 seconds

rules 5 seconds

rules 24 seconds

Question 4.

What is overtime?

extra time if the score is tied at the end of the game

in general xs

time in the middle of the quarter for negotiations with the coach

time to replace one or more players

this is how each of the quarters is called

Question 5.

Why is it impossible to stay in the opponent's "paint" for a long time (in the area from the basket to the penalty area)

because it's a 3 second rule

you can stay there as long as you want

because it's an 8 second rule

because it's the 5 second rule

in general xs

Question 6.

Which foul does not exist

technical

unsportsmanlike

personal

sportswear

in general xs

mutual

Question 7.

Michael Jordan played in position..

center

in general xs

point guard

attacking defender

light forward

power forward

Question 8.

What happens in the draft?

selection of new players for teams

this is an important match every six months, there are games between teams

in general xs

decide who is in what positions

monthly procedure when the team meets and solves all important issues

Question 9.

Who said it "This game is tasteful, this game is an art defeated in every battle"

Timati

Basta

in general xs

L'One

AK-47

Question 10.

What is dribbling?

pass behind back

dribbling

throw into the ring

same as dunk

Question 11.

What must happen at the end of the 2nd quarter?

in general xs

All players on all teams must change

coaches must release players who have not played

yes nothing special

teams must exchange rings

Question 12.

What is alle-op?

top shot

throws the ball into the basket after a sharp pass from another player

ball dribbling with floor strikes

throw, after a pass by one player to the side of the ring, and scoring by another without landing

in general xs

Question 13.

What is a dunk?

in general xs

throws the ball into the basket after a sharp pass from another player

throw, after a hinged pass of one player to the side of the ring, and driving other

top shot

dribble hitting the floor

Question 14.

What happens to a player who has 5 personal fouls?

no idea

he sits on the bench and cannot play the whole game

the coach decides what he will do

nothing, he keeps playing

he sits down on the bench and can only play in the next quarter

Question 15.

How long does a basketball game last? Yes, I know it's simple.

to infinity

until the judge says

until either team gives up

up to a certain number of points, Let's say up to 25

after timeout

"Basketball - gladiator fights of a healthy person.

" Nikita Belogolovtsev is a fan of the NBA and advises you - Lantern - Blogs

Before heading the direction of storytelling at Yandex.Dzena, Nikita Belogolovtsev made several sports programs, including basketball (“The Brotherhood of the Ring”). Despite working in a different field, three children and a respectable age, he still does not change the NBA - he maintains a basketball telegram channel and sometimes updates the blog on Sports.ru.

We talked about the unpopularity of basketball in Russia, the best players in the NBA, and even a future without 3-pointers.

The Fellowship of the Ring

“I have done many different programs on different channels, about 20 different projects. And The Fellowship of the Ring is one of the programs I'm incredibly proud of. It will sound a little pompous, but there we were responsible for literally every second that was broadcast, we tried to ensure that there were no even gluings of checkpoints.

This program was born in three calls - from the idea to do it after the Russian team won bronze at the Olympics in London, and before our producer Grigory Kovbasyuk called me. “Nikita, urgently collect the concept of the program, we will start in two weeks.” “But I can’t in two weeks, I’m on vacation.” "Then in three weeks."

And we put together a line-up close to the dream team. The head of the program was Nikita Koroteev, who grew up on the Tribune. Voice - Dima Matheransky, who gave us style. Well, Vova Spivak, there is no other person who would be so fanatically fond of FIBA ​​basketball and European basketball. I heard how he commented on the matches of the German championship - I don’t talk about children with such love, as he does about German basketball.

We did wild things: once we were taken to the police because of the shooting of a trick shot. We filmed the first episode in Riga - a dude scored, throwing a two-story house in the backyard of the cathedral.

But the craziest thing happened in Vilnius: we came to the central square, on one side - the cathedral, on the other - the presidential palace, on the third - the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Between them is a monument to Gediminas, the founder of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. We threw so that the ball flew over the pedestal, between the legs of the horse on which Gediminas was sitting and flew into the ring behind him. We left three balls there: there was snow under the horse, and several balls got stuck in it. When we finished filming, the local policemen approached us. “We were called: they say vandalism and hooliganism. Let's go." We have been charged with an administrative offense. The hero of the program was eventually sent a fine of 100 or 200 euros.

