An Examination of the Effect Street Ball Has Had on the National Basketball Association

Home , Crossover dribble, Double dribble, Dribbling, Field goal (basketball), Flagrant foul, Three seconds rule

投稿類別: 英文寫作

篇名: 街頭籃球在美國職業籃球及籃壇上的影響和演變

Topic: An Examination of the Effect Street Ball Has Had On The National Basketball Association

作者: 郭懿。台北縣私立淡江高中。雙語二李玟潔。台北縣私立淡江高中。雙語二

Authors: Yi-Kuo。Tam Kang High School。Bilingual Two Wen-jie Lee。Tam Kang High School。Bilingual Two

Instructor: Carl Hill Jr.

指導老師: 何凱

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I. Introduction

Since its creation in 1893, basketball has become a popular sport in almost every

country in the world. Professional basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players

compete with each other, using strategies, personal abilities, and teamwork to win against the

other team. Professional basketball evolved around the same time as street ball. The first

“standard basketball” league was founded in 1946 with its name “NBA “or National Basketball

Association. Today the National Basketball League is the top professional basketball league in

the world in terms of popularity, salaries, talent, and level of competition.

When basketball originated, it was played in what people today think is a very

unorthodox way. There were no three point lines, and very simple tactics and strategies were

used when playing; and the players themselves were not in the extraordinary physical condition

that we see many of today’s athletes in.

In the 1960’s, people started playing new, amazing styles of basketball on outdoor courts.

This was the emergence of Street Ball. The transition from an old school playing style, to a new

way of playing the game of basketball with more rules, better physical conditioning of the

players, and stronger competition. The street ball format however, is more conducive to allowing

players to showcase their own individual skills and abilities, which has had a positive and

negative effect on the National Basketball Association.

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The impact of Street Ball on the National Basketball Association

With its many aspects and styles, street ball has influenced the National Basketball

Association (NBA) both positively and negatively. Many players from the NBA began playing

basketball on black top courts in their neighborhoods. This enabled them to bring many different

styles to the way the game is played in the NBA. Through exploration of both the NBA and

street ball, the strong negative impact that street ball has had on the NBA will be demonstrated.

While street ball has undoubtedly assisted the NBA with its player contribution, it has also

negatively affected the efficiency and effectiveness in which NBA games are coordinated and

performed.

III. Origins of the National Basketball Association

The roots of traditional style of NBA basketball.

The National Basketball Association (NBA) was founded in New York City on June 6,

1946, as the Basketball Association of America. The league adopted the name National

Basketball Association in 1949 after merging with its rival, National Basketball League

(NBL). On August 3, 1949, the BAA agreed to merge with the NBL, creating the new National

Basketball Association new league had seventeen franchises located in a mix of large and small

cities, as well as large arenas and smaller gymnasiums and armories. In 1950, the NBA began the

process of consolidating itself to eleven franchises. Years later, the emergence of what we know

PDF created with pdfFactory Pro trial version www.pdffactory.com now as the NBA began. Teams like the Celtics and Lakers, and players like Bill Russell and Wilt

Chamberlin, helped spur the league into becoming a very popular sport and form of

entertainment worldwide.

IV. Origins of Street Ball

Where did this new style of basketball originate?

Street basketball's beginning stemmed from Washington, DC. and New York City in the

early 1900s. The talent and perseverance of the players from these two cities saw the

establishment of amateur leagues such as the Black Basketball League, Washington’s

Interscholastic Athletic Association and the Colored Intercollegiate Athletic Association. The

actual basketball game was only part of the entertainment at these street ball events. It was a

social gathering that took place both on the streets and in arenas. There were often even live band

performances for the crowd’s enjoyment. After the games, the audience took to the floors and

danced as the bands played the latest pop songs. Game organizers and promoters soon saw that

street ball could be a very profitable business and the fine line between professional and amateur

was crossed.

V. The Rules of NBA

Professional basketball players in NBA play a more formal and professional style of

basketball than street ball players. Their routines require much more training and practice, and

PDF created with pdfFactory Pro trial version www.pdffactory.com players have extensive game experience and knowledge. They also play under better conditions

and terms as a professional. As a professional player in the NBA, one must adhere to the coach's

strategies and commands and work with other members of the team. Freestyle and street style

plays are not present; players follow rules and strategies to make the game more practical and

exciting.

The NBA has many rules, more than 150 in all. For example, in regards to personnel,

each team must have five players on the court during a game. Starting lineups for each team must

be supplied to the game's official scorers. Designated captains are the only players allowed to ask

a referee about a rule interpretation during a timeout. A head coach, a maximum of three

assistant coaches, players and a trainer are the only ones allowed on the bench during a game.

In regards to scoring, a successful field-goal attempt inside the three-point line counts

two points and outside the three-point line counts three points. A made free-throw attempt results

in one point. A regulation NBA game is forty-eight minutes long. The clock stops for a number

of reasons, such as a foul, a traveling or double dribble violation, or when the ball has gone out

of bounds. The games are divided into four twelve-minute quarters. If the score is tied after

regulation play, overtime periods of five minutes are played until a winner is determined. A shot

clock insures that each team receives twenty-four seconds after gaining possession of the ball to

attempt a field-goal attempt by hitting the rim with a shot.

