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The Art of a Beautiful Game: The Thinking Fan's Tour of the NBA
Chris Ballard sits down with the NBA’s most passionate, cerebral players to discover their tricks of the trade and to learn what drives them. He reveals the roots of Kobe Bryant’s limitless competitiveness; shadows LeBron James to figure out how he deploys his prodigious talent; and challenges Steve Kerr to a three-point shootout to analyze the mind-set of a pure shooter. Ballard tracks down renowned dunkers to explore the slam’s impact on today’s game, follows Shane Battier during his extensive pregame preparations, gets pointers from a free-throw shooting guru who once hit 2,750 in a row, and attends an elite NBA training camp to experience the pain that turns a prospect into a pro. Packed with fascinating characters and startling anecdotes, and grounded in the superb writing and the reportage that is the hallmark of Sports Illustrated, The Art of a Beautiful Game is an often witty, always insightful look at the men like Steve Nash, Dwight Howard, and Dirk Nowitzki who devote themselves to this elegant and complicated sport. It’s an inside read on the game that will surprise even diehard fans.
240 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2009
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2902 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 89 reviews
March 24, 2011
There is a curious attitude among a certain sect of basketball fans that frequently is voiced around this time of year. Many passionate basketball fans actively disdain the college variety. Since I am guilty of this prejudice, I feel like I can lay out the thoughts behind it. I don't think it's a reaction to the product of college hoop itself, but a reaction to others' reaction. Call it The King's Speech effect. College basketball represents a perfectly entertaining display of hoops, but when others over value the merely good at the expense of the great, somehow, in the eyes of the connoisseur, the once good becomes mediocre or less. The following sentence, for me, is not opinion but incontrovertible fact. In terms of basketball viewing experience, the NBA is a far superior product to college hoops. Expressing a dissenting opinion to a NBA fanatic produces a reaction that isn't like anything else in sports. For a similar paralel I have to go back to my jam-band phase. NBA fans feel about college fans the same way Phish fans feel about Widespread Panic fans. There's a feeling that they are so close to understanding something, but they settle for this shit.
Since these are pretty strong opinions, let me try to anticipate any dissenting points:
NBA players don't try hard until the playoffs: This argument drives NBA fans, including myself, bonkers, but there is a small degree of in it. The NBA season is an 82 game season followed by up to 28 postseason games. If every guy went 100% throughout the regular season they would be exhausted by the time the playoffs started. The NBA is much more of a marathon than the NCAA. But here's the thing, even if they're not going 100%, they're going 80-95%. People who make this argument are basically penalizing NBA players for making the remarkable look effortless. I contend that what makes college players look like they're trying harder is that they are nowhere near as good. So what's actually looks like hard work is actually sloppy work.
They don't play defense in the NBA:This makes sense because once a player leaves college he forgets how to play defense. I would argue the opposite of the above statement. It looks like there's less defense, but maybe it has something to do with NBA players being able to hit jump shots. People are misled because good defense gets beat by great offense.
The college game is more exiting and has a better atmosphere: There's not a lot to be said to the latter claim. However, I think the atmosphere at college games is marred by a lot of tacky party enthusiasm, or TPE. TPE is a term that my 12th grade Government teacher came up with to describe a situation where the anticipation of the subsidiary aspects of an event overwhelm and eventually detract from the actual event. For example, the girls who went to Beatles concerts in the '60s solely to scream so loud that you couldn't here the band were displaying tacky party enthusiasm. Their sense of obligation to engage in supplemental activity detracted from the actual experience of going to a rock concert. The degree may not as bad in college hoops, but tacky party enthusiasm is still prevalent. Jumping around, being loud, yelling at the refs, and other activities detracts from the actual experience of watching a basketball game. The bands, dance teams, and student spirit make for an entertaining event, but are aspects that is supplementary to the supposed purpose of the actual event, a basketball game. Of course the NBA does not offer a pristine, virginal, viewing experience. In fact, the subsidiary aspects of NBA games such as obnoxious announcers, t-shirt cannons, jumbotrons telling the crowd to cheer, blaring in-game music, are much worse than what is offered at the average college game. But for the purpose of this argument, that doesn't matter. I'll grant that college hoops may offer the better spectacle, but the NBA offers by far a more entertaining basketball-watching experience, whether in person or on television.
There is another argument used by those who don't habitually watch basketball on tv that can be applied to both varieties: Why watch the whole game when you can watch the last five minutes? While I don't see why this is usually applied to basketball it can be answered easily. Because I get an aesthetic pleasure from watching the game. Basketball is much more than 10 tall men trying to put a ball into a hoop. Instead, it's a combination of thousands of other hidden aspects. While this is true of all sports, in basketball it's easier to not appreciate the small things.
The Art of a Beautiful Game is the best exploration of such small things I've ever read. From the strange psychology of free throws to lost art of shot blocking, Chris Ballard gives a tour of the professional basketball game. The book is structured as a series of articles focused on different aspects of the game, that often focus on a specific player. Ballard isn't content with simply saying that Kobe Bryant is dominant because he is relentlessly dedicated. Instead he tries to figure out why and how he is so relentlessly dedicated. Reading the book gives the reader a greater appreciation of the easy to miss aspects of the game. You notice the particular movements a player makes when they are attempting to contest a jump shot, the approach a big man selects when attempting to snare a rebound, the exact form a shooter follows when taking a three.
Basketball is arguably the sport that provides the best exhibition for athleticism. The NBA features the world's best athletes at the peak of their skills. Ballard's book can give either the casual or die hard fan a better understanding and appreciation of the sport most able to provide moments of visual transcendence.
December 1, 2014
As a fella with the AIM screenname NBA ALLSTA from 6th grade to now 30 years of age, I appreciated and loved soaking up every word of this book.
If you love basketball and appreciate the game for all of it's wonderful components then this is the book you need to read!
Thank you Chris Ballard for this fascinating nugget of basketball gold.
If you love basketball and appreciate the game for all of it's wonderful components then this is the book you need to read!
Thank you Chris Ballard for this fascinating nugget of basketball gold.