The program ran for only one season. In part, it was closed due to the fact that it could only be done on such a super effort, where we constantly came up with something unique. For example, we agreed with the Mercedes salon to give us expensive cars and we raced with Timofey Mozgov. Nikitos Koroteev competed with a Khimki youth team player to see who could shoot the most phones at a cheerleading party. We approached each issue as something special. It ate a huge amount of time and resources. In this sense, Nikita Zagday's program "View from above", successfully aired, is much more technologically advanced, in a good sense of the word.

To be honest, there was a sense of artificiality in what we were doing. Talking about the VTB League is not the easiest thing to do. I have to look for intrigue in the Lokomotiv-Kalev match and explain why it needs to be watched. Or when you have to explain to you the meaning of being in the league club "Donetsk" or "Astana". It was an attempt to help people see that there is more to the VTB league than meets the eye.

This is what happens when a young man invents a girl, and then falls in love with the invented one. So we tried to come up with a wonderful VTB league and tell others about our love. Due to the fact that there are too many conventions, not everything worked out.

Basketball and Oklahoma

“Basketball has always been in the family, because my dad played basketball at the small town level and then at the level of not the strongest college team. He not only taught to play, but put a throw and explained that he was learning to dribble the ball correctly with both hands. In this sense, since childhood, I played at a level that allowed me to be the best in a physical education lesson and not the last on almost any street playground.

I can't say that I was very active, but I went to basketball with my dad, it was CSKA in the Euroleague. I saw a number of bright things that I could not fully appreciate then, but now they suddenly appear in my memory: I saw Sabonis when he was still with Real Madrid, I saw the All-Star Game, which was held in Moscow, where Bodiroga was the best scorer. Then I appreciated all this less, but I loved CSKA, for which it was more pleasant to root when it was a Russian-speaking team. And at 90, like all decent people, watched the NBA when it was shown on the second button and the Gomelskys commented.

As a kid, I was obsessed with how cool Jordan is, how cool Pippen is, how crazy Rodman is and how Kukoc is Kukoc, how funny center Wennington is and how neat Steve Kerr is in shorts. And I watched how they beat the unfortunate Utah every time, which was incredibly sorry. But it seemed that the Jazz were such a perfect nice opponent that it was impossible not to beat. I can’t say that I was a fan of Chicago, but somehow in my world there was the best team, the best basketball player, and in my universe it was unthinkable not to sympathize with them.

Then, like the rest of the league, I had some timelessness after Jordan left. In European basketball, I also got a little disappointed - the charm of going to USC CSKA began to fade.

And then I got my favorite basketball team.

Subconsciously my brain decided: "We'll have more fun, Nikita, if we root for someone in the NBA." Rooting for Chicago was stupid. And then somehow the sale of SuperSonics happened. I never rooted for them, but I read about Sam Presti, looked at what he was doing, fell in love with the concept of building a new young team in a new place.

And, on the one hand, I liked the idea that you can cheer for the team from the very beginning - the team is growing, you are growing, you have some kind of common history, everyone starts from scratch, Oklahoma and me.

On the other hand, I was attracted to Presti. It was easy for me to associate myself with him. This is a rare story for fans when you sympathize not with the history of victories, not with some player, but first of all with the general manager. It was somehow simple and clear for me to look at basketball through his eyes: I never played professionally, and even my not the worst level of basketball would never allow me to feel in the body of a basketball player - I don’t hit from above, I don’t run super fast, I defend imperfectly . It's much easier to imagine yourself as a football player - you can do the same basic set of things. It is more difficult to feel like a basketball player, and the involvement in basketball, which is experienced by a smart guy with glasses who has never played, was closer, simpler and more understandable to me.

Rooting for Oklahoma doesn't hurt.

I'm rooting for Spartak Moscow, and it hurts ten times more. I know what fan pain is, and Oklahoma is definitely not it.

Oklahoma gave hope all the time. The withdrawal syndrome of this hope was gradual. First playoff run - you think we're building a great dynasty. Then you lose Harden - Kevin Martin is awesome, he is no worse, we had the same regular season with him. Then in the playoffs, Westbrook breaks down. Durant broke down - but he will return. We lost to San Antonio simply because Ibaki wasn't there. You always hope for the future.

Durant's move was a shock story. You can't understand how this is even possible. But then you switch to Westbrook's triple-double season. Then George arrives, you think we're back in the game. Then it didn’t work out with George - but you have all the peaks in the world.

Plus, champions rarely change in the NBA. Perhaps the NBA taught me from my childhood experience that there are two and a half teams that win, and there are others that do not win, therefore they do not win at all.

And it's not a shame, such a league.

