Forty-Eight Minutes: A Night in the Life of the NBA

by Bob Ryan, Terry Pluto

This study of a game between the Boston Celtics and the Cleveland Cavaliers provides an in-depth look at the plays, the players, the strategies--and the business concerns behind them all--in the world of professional basketball

Genres: Sports, Basketball, Nonfiction

372 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 1987

Reviews

[Perry · Rating 2 out of 5]

Too much play-by-play The best parts of the book when it pulls away. Refs have a hard job.

[Stuart Bishop · Rating 2 out of 5]

I imagine this book is still a joy for basketball aficionados. Since I’m not, and just have a more general interest in sports writing, I found the play-by-plays interminable (and often impenetrable in their language, which definitely excludes the non-expert!). I skimmed much of the detailed game description, but I did thoroughly enjoy the pre-game, post game and ‘pull away’ sections.

[Tyler Pellom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super unique look at life in the NBA. In a world where every fan thinks of himself as a budding GM, willing to lose on purpose for a better draft pick, or trade every player on a whim, this book really puts the human element of the game into focus. It’s really hard work to win most nights.

Side note: I did not expect my Ohio Bobcats to catch so much collateral damage courtesy of Ron Harper.

[Tony Foxhoven · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great Breakdown of a whole game plus what happens Pre Game and Post Game. I really enjoyed popping in and out of this one during ad breaks while watching current day games.

[Joseph Vasek · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great concept for a book but likely not worth your time if not a fan of the mid-80's Celtics.

[Drew · Rating 5 out of 5]

IF YOU DONT LIKE THAT, YOU DONT LIKE NBA BASKETBALL

[Tom Gase · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a surprise! This book is 27 years old and I found it for a dollar at a book fair. Deal of the year for sure. This book should be read by anyone who is a fan of basketball, especially those that grew up watching the NBA in the mid to late 80s like myself. Authors Bob Ryan and Terry Pluto took you inside a regular season game between the then-champion Boston Celtics and the then-up-and-coming Cleveland Cavaliers played at the old Boston Garden. Great reporting and writing that takes you inside the game and how plays develop and the reason for them. Great stories on a lot of the players like Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, Robert Parish, Dennis Johnson, Danny Ainge, Mark Price, Brad Daugherty, Ron Harper, John "Hot Rod" Williams and others. Really took me back to the days where I still watched NBA games. One of the best basketball books I've ever read, I can see myself reading this again in a few years.

[Bap · Rating 4 out of 5]

Baseball is the rightful magnet of writers but forty-eight minutes is a great sports book about basketball. Written by beat writers for the Boston Globe and the Akron Press, this book is a play by play minute by minute recounting of a game on January 16, 1987 between the Boston Celtics and the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Celtics win in overtime. It doesn't hurt that we are talking about one of the all time best teams in NBA history: Bird, Parrish, McHale, Ainge, and Dennis Johnson. There are digressions about the players, the coaches, the franchises, the game. For anyone who loves the game of basketball, this book nails it

[Michael Conniff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Classic play by play breakdown of an NBA Game.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

probably my favorite sports book... I'm such a geek