February 12, 2015
As a big basketball fan, I liked it a lot. Ballard looks at a different special skill in each chapter and discusses an interview with a player that displays that skill. For example, he discusses pure shooters and goes into a shooting game that he played against Steve Kerr for this book. He writes about defensive specialists with an interview and analysis of Shane Battier's game. Though it's nothing groundbreaking, I think it's interesting to hear basketball players speak outside the cliches of media interviews and appearances. Ballard actually asks them specific questions about their craft, and they give insightful answers.
I'd recommend this book for any basketball fan and any for anyone that wants to gain a larger appreciation for basketball. I think both sets of readers would be able to take something away from this book. The only reason why I didn't give it five stars was because I wish it could have been longer. (Also, as a huge fan of the post game, I wish he had had a chapter dedicated just to post moves!)
I'd recommend this book for any basketball fan and any for anyone that wants to gain a larger appreciation for basketball. I think both sets of readers would be able to take something away from this book. The only reason why I didn't give it five stars was because I wish it could have been longer. (Also, as a huge fan of the post game, I wish he had had a chapter dedicated just to post moves!)
August 7, 2019
I spend a lot of time defending my love of basketball in general and the NBA in particular to people who regurgitate the same tired arguments ("They only try hard in the playoffs," "You only have to watch the last two minutes," "The college kids play with so much more PASSION," etc.) without having given the matter any critical thought. Instead of engaging with these people in the future, I should probably just loan them my copy of this book. Within about 300 pages, they'll have the opportunity to understand everything that makes basketball players the world's best athletes and often truly admirable, dedicated craftsmen even in a world where those who call themselves fans don't want to put in the time to figure out what sets this sport and its masters apart.
September 20, 2018
It was probably much more interesting and relevant 9 years ago when it was published. Reading about impressive work ethic was enjoyable. The stories about Steve Nash were great. There was a whole chapter on Lebron, and that seems to have been prophetic given his consecutive Finals run since then.
June 11, 2024
This was a fun read! I've been getting back into watching the NBA after taking a decade or so off. This book is a bit dated (which is mostly on me for reading it 15 years after it was published) but the author spoke about (and extensively interviewed!) a some players I used to watch growing up, like Steve Nash. It also gave me some pointers that I'll be thinking about during my weekly basketball games (re: rebounding is less about skill and having the willpower and dedication to follow every shot). Fun and easy little read for any basketball fan.
August 6, 2014
As a basketball junkie and YMCA weekend warrior, I had to read Chris Ballard’s book on the aesthetic beauty of the game invented by Dr. James Naismith over 122 years ago. Ballard, who writes for Sports Illustrated, shares the conversations he’s had with LeBron, Kobe, Dwight Howard, Steve Nash, and countless others. This book will not improve your game (i.e., it’s not an instructional manual), but it does offer revelations on why Kobe is so hyper-competitive, how Shane Battier prepares for his defensive match-ups, who the pros go-to during the offseason to improve/evolve their skills, why the game and its players have had to adapt generation-to-generation.
Some interesting ‘Did You Knows’:
* The free throw shot is actually 13 feet, 9 inches from the center of the basket to the shooting line. The distance from the line to the backboard is 15 feet.
* The NCAA banned dunking from 1967 to 1976.
* Only 4% of American males are taller than 6’2”.
* In 2008, LeBron cited Ron Artest and Matt Harpring as the 2 opponents who deliver the toughest beating while he’s guarding them.
Some interesting ‘Did You Knows’:
* The free throw shot is actually 13 feet, 9 inches from the center of the basket to the shooting line. The distance from the line to the backboard is 15 feet.
* The NCAA banned dunking from 1967 to 1976.
* Only 4% of American males are taller than 6’2”.
* In 2008, LeBron cited Ron Artest and Matt Harpring as the 2 opponents who deliver the toughest beating while he’s guarding them.
October 29, 2013
I really enjoyed reading this book because not only does it discuss the physical challenges that elite athletes face but the mental challenges too. The author, Chris Ballard, analyzes the important aspects of the game of basketball through different players. Many chapters include the stories about what drives each player and how they are able to become ready to play. I would recommend this book to those that would like to learn more about the sport that they love.
January 18, 2017
Every basketball nerd needs to read this book it covers pretty much every aspect of basketball from the intense offseason workouts all the way to the mamba mentality of Kobe Brayant. This is probably my favorite book ive ever read
July 19, 2023
Bankroll management in practice
While the once-a-year soccer bettor doesn't have to consider their finances, even the novice, regular bettor does. Anyone betting long-term will benefit from these few minor mathematical considerations. For guidance on how to choose a bookmaker visit this page. Be as prepared as possible for sports betting sites.
Step 1: Determine the size of the pot
Probably the most important aspect of running a bank is getting a good idea of its financial health. Investing the right amount of money in yourself will help alleviate the emotions associated with gambling and therefore many bad decisions.
To determine the right investment amount, first ask yourself the following question: How much money can I afford to lose? If your answer to the question is less than your investment, end the mission immediately.
This number varies greatly between bookmakers and depends entirely on your personal finances and risk tolerance. Don't put €1,000 in your account if you'll need that money for a lease or car payment.
Instead, decide on a reasonable amount of money to invest from your savings—a number you're willing to lose in the worst case scenario. You can also choose to pay a fixed amount in cash, say monthly.
Step 2: Determine the size of the bet
After determining how big your pot is, the next step is to determine the size of your individual bets. Just because you've invested €1,000 in sports betting doesn't mean you should give up betting.
The above situation can be categorized as “negative risk asymmetry”. Your potential risk (real, not just economic) exceeds your potential gain. Doubling would be good, loss, disastrous. Never stress so much that one loss or several losses in a row is enough to delete your account.
Instead, you should determine a percentage of your bankroll that you can comfortably allocate to each bet. Gamblers fall into three categories: risk-averse, risk-neutral, and risk-loving; these categories refer to the preferred bet sizing strategies: conservative, medium and aggressive.
The rule of thumb is that a conservative bettor bets 1-2% of their bankroll, an average bettor 3%, and an aggressive bettor 4-5%. For example, if you follow a conservative strategy and have a bank of €1,000, your standard bet size should be between €10 and €20.
Step 3: Recalibrate your bankroll and risk
We should mention here that real money betting is subject to a deposit on your part. This is done via bank transfer and debit cards, as well as electronic wallets such as PayPal and Skrill. Each bookmaker chooses the odds provided to you.