The game is controlled and managed through player physical contact and their ability to

stop other players from scoring. Players can be assessed personal fouls and flagrant fouls, and

players and other team personnel can be assessed technical fouls. Technical fouls are primarily

given for behavioral infractions, such as arguing with a referee or fighting. Personal fouls are

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particularly rough, a player can be assessed a flagrant foul. Fouls result either in free throws or

possession for the other team. Players cannot move with the ball without dribbling it. They

cannot dribble with two hands at the same time. They cannot pick up their dribble, and then

resume dribbling.

VI. Rules of Street Ball

The rules of street ball are rather different. First, the players separate themselves into two

equal teams with each team consisting of three players. There is a coin toss to determine which

team will have the ball at the start of the game. They use a half court setup with one hoop. The

court should be marked with the base and sidelines, the three-point arc and a free-throw line.

The game is setup as standard basketball normally would be, only shooting at the same

hoop for each team. The ball is given to the defense, after the offense has made a basket, and

they begin behind the three point line. To change possession without a basket being scored, a

player must clear the ball behind the three-point arc before attempting to make an offensive

move. Teams win the game if they are the first team to get 15 points, or if after 20 minutes of

play your team has scored the most points. If the score is tied after 20 minutes, the next point

scored after time has been called determines the winning team.

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І. Positive impacts

Street ball had affected the NBA in both positive and negative ways. The NBA has a far

more traditional style of play that is capable of attracting older and younger fans. The Street ball

style uses far more stunted plays and tricks. Things that would not be acceptable in the NBA due

to the way the rules are constructed. The street ball format allows for the violation of traditional

NBA rules, primarily for the entertainment of the fans. Players come from the streets have better

tricks and specials to appeal the fans. For example, the stylish crossover dribble and lavish dunks

that get the crowd and audiences off their feet when they occur. This style of play brings a type

of excitement that is very different from the NBA. It ignores the rules, and is conducted strictly

for the appeal of its audience.

Players from various Street Ball leagues have made a transition from Street Ball to the

NBA primarily because the NBA pays it players substantially more money. This adds different

styles to the league, different players with different styles, street ball styles. For example, when

Rafer Auston (who was referred to as Skip to My Lou in Street Ball leagues) has added his own

creational style into the NBA and had a sensational impact during his era. He often tried to use

his street ball style while playing in the NBA, and while excited and invigorating for the fans, it

was not the most effective way to win games in the NBA. Furthermore, it shows how the street

players style of play, although similar is not very effective in the NBA. Street Ball games allot

players more freedom to showcase their outstanding abilities for spectators.

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Players who come from the streets probably don’t have enough experience with

professional teams or trained by professional coaches before, so they usually have difficulties

understanding strategies and how to run plays. This phenomenon is quite common in the NBA,

especially in their fist season debut, they need to quickly adapt into professional team's running

system and the entire league. While the skill set of the players may be present, the lack of

training for the very physical, structured, and intensely competitive nature of the NBA is

something that requires a maturation period for Street Ball players. Players that enter the NBA

from the college ranks have an advantage, because the college system has a similar structure to

the NBA, and players outside of a few small rule differences, compete in a style very similar to

the National Basketball Association. Street Baller's, however, come from a system that lacks in

structure, and does not have the competitive drive, nor the financial reward that the National

Basketball association has. So they are at an immediate disadvantage.

Fans from urban areas, which is the heart of the NBA's fan base, and players were

beginning to look upon Street Ball as a far more exciting and thrilling style of basketball. So

many people began steering away from the NBA and viewing Street Ball. NBA players even

began trying to imitate Street Ball players, which took away from the traditional style of play

that many older and dedicated fans appreciated about the NBA. In Street Ball defense is not the

most important thing, and NBA players started adopting those habits as well, which led to

inflated scores, and an unattractive structure of play.

PDF created with pdfFactory Pro trial version www.pdffactory.com The NBA prides itself on its' team concept something that Street Ball lacks greatly. Street

Ball because of its lack of Star Power that the NBA has with marquee players, would often have

several individuals on the team attempting to out play everyone else, which led to a lack of team

concept. This phenomenon can be seen easily in NBA games, players who come from the streets

used to play individually, so they are not willing to cooperate with their teammates, and execute

plays in which they are not the primary target of.

VIII Conclusion

Street Ball and its players have had both a positive and negative impact on the National

Basketball Association. While forcing the NBA to step up its advertising, style of play, and

competition, it also negatively affected the traditional style of play in which the NBA was

founded and based on. What hindered Street Ball and its cause were a combination of things.

One being, it's lack of star power. Since the NBA has been around for a long period of time, star

power is something it has and uses to its full advantage. To counteract the lack of team concept

shown in Street Ball the NBA has ridden the backs of its stars. Also the NBA's target audience is

substantially different from Street Ball's whose audience is primarily from urban places in large

cities. The diversity of the NBA helped it in this department. Ultimately, the lack of structure in

Street Ball ultimately led to its demise. For all it lacks in entertainment, the NBA makes up for in

structure, and fans around the world love and appreciate structure; which is largely why the NBA

is still successful.

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Resources:

Rosen, Charley. (2008). The First Tip Off: the Incredible Story of the Birth of the NBA. New

York: McGraw-Hill.

Axthelm, Pete. (1999). The City Game: Basketball From the Garden to the Playgrounds. New

York: Bison Books.

NBA History. “Season by Season” August 1st, 2010. From

http://www.nba.com/history/

History of StreetBall. “The Players” October 1st, 2010. From

http://www.athleticscholarships.net/extreme-sports-streetball-1.htm

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