The main basketball impression

“I can't say that I had one moment that definitely outweighs everything. If Oklahoma had finished off the record-breaking Golden State and made it to the Finals to play against LeBron, I would call this moment.

I was somehow very lucky to see basketball in different variations. It was imprinted in my memory when we went to CSKA games. It was a team of Russian players that you can then approach and say "Hi" to you (because you're with someone they know).

Was in the States for an all-star weekend filming for The Fellowship of the Ring. Sat there at a rookie game where I fell asleep because there was a jet lag. But the feeling itself is fantastic. When you walk around the town of the All-Star Game, listening to Yao (because it was in Houston), it's all amazing.

I watched a game in Brooklyn from the front row: I remember that then Ellis and Jennings for Milwaukee shot 70 in four hands, and the Nets dragged the game-winning shot of Joe Johnson. Then I saw everything that surrounds basketball, from one of the best places in the arena.

That is why American basketball is my favorite, in principle, not only a sports spectacle. I like that both in the league and in terms of a single game, there is not only sports, not only “fight-fight”, that the league is an incredible combination of cultural, socio-economic, legal and other components. Each match is a separate show, a separate performance. And often sport unites everyone and is one of the most important things in the life of the city.

I dream of such a sport in Russia. Not when twenty people came out to kick the ball, and then it is discussed whether Dziuba is an asshole or not. And when there is a gigantic life behind this, and it concerns people who are not at all about playing basketball and not watching basketball. When I saw how it works in the States, it was a very powerful feeling.

And also from such life experiences. I studied at the Faculty of International Journalism at MGIMO: there are about 90 girls and 10 boys. The pinnacle and downfall of my basketball career is the Freshman Cup. So far, I've had a great summer. We traveled for a long time to Montenegro. It was like a training camp for me there, because playing basketball with the Montenegrins is a separate madness. For the first three weeks, absolutely everyone beat me: bespectacled men, fat men, some strange people. By the end of a two-month vacation, they began to take me not the last in the team: they took me seventh out of ten, I came and celebrated. He returned from there in better shape: he went to play every day, and so that it was not completely humiliating, he came in the afternoon and fucked up throws for two or three hours, ran, drove.

We had a shitty faculty team, but we played streetball: there were me and two guys who understood how to hold the ball, if anything, I taught them how to put up screens for me.

All in all, it was the best gaming day of my life. I got everything. I got absolutely brick-shaped throws. We sensationally banged the team of those who had already entered the basketball section in the semi-finals. I just threw in the direction of the ring and hit five three-pointers. Another one picked it up - eleven. In the final, I dragged myself with my tongue on my knee. The score was 3-2. Both of them are dead. And in the last attack, I took the last rebound, I just had to keep it. I landed badly on my knee and tore my anterior cruciate ligament in patchwork. That was the end of my basketball career. Of course, I play, but nothing has been brighter since then.

Greatness of the NBA

“From my point of view, American basketball is the gladiator fights of a healthy person. Again, because absolutely unique people play basketball. It is clear that Messi and Ronaldo are also unique and inimitable. But in general, the statistical probability that you will be born a footballer is much higher. It's something public. Basketball players are absolute celestials, because physically there are very few such people. Physiological elitism makes a strong impression on me: you are watching the battle of ancient heroes - Hector against Achilles. You watch four hundred of the most physically gifted people on the planet play basketball. Okay, four hundred from the NBA, and another hundred from all other sports combined.

And in general it's just cool.

There are no boring games in the NBA. The greatness of the league is that on the absolute worst game day, when two or three games are played, you will still score at least a strong five highlights, or even a ten. People who have been used to watching the NBA since childhood are very spoiled. I can’t say that European basketball is flawed, but if you make a review of the VTB League tour (not the last tournament on planet Earth), you need to pick out these ten highlights, search, find, and sometimes they are ashamed (someone just ran up and scored from above). And the greatness of the NBA is that on the worst game day there will be a stunned selection.

There's never been a match like Manchester City-Manchester United who are talked about all week and they play 0-0 with two shots on goal.

Why basketball is so unpopular

“Because nobody cares about its popularity. Basketball is not lucky with the people who run it. With all due respect to Andrei Kirilenko as a basketball player, it is obvious that he is not the strongest basketball manager.

Historical unpopularity in the country is multiplied by the impotence of the leadership, multiplied by the hegemony of one club, multiplied by the absence of Russian players, multiplied by an inconvenient time to watch the NBA.

And so, when numbers less than one are multiplied, then 0.1 turns out to be 0.01, something completely disappearing.