As you continue to place bets, your bankroll will change. While hopefully positive, any change in bankroll size may require recalibration. Let's say you started with €1000 and an aggressive strategy, betting €50 - what if your bankroll grows to €1500?
The first option is to do nothing. You can hope to continue your success with these €50 bets. However, the more money you win, the smaller percentage of €50 bets will be in your bank.
In other words, if you keep the €50 bets after your bankroll reaches €1,500, you'll only be betting around 3% of your bankroll - reducing your risk strategy from aggressive to moderate.
To avoid this, you can always recalibrate your bet when your bankroll changes. In the previous example (if you want to keep the bet size at 5%), you change the standard bet from €50 to €75.
If it seems a little boring to recalculate your bet after every win or loss, it is. Most bettors prefer to recalibrate their bankroll on a fixed schedule – perhaps once a month.
The third option is to withdraw money. If you feel comfortable with your €50 bets and want to keep proportional to an aggressive strategy, you can choose to withdraw any money that exceeds your €1000 base investment.
You can also use a hybrid strategy to withdraw, say, half of your winnings. This strategy allows you to slowly grow your bankroll while consolidating your profits.
How does bankroll management give you an edge in sports betting?
While it may seem monotonous to take the time to calculate these financial details, it is definitely worth the effort. Of all the changes you can make in the game, managing your bank properly can be the best way to earn money. This is the difference between a long-term strategy and moving forward without a plan. Whatever the profit rate, proper bank management is essential.
While the once-a-year soccer bettor doesn't have to consider their finances, even the novice, regular bettor does. Anyone betting long-term will benefit from these few minor mathematical considerations. For guidance on how to choose a bookmaker visit this page. Be as prepared as possible for sports betting sites.
Step 1: Determine the size of the pot
Probably the most important aspect of running a bank is getting a good idea of its financial health. Investing the right amount of money in yourself will help alleviate the emotions associated with gambling and therefore many bad decisions.
To determine the right investment amount, first ask yourself the following question: How much money can I afford to lose? If your answer to the question is less than your investment, end the mission immediately.
This number varies greatly between bookmakers and depends entirely on your personal finances and risk tolerance. Don't put €1,000 in your account if you'll need that money for a lease or car payment.
Instead, decide on a reasonable amount of money to invest from your savings—a number you're willing to lose in the worst case scenario. You can also choose to pay a fixed amount in cash, say monthly.
Step 2: Determine the size of the bet
After determining how big your pot is, the next step is to determine the size of your individual bets. Just because you've invested €1,000 in sports betting doesn't mean you should give up betting.
The above situation can be categorized as “negative risk asymmetry”. Your potential risk (real, not just economic) exceeds your potential gain. Doubling would be good, loss, disastrous. Never stress so much that one loss or several losses in a row is enough to delete your account.
Instead, you should determine a percentage of your bankroll that you can comfortably allocate to each bet. Gamblers fall into three categories: risk-averse, risk-neutral, and risk-loving; these categories refer to the preferred bet sizing strategies: conservative, medium and aggressive.
The rule of thumb is that a conservative bettor bets 1-2% of their bankroll, an average bettor 3%, and an aggressive bettor 4-5%. For example, if you follow a conservative strategy and have a bank of €1,000, your standard bet size should be between €10 and €20.
Step 3: Recalibrate your bankroll and risk
We should mention here that real money betting is subject to a deposit on your part. This is done via bank transfer and debit cards, as well as electronic wallets such as PayPal and Skrill. Each bookmaker chooses the odds provided to you.
As you continue to place bets, your bankroll will change. While hopefully positive, any change in bankroll size may require recalibration. Let's say you started with €1000 and an aggressive strategy, betting €50 - what if your bankroll grows to €1500?
The first option is to do nothing. You can hope to continue your success with these €50 bets. However, the more money you win, the smaller percentage of €50 bets will be in your bank.
In other words, if you keep the €50 bets after your bankroll reaches €1,500, you'll only be betting around 3% of your bankroll - reducing your risk strategy from aggressive to moderate.
To avoid this, you can always recalibrate your bet when your bankroll changes. In the previous example (if you want to keep the bet size at 5%), you change the standard bet from €50 to €75.
If it seems a little boring to recalculate your bet after every win or loss, it is. Most bettors prefer to recalibrate their bankroll on a fixed schedule – perhaps once a month.
The third option is to withdraw money. If you feel comfortable with your €50 bets and want to keep proportional to an aggressive strategy, you can choose to withdraw any money that exceeds your €1000 base investment.
You can also use a hybrid strategy to withdraw, say, half of your winnings. This strategy allows you to slowly grow your bankroll while consolidating your profits.
How does bankroll management give you an edge in sports betting?
While it may seem monotonous to take the time to calculate these financial details, it is definitely worth the effort. Of all the changes you can make in the game, managing your bank properly can be the best way to earn money. This is the difference between a long-term strategy and moving forward without a plan. Whatever the profit rate, proper bank management is essential.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 19, 2024
A sportfogadási oldalak különböző típusai magyarázata
Rengeteg különféle típusú online fogadási oldal közül lehet választani, ezért az újoncok számára ez túlterhelt lehet. Melyek a fogadási oldalak különböző típusai? Ezen az oldalon többet megtudhat az online sportfogadásokról és a magyar játékosokra fogadást kínáló vezető szolgáltatókról!
Ebben a blogbejegyzésben közelebbről megvizsgáljuk az online fogadási oldalak legnépszerűbb típusait – beleértve a fogadóirodákat és a fogadási tőzsdéket is. Innen megtalálhatja az Önnek megfelelő fogadási oldalt.
Bukmékerek
A bukméker, más néven sportfogadás, a legnépszerűbb sportfogadási oldal. A fogadóirodák elfogadnak fogadásokat az eseményekre, és minden lehetséges kimenetelre szorzót állítanak fel. Az oddsok meghatározása a fogadóirodák által az egyes kimenetelek valószínűségére vonatkozó értékelés és az egyes opciókra helyezett pénzösszeg alapján történik. A fogadóirodák profitot termelnek, ha úgy kezelik az esélyeiket, hogy az áraikat úgy állítják be, hogy „egyensúlyba hozzák a könyvet”, vagyis az esemény kimenetelétől függetlenül profitot termelnek. A bukmékerek fizikai helyeken, például versenypályákon és sportstadionokon, valamint online platformokon is megtalálhatók.
