Basketball and the NBA
Learn the facts (事实) about your
favorite sport.
Trevor Ariza contorts himself for a reverse
layup in Game 5 against Houston
Who created basketball?
• Dr. James Naismith, a
Canadian physical education
professor (教授), created
basketball in December 1891.
• He wanted to create a vigorous
(苍劲) indoor sport for his
students to play during the
winter.
• He decided to nail a peach
basket to each end of the gym.
Each player had to try to throw
a ball into the basket.
Dwight
Howard and
Paul Pierce
battle for a
rebound in
Game 6.
What is the NBA?
• The NBA of the National
Basketball Association is
professional men’s basketball
league.
• There are 30 teams. 29 in the
USA and 1 team in Canada.
• The NBA is headed by a
commissioner and each team
has a president and a coach.
NBA Teams
Paul Gasol and Yao Ming battle for
rebounding position
Where does the NBA get the
basketball players?
• The draft is a lottery (抽
奖) where players are
chosen.
Basketball Positions
Guards: There are two types of guards.
They are the point guard and the shooting guard.
Allen Iverson
Michael Jordan
Guards
• The point guard is the player that can
handle the ball the best
– Job is to make teammates better, give assists
– Jason Kidd and Steve Nash
• The shooting guard is the best shooter on
the team
– Needs to hit 3-point shots, and become open
– Dwyane Wade and Kobe Bryant
Basketball Positions
Center: The center is usually the tallest person on the
team. They play in between the basket and the freethrow line.
Shaquille O’Neal
Yao Ming
Center
• Plays close to the basket
• Tries to make rebounds and score points
“in the paint,” or in the key
• Yao Ming and Shaquille O’Neal
Basketball Positions
Forwards: There are two types of forwards. The small
forward and the power forward.
LeBron
James
Carmelo
Anthony
Forwards
• Small Forwards need to move fast
– They try to power the ball to the basket, and
often try to get fouled so they can go to the
line
– Lebron James and Carmelo Anthony
• Power Forwards
– Try to play defense at the basket, and tries to
set up jump shots
– Tim Duncan and Kevin Garnett
Basketball Court
Positions on Court
Boston Celtics
• Won 17 NBA
Championships, most
of any team
• Key Players: Kevin
Garnett, Ray Allen
• 2008 NBA Champions
Cleveland Cavaliers
• Team started in 1970
• They were very bad
• In 2003 they got Lebron James
Dallas Mavericks
• The Mavs started in
1980
• Lost 2006 NBA Finals
• Got Jason Kidd in
2008
Houston Rockets
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Team started in 1967
Won 1995 NBA Finals
Got Yao Ming in 2002
Key players: Yao Ming, Ron
Artest,
New Jersey Nets
• Began in 1967
• Team is in a
rebuilding period
• Traded Jason
Kidd in 2008
Miami Heat
• Team started in 1988
• Won 2006 NBA Finals
• Key Player: Dwyane
Wade
Philadelphia 76ers
• Oldest team in NBA, started in 1949
• Has had lots of hall-of-fame players
• Key player: Elton Brand
Phoenix Suns
• Started in 1968
• Key players: Steve
Nash, Shaquille O’Neal,
Grant Hill, Amar’e
Stoudemire
• My favorite team
San Antonio Spurs
• Started in 1976
• Have been to the playoffs in 19 of past 20
years
• Have not missed playoffs since 1997
• Key player: Tim Duncan
Chicago Bulls
• Started in 1966
• Won 6 Finals in 8 years
with Michael Jordan
• Not the same since
Orlando Magic
• Team started
in 1989
• Key player:
Dwight Howard
Los Angeles Lakers
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Started in 1946
Has been in 29 NBA Finals, the most
14 NBA Championships, second most
Key players: Kobe Bryant, Derik Fisher,
Lamar Odom
NBA Finals
• Series played in 2-3-2 game format
• Team with better regular season record
gets home court advantage
• In 1995 Orlando was swept by Houston
– To sweep means to beat the other team all 4
games in a row
NBA Finals
• Larry O’Brian
Championship Trophy
• Created in 1978
• Named after former
commissioner in 1984
• Team has names
engraved in trophy
Important Basketball Vocabulary
(词汇量)
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Three Point Shot
Block
Steal
Lay-up
Full Court-Press
Free Throw
Dribbling
Slam Dunk (Dunk)