I think it will change quite quickly and suddenly. Basketball has objectively many advantages. Several things must coincide: there must be a headliner, a new generation must grow up, some other service will buy basketball . .. Some Alfa-Bank will remember that Ivan Urgant loves basketball, come up with a basketball collab with him, and everything will work out.

I don't like the argument that Victor Yan won the short track and everyone went to the skating rinks, but chess sales really grew after the Queen's Move, and this is chess and a very local series. When that happens at the federal level, basketball will explode. Because basketball has awesome starting positions to become a popular sport.

I don't think anything good is going on for basketball right now.

Aleksey Shved is a very good example of why basketball is stagnating in Russia. This is the personification of what I don’t like in Russian sports, what hinders it. If you are Alexey Shved, you have no right not to go to the All-Star Game. Aleksey Shved is the personification of a dude who is in a comfort zone for insane, absolutely non-market money, plays for a team that has the norm to lose from year to year, which is not tired of starting from 2-11. How many interviews did Alexey Shved give? How many times have you come to Evening Urgant? This is a very bad headliner: it hinders the development of Russian basketball.

Moving Up is not a basketball movie. This is a film about how ours defeated not ours. It just so happened that we won basketball. I can appreciate that the final match was filmed well and naturalistically, and my wife sees in this some kind of uplifting film, where there is love, a disabled child, and the guy’s heart stopped, he gestured to the girl in the stands and won. I wouldn't overestimate the basketball component in Moving Up. It's better for basketball that Upward Movement is here than if it didn't exist. But no, this is not a basketball movie.

Now, if Channel One showed something like The Last Dance about that team, it would help basketball. I would release it for the premiere, it would be cool.

In fact, an indicator of how cool and exciting the sport of basketball is that, despite the absolute lack of systematic work, basketball videos on YouTube collect 50-100 thousand views, basketball journalism is still alive, the fourth generation of commentators is growing up "Tribunes". All this is happening “in spite of”, in the absence of broadcasts in Russian, which are just returning to wide access. This speaks to the fantastic potential that basketball has. When this is superimposed on the correct operation, when there is a spark, an explosion will occur.

At least I judge by children. It is difficult for my older children - who are 9 and 5 - to watch football with me, because for a long time, nothing happens, not a very easy game to understand if you did not go to the stadium. When I watch a basket in highlights, cuts, the child always stops, because an understandable action is taking place. As they say in IT, intuitive technology.

ESPN Top 10

LeBron James

Legend.

When I was eight or ten years old, I was worried that all the legends were in the past (Pele, Maradona, Chamberlain and even Jordan ended): “And you, Nikita, you won’t get them.”

It is a happiness that we underestimate that we live in an era when real legends are created, including in basketball. Every time you look at LeBron, you touch eternity. We need to appreciate every second that we can watch him.”

Anthony Davis

“When I resumed the blog on Sports.ru, I looked at the status that I wrote a long time ago. It was a stupid idea to trade Anthony Davis. It boiled down to the fact that, perhaps, they will never reach the final, they paid so much for him in vain. It's hard to underestimate the first pick as much as we underestimated Davis.

Davis is a modern day Pippen. I grew up on the great Pippen. And so is Davis. He was very lucky with LeBron: he will tell you where to stand on the court and what contract to sign.

Giannis Antetokounmpo

Freak. One of the strongest impressions from basketball was when I read about Giannis' ankle length. Once he showed his dad how he walks half the site in three steps. It's a pity for him. In my opinion, Milwaukee have not improved, now they are wildly worried about Bogdanovich. I don't think Holiday will take them anywhere. I think this will be a doomed season for Giannis - he will either take MVP or be close to it, but there will still be no title. They won't even make it to the final."

Luka Doncic

“It's fantastic. One of the main disappointments was that he never saw Doncic live in Europe. But I remember how he played against Oklahoma for Real Madrid. Great White Hope. I want to see a lot of it this season."

Kawhi Leonard

“I have a hard time with Kawhi. It seems that he proved everything to everyone. And Finals MVP with the Spurs and a title with the Raptors. But I still want to say that he is a product of the system, that it's all accidental. I don't get along emotionally with him. I understand that perhaps this is the best two-way basketball player in the NBA, but if you asked me to name my ten, then I would definitely forget about him.

Kevin Durant

Pain. One of my favorite basketball jokes is when delegations from different cities met with him before moving to Golden State, the great quarterback Brady came from Boston, Golden State arrived in full force, “and Kevin Durant came from Oklahoma to meet Durant” . A player of completely unique anthropometry. I hope he comes back healthy and active. And that they will make the heat together with Irving.