Az online fogadóirodák sokféle fogadást kínálnak, beleértve a hagyományos fix szorzós piacokat, mint például a nyertes és a minden irányban, valamint az alul/felett, hendikepeket, gyűjtőfogadásokat és új fogadásokat. Számos online fogadóiroda kínál kaszinójátékokat, pókert (WOSP) és az online szerencsejáték egyéb formáit.
Fogadási tőzsdék
A fogadási tőzsde egy olyan platform, amely megkönnyíti a peer-to-peer fogadásokat a bukmékerek elleni fogadás helyett. Ez lehetővé teszi a felhasználók számára, hogy különböző kimenetelekre fogadjanak, és testreszabják saját szorzóikat, amelyeket a többi felhasználó elfogadhat. Ennek eredményeként a fogadási cserék nagyobb rugalmasságot kínálnak, és gyakran jobb esélyeket biztosítanak a fogadónak.
A tőzsde jutalékot kap a nyert fogadásokért, de nincs személyes érdeke az esemény kimenetelében. Bár a fogadási tőzsdéket elsősorban sportfogadásra használják, más események, például politikai választások és valóságshow-k esetében is felhasználhatók.
Fogadási brókerek
A fogadási bróker közvetítőként működik a fogadók és több bukméker vagy fogadási tőzsde között. Egyetlen platformot kínálnak a fogadóknak a fogadások megtételére, így nincs szükség több bukmékernél vagy tőzsdénél vezetett számlák kezelésére.
A fogadási brókerek bevételre tehetnek szert a fogadóirodák és a kínált szorzók különbségéből, vagy jutalékot számíthatnak fel a megtett fogadásokért. Ezeket gyakran nagy volumenű fogadók vagy professzionális fogadók használják, akiknek nagyobb piacokhoz kell hozzáférniük, és inkább egy oldalon keresztül központosítják fogadási tevékenységeiket.
Spread fogadási oldalak
A sportfogadási platform lehetővé teszi a felhasználók számára, hogy fogadásokat tegyenek sporteseményekre, és az előrejelzésük pontossága és a fogadásuk nagysága alapján nyerhetnek vagy veszíthetnek.
A spread sportfogadás különbözik a hagyományos sportfogadástól, mivel magában foglalja a szórásra vagy a lehetséges kimenetelek halmazára történő fogadást, például a szerzett gólok vagy pontok számát egy mérkőzésen. A felhasználó fogadhat, hogy a tényleges eredmény a spread felett vagy alatt lesz, és a tét nagysága határozza meg a lehetséges nyereséget vagy veszteséget.
Az elterjedt sportfogadás vonzó a sportrajongók és fogadók számára, akik előnyben részesítik a rugalmasságot és a magasabb hozam lehetőségét a hagyományos fix szorzós fogadáshoz képest.
Tote Pool Sites
A tote fogadási oldalak alternatív sportfogadási formát kínálnak a lóversenyeken és agárversenyeken.
A Tote rendszer, amelyet pool fogadásnak is neveznek, az összes tétet egyesíti, és az üzemeltetői jutalék és adók levonása után a nyereményt szétosztja a nyertesek között. A sportfogadás ezen formájának nincs rögzített szorzója, és a végső osztalékot az egyes választásokon megtétek teljes összege határozza meg.
Rengeteg különféle típusú online fogadási oldal közül lehet választani, ezért az újoncok számára ez túlterhelt lehet. Melyek a fogadási oldalak különböző típusai? Ezen az oldalon többet megtudhat az online sportfogadásokról és a magyar játékosokra fogadást kínáló vezető szolgáltatókról!
Ebben a blogbejegyzésben közelebbről megvizsgáljuk az online fogadási oldalak legnépszerűbb típusait – beleértve a fogadóirodákat és a fogadási tőzsdéket is. Innen megtalálhatja az Önnek megfelelő fogadási oldalt.
Bukmékerek
A bukméker, más néven sportfogadás, a legnépszerűbb sportfogadási oldal. A fogadóirodák elfogadnak fogadásokat az eseményekre, és minden lehetséges kimenetelre szorzót állítanak fel. Az oddsok meghatározása a fogadóirodák által az egyes kimenetelek valószínűségére vonatkozó értékelés és az egyes opciókra helyezett pénzösszeg alapján történik. A fogadóirodák profitot termelnek, ha úgy kezelik az esélyeiket, hogy az áraikat úgy állítják be, hogy „egyensúlyba hozzák a könyvet”, vagyis az esemény kimenetelétől függetlenül profitot termelnek. A bukmékerek fizikai helyeken, például versenypályákon és sportstadionokon, valamint online platformokon is megtalálhatók.
Az online fogadóirodák sokféle fogadást kínálnak, beleértve a hagyományos fix szorzós piacokat, mint például a nyertes és a minden irányban, valamint az alul/felett, hendikepeket, gyűjtőfogadásokat és új fogadásokat. Számos online fogadóiroda kínál kaszinójátékokat, pókert (WOSP) és az online szerencsejáték egyéb formáit.
Fogadási tőzsdék
A fogadási tőzsde egy olyan platform, amely megkönnyíti a peer-to-peer fogadásokat a bukmékerek elleni fogadás helyett. Ez lehetővé teszi a felhasználók számára, hogy különböző kimenetelekre fogadjanak, és testreszabják saját szorzóikat, amelyeket a többi felhasználó elfogadhat. Ennek eredményeként a fogadási cserék nagyobb rugalmasságot kínálnak, és gyakran jobb esélyeket biztosítanak a fogadónak.
A tőzsde jutalékot kap a nyert fogadásokért, de nincs személyes érdeke az esemény kimenetelében. Bár a fogadási tőzsdéket elsősorban sportfogadásra használják, más események, például politikai választások és valóságshow-k esetében is felhasználhatók.
Fogadási brókerek
A fogadási bróker közvetítőként működik a fogadók és több bukméker vagy fogadási tőzsde között. Egyetlen platformot kínálnak a fogadóknak a fogadások megtételére, így nincs szükség több bukmékernél vagy tőzsdénél vezetett számlák kezelésére.
A fogadási brókerek bevételre tehetnek szert a fogadóirodák és a kínált szorzók különbségéből, vagy jutalékot számíthatnak fel a megtett fogadásokért. Ezeket gyakran nagy volumenű fogadók vagy professzionális fogadók használják, akiknek nagyobb piacokhoz kell hozzáférniük, és inkább egy oldalon keresztül központosítják fogadási tevékenységeiket.
Spread fogadási oldalak
A sportfogadási platform lehetővé teszi a felhasználók számára, hogy fogadásokat tegyenek sporteseményekre, és az előrejelzésük pontossága és a fogadásuk nagysága alapján nyerhetnek vagy veszíthetnek.
A spread sportfogadás különbözik a hagyományos sportfogadástól, mivel magában foglalja a szórásra vagy a lehetséges kimenetelek halmazára történő fogadást, például a szerzett gólok vagy pontok számát egy mérkőzésen. A felhasználó fogadhat, hogy a tényleges eredmény a spread felett vagy alatt lesz, és a tét nagysága határozza meg a lehetséges nyereséget vagy veszteséget.
Az elterjedt sportfogadás vonzó a sportrajongók és fogadók számára, akik előnyben részesítik a rugalmasságot és a magasabb hozam lehetőségét a hagyományos fix szorzós fogadáshoz képest.
Tote Pool Sites
A tote fogadási oldalak alternatív sportfogadási formát kínálnak a lóversenyeken és agárversenyeken.
A Tote rendszer, amelyet pool fogadásnak is neveznek, az összes tétet egyesíti, és az üzemeltetői jutalék és adók levonása után a nyereményt szétosztja a nyertesek között. A sportfogadás ezen formájának nincs rögzített szorzója, és a végső osztalékot az egyes választásokon megtétek teljes összege határozza meg.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 14, 2018
On Wednesday (11 May 2018), I finished reading “The Art of a Beautiful Game: The Thinking Fan’s Tour of the NBA” (2009©) – written by: Chris Ballard. The game in question is basketball and not soccer – which is what I assumed the book would be about until I opened it. My copy did not come with the dust cover and the sub-title is not on the binding. Oh, well…
This book is a blend of various types of sports authorship: part biography, part techniques and skills, part biology, part X’s and O’s and part psycho-babble. Interestingly, the blend worked and the book ends up an entertaining and interesting (if not particularly useful) read. Sometimes a hard childhood makes a superstar, sometimes it doesn’t. Sometimes “just” being superb at individual skills and techniques will elevate you to superstar status, most times it doesn’t. Most times being a biological freak will get you into the league – even if it is not enough to make you a superstar. And, it appears, sometimes superstars are cerebral. Unfortunately, the book doesn’t confirm (or prove) ALL superstars are cerebral or that average and not-quite-superstar players are not equally cerebral (thoughtful about their game / skills). And, because correlation does not prove causation, we can’t know if being cerebral makes a player a superstar. Causation appears unlikely, though.
The book breaks down the “art” of the game into twelve particular skill sets / attributes the author wants to describe, including: “killer instinct”, pure shooting, free throws, defense, rebounding, blocking shots and being big. There are five other specifics, but these (listed) are representative of the book. Each chapter uses interviews with one or two active players – active as of the time of writing or the decade immediately prior – (2009 or the 1990’s) to relate the star to the author’s proposed “art“. Through first person interviews and interviews with teammates and coaches, we get a feel for what makes the “superstars” truly super. It turns out: great genes, desire, practice, coaching and attention to detail, and luck are all it takes to be great. (Sarcasm: “WHO would have guessed?”)
So, is the book any good and was it worth my time reading it? Yes, and yes. The author played basketball at a much lower level and what clearly comes across is his love for the game and his feelings (not so subtle) that, “If only…” This is a feeling which almost everyone who has seriously participated in any sport can relate to – particularly if you too “loved” your sport.
Final recommendation: strong recommendation. I tend to read books (history, sports, biographies and science books) to scratch a particular itch. While I can’t say I learned anything generally about sport or basketball, or anything specifically about skills and techniques in this book, I did thoroughly enjoy reading about the players and their views on their skills and sport. Sometimes, just reading about passion for a subject is enough to make a subject more interesting than the book about the subject itself really ought to be. It’s the difference between “love for the game” and diagrams of X’s and O’s. This book scratches the first itch, even if it pretty much ignores the second. I got the book at Half-Priced Books for $2. Well, worth the cost and the time – particularly if you like hoops. (Unashamedly, I do!)
This book is a blend of various types of sports authorship: part biography, part techniques and skills, part biology, part X’s and O’s and part psycho-babble. Interestingly, the blend worked and the book ends up an entertaining and interesting (if not particularly useful) read. Sometimes a hard childhood makes a superstar, sometimes it doesn’t. Sometimes “just” being superb at individual skills and techniques will elevate you to superstar status, most times it doesn’t. Most times being a biological freak will get you into the league – even if it is not enough to make you a superstar. And, it appears, sometimes superstars are cerebral. Unfortunately, the book doesn’t confirm (or prove) ALL superstars are cerebral or that average and not-quite-superstar players are not equally cerebral (thoughtful about their game / skills). And, because correlation does not prove causation, we can’t know if being cerebral makes a player a superstar. Causation appears unlikely, though.
The book breaks down the “art” of the game into twelve particular skill sets / attributes the author wants to describe, including: “killer instinct”, pure shooting, free throws, defense, rebounding, blocking shots and being big. There are five other specifics, but these (listed) are representative of the book. Each chapter uses interviews with one or two active players – active as of the time of writing or the decade immediately prior – (2009 or the 1990’s) to relate the star to the author’s proposed “art“. Through first person interviews and interviews with teammates and coaches, we get a feel for what makes the “superstars” truly super. It turns out: great genes, desire, practice, coaching and attention to detail, and luck are all it takes to be great. (Sarcasm: “WHO would have guessed?”)
So, is the book any good and was it worth my time reading it? Yes, and yes. The author played basketball at a much lower level and what clearly comes across is his love for the game and his feelings (not so subtle) that, “If only…” This is a feeling which almost everyone who has seriously participated in any sport can relate to – particularly if you too “loved” your sport.