Damian Lillard

“Perhaps this is the year when we find out what he really is worth. We used to say that he was not taken anywhere, he was not chosen anywhere. Although during this time he had five All-Star Games, five symbolic fives and a conference final.

This year he has a great team - take it and prove it. Now I list Portland third in the West after two Los Angeles. There is a chance to drag them somewhere in the playoffs, unhook someone cool.

Steph Curry

“I have no idea what state he will be back in. I can’t imagine what inhuman pressure he will play with. How everyone will expect him to fail. How carnivorous everyone will smile: and we said that this bullet can not pull without Durant and Thompson. I hope that he will get them into the playoffs, give five to seven 50-point games.

Well, in general, I am a family man, I have sympathy for the family Curry.”

James Harden

“The Harden trade still hurts. With this exchange, I went through all the stages: bargaining, anger, denial, acceptance ... For a long time I tried to convince myself that this was not as disastrous as everyone believes.

Harden is a great basketball player who epitomizes all the nasty things you can dislike about the league. Bars, alcohol, whims, "exchange me", "I'll give my sidekick a purse with a hundred thousand." The basketball player is amazing, but does not cause sympathy.

If I had to do an interview with any of the top 10, I would certainly be happy with Harden, but least of all. The only one about whom I would say: "Damn, why are you."

Nikola Jokic

“I love Jokic because in the Super Athletics League he gives us all a chance. And he says that even you, a guy with imperfect abs, can play basketball and do it well.

When I re-read my ideas and thoughts, I sometimes get scared. Therefore, I’m afraid for my telegram channel, there are a lot of my thoughts there, which can be read in a year ... But I’m proud that when Roma Sprikut conducted an NBA draft simulation on Sports.ru and we played the Oklahoma team, I insisted that we need a trade with Denver that would have involved Jokic, then the non-athletic MVP of the Adriatic League. I remember fighting for this exchange. The dude in Denver was smart and didn't give us Jokic. But this is one of those cases where I guessed something.

I think Denver will be worse this year. But I wonder how it will be - without Craig and Grant, without protection. Something bright and circus.

The only troublesome dude on this list seems to me to be Durant. Simply because we don't know what form he is in and what he can do now. If you take it out of the brackets, then I would replace it with Butler. He, of course, should be in the top ten as a person who dragged the team to the final with one snout.

Who will be the champion in 2021

“If you put a gun to your head, the Lakers championship would probably be the safest bet. They've gotten great. Pelinka showed that he still knows how to work as a general manager. Schroeder will help them tremendously. Harrell is a good signing to unload the leaders, they will drag the regular season.

That being said, I think we're underestimating the factor of two seasons in a row: LeBron is going to have an incredibly hard time putting in the effort he's supposed to. Rationally, I want to say that the Lakers should become the champion. But intuitively I believe in it.

And then a topical question for Russia arises: if not the Lakers, then who? And now I feel like saying that Brooklyn has good chances.

What will be the future of basketball

“It's hard to say about the future of basketball as a game. Basketball is such a self-sufficient thing that does not need anything.

Why is it difficult to make feature films about basketball? Basketball is so rich that it often turns out to be brighter than cinema. Shoot a feature film about the Toronto championship, no one will believe it, they will say that this is some kind of cloying garbage. It would have ended beautifully: “In a hockey country, a basketball club that no one believed in became a champion in its twenty-third year of existence. Hockey teams haven't won the Stanley Cup in twenty-six years." It doesn't happen, but it did!

What will happen to the basketball show, we began to notice in the bubble. The future will come when wide-angle cameras will be installed around the court, which will allow you to watch basketball from anywhere. This is already more or less implemented on compact things like boxing. Basketball will be shown more and more through the eyes of the players: how the rally looks like from the position of the defender or the corridor for passing under the basket, they will show slow-mo in replays and in moments. It's all technical stuff. On the brink of augmented reality.

Plus, statistics will be added to broadcasts. In clutch time, they will be able to display the statistics of involvement in the clutch with one button, so that you understand who the attack will develop through. You will be prompted for information about teams that you rarely watch. Everywhere they use big data and everything else, ligpass will quickly analyze which teams you know better and worse, and conclude what additional statistics can be shown.

Then this data will grow into the broadcast - the marking of the throwable zones, the probability of something, and so on.

From the point of view of the game itself, I think that after a while we will see a little more contact again.

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