Final recommendation: strong recommendation. I tend to read books (history, sports, biographies and science books) to scratch a particular itch. While I can’t say I learned anything generally about sport or basketball, or anything specifically about skills and techniques in this book, I did thoroughly enjoy reading about the players and their views on their skills and sport. Sometimes, just reading about passion for a subject is enough to make a subject more interesting than the book about the subject itself really ought to be. It’s the difference between “love for the game” and diagrams of X’s and O’s. This book scratches the first itch, even if it pretty much ignores the second. I got the book at Half-Priced Books for $2. Well, worth the cost and the time – particularly if you like hoops. (Unashamedly, I do!)
January 19, 2016
George Travers
Ms.Zucker
American Literature
15 January, 2016
NBA Fans Fiction Becomes a Reality
“Splash! Steve Kerr drains another three pointer! The fifth of the game for him!” yelled the announcer. Have you ever wondered what it would be like to meet Steve Kerr and have a shooting contest with him? The Art of a Beautiful Game by Chris Ballard is the perfect book for NBA lovers and any hoop junkie. This nonfiction book looks at every aspect of the game of basketball and the players who were the best at playing it. Throughout the book Ballard meets numerous NBA players and conducts experiments with them. For example, at the ripe old age of 44, will Steve Kerr still be able to make 18 of 25 three pointers? With insightful interviews and quotes from famous NBA players such as Kobe Bryant and LeBron James, Ballard is on a mission find out what really drives an NBA superstar. The Art of a Beautiful Game is an informative, inspiring, behind the scenes view of one of the most popular worldwide sports, basketball.
Chris Ballard digs down deep into the game of basketball. Much deeper than how to make a jump shot, or how to block shots. He finds out what makes players tick, what drives them to step on a court day after day: “With Bryant, his competitive fire manifests itself during practice, during games, during summer workouts, during conversation” (Ballard 7). This quote is small but has significant meaning. It speaks to Bryant’s character and his relentless pursuit to win everything in life. This quote shows that if you really want to achieve something you must always work at it every time you get the chance. You are able to get a true sense of Bryant’s dedication to the game and his true desire to win and be the best. To be one of the top competitors in the world like Kobe Bryant you must treat a summer workout with zero fans the same as the NBA championship with 20,000 fans. To have this mentality in everything you do is a true challenge. Ballard illustrates Bryant’s sheer determination to win: “How many of us can imagine thinking that way? How do you maintain focus when you’re beating someone 79-0? How do you say, O.K., this point matters every bit as much as the previous 79 even when it clearly doesn’t?” (Ballard 17) The preceding quote is from Bryant’s high school days, when he used to play one on one with his teammates. Kobe would be winning 79-0 in a game to 80, but he still treated every point like it mattered. His mental toughness and resilience is mind-boggling. This inside glimpse into the mindset of NBA players is a truly inspiring read for any basketball fan.
Chris Ballard intimately delved into the lives of many current and former NBA players to get all this amazing information and see if his theories were really correct: “I wondered, could someone like Steve Kerr, five years removed from his NBA playing days, still stroll out on the court and drain threes? Or, like most mortals, would he succumb to the time away, lack of practice and aging?” (Ballard 29) Instead of just wondering, Ballard set up a date and time to meet with Steve Kerr. During this time, Ballard and Kerr had a three point contest to see if Kerr could still sink three pointers. Ballard predicted Kerr would make about 14 of 25 three pointers. Kerr made 18 of 25, which is good enough to win the three point shooting contest in the present NBA! Ballard also met up with a former all star defender in the NBA, Shane Battier: “He usually doesn't drive, he only has 31 times all season, 31!” (Ballard 135). Shane Battier, one of the league's premier defenders at the time, had the assignment to lockdown the new star of the NBA, LeBron James. Battier did just that and his team had a blowout victory. Later Chris Ballard interviewed him about the win. Battier shared his thoughts- to him, it's all a numbers game. Ballard described Battier as google, he knew every stat of every player he went up against. Battier said this is where his success lied. This book finds the secrets of how NBA stars perform at such a high level directly from the players themselves. It is a gift to the reader to get this unfiltered perspective from true lovers of basketball.
Not only does Ballard meet former NBA stars and talk about how they are so competitive, he gained tons of great information from them to share in this book. He broke down tiny parts of the game of basketball into more information than anyone could have imagined: “The free throw is one of the easiest shots in basketball: an unguarded 15-footer. Technically, in fact, the shot is only 13’9”, the distance from the line to the center of the hoop” (Ballard 77).
This insightful information can be found all throughout the book. Ballard found out what motivated the players and he assessed many parts of the game and shared them with the reader. This information can’t be found anywhere else and can even help out your game! Ballard met with one of the all time best free throw shooters, Ray Allen to learn how he became so successful. Allen was a great shooter but was not known much for his dunking. Dunking is one of the many things that defines basketball and why people love it: ”Most of us never will, though, so we live vicariously through those who can, reveling in their ability to make the impossible look easy” (Ballard 72). Ballard talked about all the aspects of dunking, the positive and the negative. He gave endless tidbits of information about former NBA dunkers and how players hate only being known for dunking. The Art of a Beautiful Game captures you from the start, it is filled with lots of great and unknown information and puts it into a seamless story any basketball fan cannot miss out on.
The Art of a Beautiful Game is inspirational, as well as informational. It provides us with many secrets of famous players of the NBA. This book has many interviews, Ballard spoke with many different NBA stars and they shared their personal stories and perspectives that can't be found anywhere else. Reading this book makes you feel like you are talking to Dwight Howard about how he grabs so many rebounds. Or Steve Nash about his incredible passes and how he has eyes in the back of his head. Not only does this book just share many amazing facts, it also has many notable quotes from athletes about how to succeed at anything in life, not just basketball. This book is an absolute must read for all fans of basketball and any basketball players!
Work Cited
Ballard, Chris. The Art of a Beautiful Game: The Thinking Fan's Tour of the NBA. New York, NY: Simon & Schuster, 2009. Print.
June 2, 2018
The author, Chris Ballard, claims there is an art in basketball, that only certain players can master it, for it requires a combination of dedication, talent and intuition.
This book is not about how the pick-and-roll could be played ot about the most compelling moments in the game. It's not about one season or the inner workings of a team or the genius of a coach. Ballard says that the book is rather about the beauty of basketball, it pretends to be a celebration of the game and those who play it at the highest level.
Ballard is a writer at Sports Illustrated, and he spent many time talking to NBA players in researching this book. Both their passion and their prodigius skills are evident. He interviewed more than 150 players, current (in 2009 when he wrote the book) and retired.
Each chapter is devoted to a specific skill, and most of them are expemplifed by a well-known player. The list is composed of: pure shooters (Steve Kerr), rebounding (Dwight Howard), defense (Shane Battier), point guards (Steve Nash), anatomy of a prototype (LeBron James), free throws (Nick Anderson) and killer instinct ()Kobe Bryant, dunks, blocks, training, superbigs (Shaq, Yao) and blocks.
The book has an interesting and different approach to NBA, but it's a little outdated one decade later because of the evolution of the game, and it is also too positive and flattering with the players. However, you can see how Ballard has access to many players, most of the relevant ones in that era.
This book is not about how the pick-and-roll could be played ot about the most compelling moments in the game. It's not about one season or the inner workings of a team or the genius of a coach. Ballard says that the book is rather about the beauty of basketball, it pretends to be a celebration of the game and those who play it at the highest level.
Ballard is a writer at Sports Illustrated, and he spent many time talking to NBA players in researching this book. Both their passion and their prodigius skills are evident. He interviewed more than 150 players, current (in 2009 when he wrote the book) and retired.
Each chapter is devoted to a specific skill, and most of them are expemplifed by a well-known player. The list is composed of: pure shooters (Steve Kerr), rebounding (Dwight Howard), defense (Shane Battier), point guards (Steve Nash), anatomy of a prototype (LeBron James), free throws (Nick Anderson) and killer instinct ()Kobe Bryant, dunks, blocks, training, superbigs (Shaq, Yao) and blocks.
The book has an interesting and different approach to NBA, but it's a little outdated one decade later because of the evolution of the game, and it is also too positive and flattering with the players. However, you can see how Ballard has access to many players, most of the relevant ones in that era.
May 12, 2018
Being a basketball fan and player, this book expressed the beauty of the game and opened my eyes to how impactful the game of basketball is. I chose to read this book because I simply love anything related to the game of basketball so how could reading this book hurt? Ballard goes the extra mile to provide knowledge about the game and basically explains all facets of the game through player analysis and more. Basketball may seem like just a simple game to put a rubber ball in a basket, but Ballard showcases the true art of the game and how much more to the game there is than just an orange ball and a hoop. Ballard showcases some of the NBAs best like Steve Nash and Kobe Bryant as examples of true professionals, on and off the court. I throughly enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone, regardless if you are sports fan or not you will find this book interesting and intriguing. Bravo Chris Ballard!
June 16, 2019
I gave this a 3 although thought about giving it a 4. It is good, but I didn't give it a 4 because it isn't as cohesive as I'd like, just more fun bits and pieces.
I skipped around a bit but the author had fun stories (I highly recommend the Steve Kerr section for Warriors fans) that focused around different skills and parts of basketball (e.g. free throw shooting, blocking). I definitely didn't realize how good of a shooter Kerr is, the author does 3 point shooting with Kerr years after he retires and he still hits 20/25 or some crazy number.
The section on Kobe's mindset was pretty good too, to see how consumed people can become in one activity.
I also enjoyed the parts about other training camps/consultants people go to, the main one in Florida and the guy who never played or coached in the NBA who is now sought after by elite athletes like Lebron.
I skipped around a bit but the author had fun stories (I highly recommend the Steve Kerr section for Warriors fans) that focused around different skills and parts of basketball (e.g. free throw shooting, blocking). I definitely didn't realize how good of a shooter Kerr is, the author does 3 point shooting with Kerr years after he retires and he still hits 20/25 or some crazy number.
The section on Kobe's mindset was pretty good too, to see how consumed people can become in one activity.
I also enjoyed the parts about other training camps/consultants people go to, the main one in Florida and the guy who never played or coached in the NBA who is now sought after by elite athletes like Lebron.
January 17, 2018
The idea behind the book is good, and Ballard definitely had access all the biggest names in the NBA in his role as a Sports Illustrated writer. But the unnecessary profanity was a bit disappointing. (I don't remember SI having that much cussing, though it's been a while since I read it.)
Also there was something about addressing each basketball topic with a current (in 2009) player, that made it seem very dated. You get the feeling that the players being hyped as especially gifted in an area -- for instance Shane Battier in defense -- are not really anything special, they're just a player. So nearly a decade later, it can feel very dated.
Just as Father Time passes by Kobe, so it does this book...
Also there was something about addressing each basketball topic with a current (in 2009) player, that made it seem very dated. You get the feeling that the players being hyped as especially gifted in an area -- for instance Shane Battier in defense -- are not really anything special, they're just a player. So nearly a decade later, it can feel very dated.
Just as Father Time passes by Kobe, so it does this book...
August 1, 2018
The book was decent, but lacked the technicalities of the game necessary to be deemed a thinking fan's tour of the NBA.
Yes, you will learn about what separates the best passers, rebounders, dunkers, shot-blockers, and scorers from the rest, but that is too one-dimensional.
There is no information of the game as a whole, scoring tactics(i.e pick and roll). offensive and defensive strategies and a philosophy of the game.
Yes, you will learn about what separates the best passers, rebounders, dunkers, shot-blockers, and scorers from the rest, but that is too one-dimensional.
There is no information of the game as a whole, scoring tactics(i.e pick and roll). offensive and defensive strategies and a philosophy of the game.
April 14, 2023
the author did a good job contextualising what kind of person famous players were.
There were some far reaching myth making that was quite offputting and smooth brained.
The writing style comes off like a dedicated fan rather than a deep exploration of the beauty that comprises great basketball.
There were some far reaching myth making that was quite offputting and smooth brained.
The writing style comes off like a dedicated fan rather than a deep exploration of the beauty that comprises great basketball.
March 19, 2019
Enjoyable read, some chapters are more interesting than others
January 11, 2018
Divertido e com histórias legais. Menos técnico do que eu imaginava.
Pena que em oito anos, o jogo já mudou tanto que o livro tá quase desatualizado em alguns pontos.
Pena que em oito anos, o jogo já mudou tanto que o livro tá quase desatualizado em alguns pontos.
November 9, 2018
Basketball is way funner to read about than politics!
October 13, 2019
This book is very benefit with me because it supports lots of good informations about art of playing basketball, they teach me how to play basketball, rules and how to make a good freethrow.
Read
December 10, 2019i think about this book is cool
April 1, 2020
2.5 Stars
April 18, 2025
if you are both a fan and a student of the game, I highly recommend. Basketball IMO is the most beautiful and creative game of all.
October 21, 2016
This book gave me an entirely new appreciation for the game.
November 20, 2015
The Art of a beautiful Game: The Thinking Fan’s Tour of the NBA by Chris Ballard was a good informational book. I knew choosing this book that it would talk about specific professional basketball players and coaches, but I wasn't ready for what information the players in this book were going to give out. The book was only slow in the beginning for each chapter then toward the end of every chapter it would pull me deep into the book because of the surprising information the players were giving. Me being an athlete and sports lover this book told me information that I can use in a positive way in my sport and to my fellow teammates. It taught me the best way to handle certain sport situations I might have in the future. Even though I don't play basketball I still can use this information in my other sports I play.
After reading a certain chapter from this book I had one question about Kobe Bryant he said, “After every game in the 2008 Finals against the Orlando Magic I stayed in the gym til everyone left and I took 100 free throws”. The question I had was what was his motivation to stay after and perfect his free throws even when he was the best free throw shooter in the NBA?
This book is about a Sports illustrated writer who goes behind the scenes and interviews the NBA basketballs’ top players. He finds out the players tricks of the trade and learns what and how they got to become the most dominantly players in the league.The Art of a Beautiful Game is an original insightful look at the men like Steve Nash, Yao Ming, and Alonzo Mourning who attach themselves to this select and complicated sport. In the book every chapter is talking about a top basketball player they talking about how they got to where they are now and what motivated them. It provides information about players that you would've never thought could be true in any way.
The Author Chris Ballard ultimately provides basketball fans what they all want: an inside read on the game they love. I would recommend this book to basketball lovers or possibly just sport lovers who like to read. I give The Art of a Beautiful Game a 3 out 5.
After reading a certain chapter from this book I had one question about Kobe Bryant he said, “After every game in the 2008 Finals against the Orlando Magic I stayed in the gym til everyone left and I took 100 free throws”. The question I had was what was his motivation to stay after and perfect his free throws even when he was the best free throw shooter in the NBA?
This book is about a Sports illustrated writer who goes behind the scenes and interviews the NBA basketballs’ top players. He finds out the players tricks of the trade and learns what and how they got to become the most dominantly players in the league.The Art of a Beautiful Game is an original insightful look at the men like Steve Nash, Yao Ming, and Alonzo Mourning who attach themselves to this select and complicated sport. In the book every chapter is talking about a top basketball player they talking about how they got to where they are now and what motivated them. It provides information about players that you would've never thought could be true in any way.
The Author Chris Ballard ultimately provides basketball fans what they all want: an inside read on the game they love. I would recommend this book to basketball lovers or possibly just sport lovers who like to read. I give The Art of a Beautiful Game a 3 out 5.
January 22, 2016
“The Art of a Beautiful Game” by Chris Ballard is a amazing book, if you are a basketball fan you have to read this book. It talks about all the different aspects of basketball, also it talks about some NBA stars that made a legacy in the NBA for example in the beginning they talk about Kobe Bryant and how good of a shot he was and still is. I thought in the beginning that this book would be terrible because it was just talking about Kobe Bryant but then I read ahead some and I found out that each chapter talks about something different in the game of basketball. I recommend this book because it is full of facts and talks a lot about the sport we all love. People who don't like basketball can still read this book because it ain't just about Basketball, it is also about the players and their life. If I were to rate this book I would rate it a 3.5 out of 5 because in the beginning it was pretty boring but as I went on with it I started to like it more.
What happened in this book is they would take a certain part of basketball like shooting for example and they would talk about it for a whole chapter then they would go onto the next part which can be confusing but also really cool. If you are a person who likes basketball then you best better go out and give this book a shot because it will just talk about the game you love. I loved this book and I really hope you do too when you read it. A lot of people gave this book a 4.2 out of 5 stars and I totally agree with them because It's a great book but there are parts that they could make way better. I hope you like this book because I sure did.
What happened in this book is they would take a certain part of basketball like shooting for example and they would talk about it for a whole chapter then they would go onto the next part which can be confusing but also really cool. If you are a person who likes basketball then you best better go out and give this book a shot because it will just talk about the game you love. I loved this book and I really hope you do too when you read it. A lot of people gave this book a 4.2 out of 5 stars and I totally agree with them because It's a great book but there are parts that they could make way better. I hope you like this book because I sure did.
April 4, 2011
While I think the title is a bit of a misnomer this book is all the same pretty masterfully done and we'd expect no less from a Sports Illustrated writer. I think I'd characterized it with more emphasis on the behind the scenes aspect than the "thinking fan's" claim. Here is no great treatise on various strategies employed and how they vary from player to coach and so on but then to be fair that would be a tough thing to accomplish. This is more insightful in terms of giving a person a look into what makes some of the most successful players like Kobe Bryant succeed and it is not by being a nice guy.
Frankly I'd suspect he pulled his punches a bit with people like Bryant because he does after all have to deal with him in the future I'd presume so I'd recommend you take it under consideration. If this is true then Bryant is more than just a hard driving over achiever he is by most standards a jack ass to be around. Not just him mind you but he is a prominent example one could also look at Kevin Garnet.
Not done with it but it is a pleasant read from an author who knows how to spin a yarn. It is not overly scholarly but then it shouldn't be as he is not writing for an academic community. I think the book succeeds brilliantly.
Before buying it I would recommend checking if they have it at the library though as it likely will not be found on most peoples shelves alongside Dickens, Homer, or anything like that.
Frankly I'd suspect he pulled his punches a bit with people like Bryant because he does after all have to deal with him in the future I'd presume so I'd recommend you take it under consideration. If this is true then Bryant is more than just a hard driving over achiever he is by most standards a jack ass to be around. Not just him mind you but he is a prominent example one could also look at Kevin Garnet.
Not done with it but it is a pleasant read from an author who knows how to spin a yarn. It is not overly scholarly but then it shouldn't be as he is not writing for an academic community. I think the book succeeds brilliantly.
Before buying it I would recommend checking if they have it at the library though as it likely will not be found on most peoples shelves alongside Dickens, Homer, or anything like that.
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