Book Recommendation: The Basketball Book

Galaril · 12-11-2009, 01:34 PM

I am not a huge fan of Bill Simmons though I am from Boston originally if that matters as a qualifier. He is just too much of a homer even for my tastes. But I must say especially for fans of early 70s- early 90s basketball in the NBA, Simmons new book "The Basketball Book" is a great read. I only agree with about half of his theories but it is very entertaining.

hoopsguy · 12-11-2009, 08:48 PM

I've put it on my Christmas list, based on multiple recommendations. Hopefully I'll have a chance to read it sometime between Christmas and New Years.

stevew · 12-11-2009, 10:07 PM

What is the language like? I'd get it if it is PG13, but if there are more than a couple F Bombs my dad won't like it.

Philliesfan980 · 12-11-2009, 10:29 PM

I'll jump in and say it's a great book. I think you can get it off of Amazon.com for $12. For the size of the book, and the quality (it's hardcover), it's a no-brainer. Really entertaining read.

rowech · 12-12-2009, 04:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevew

What is the language like? I'd get it if it is PG13, but if there are more than a couple F Bombs my dad won't like it.

Definitely R rated.

Galaril · 12-12-2009, 08:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rowech

Definitely R rated.

Yup that would be true.

Subby · 12-12-2009, 09:27 AM

Unbelievable book. Right in Simmons' wheelhouse.

Scoobz0202 · 12-12-2009, 10:11 AM

Any of the above not really care for Bill Simmon's that much but still really enjoy the book or are you guys huge Simmons fans?

I ask because I do not really care for him that much but still wonder if I can get past that and enjoy his book.

Logan · 12-12-2009, 11:03 AM

Been busy and haven't read it yet, but I'm going to guess no. It's very anecdotal, has the footnotes, cultural references, etc

I'm kinda surprised he didn't try to write it in more of an informative style so someone could read it in 20 years like he talks about Breaks of the Game, etc

Swaggs · 12-12-2009, 12:12 PM

It is a fun and really informative, but in my opinion, a difficult read. Maybe it was just me, but it was a little burdensome and took a lot of extra time, although it was worthwhile, to read all of the footnotes along with the regular content.

Anyway, I definitely enjoyed it and was glad I read it (and, will probably even refer back to it from time to time). It is probably targeted more towards the age group on this messageboard (early 20s to mid-40s?) as far as a lot of the cultural references and it is a hair on the difficult side to read (I don't think someone with attention problems would do well with it).

As a quick aside, I just picked up a book called "The Draft" by Pete Williams and I have been enjoying it early on. It is about the inner-workings of the 2005 NFL draft. I just got it yesterday and have only read about 50-pages, but so far it is has been discussing how agents recruit draft prospects, a little bit about teams' front offices, and then about the history of the draft. It is pretty cool and seems like it names names, which I always enjoy.

I'd recommend it.

Galaril · 12-12-2009, 05:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scoobz0202

Any of the above not really care for Bill Simmon's that much but still really enjoy the book or are you guys huge Simmons fans?

I ask because I do not really care for him that much but still wonder if I can get past that and enjoy his book.

Like I said not a fan of Simmons and did not agree with alot of what he said but still a real entertaining read. If nothing else for folks that don't like Boston sports fans this book may remind you why you dislike us so much.

rowech · 12-12-2009, 07:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Galaril

Like I said not a fan of Simmons and did not agree with alot of what he said but still a real entertaining read. If nothing else for folks that don't like Boston sports fans this book may remind you why you dislike us so much.

I thought he did a decent job at balancing out pretty well.

Galaril · 12-12-2009, 08:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rowech

I thought he did a decent job at balancing out pretty well.

I am not done with it but the first few chapters are quite Celtics centric albeit informative.

vex · 12-12-2009, 10:15 PM

I really like it but do get tired of hearing Celtics stories and Celtics biases(IMO of course).

I'd still recommend it though.

rowech · 12-13-2009, 04:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteveBollea

Well, when a team's won ~25% of the available championships, there's going to be a lot about them, especially when he does his history of the NBA. I personally think the best part of the book is the sections where he ranks the top 96 players of all-time, especially the lower chunk of players most people never write about. But yeah, when he talks about the 60's in the NBA, the Celtic's are gonna' be mentioned...a lot.

And that's fine...they have to be. The problem I have is the fact he didn't mention anything about Larry Bird's relationship with his daughter. A fair reporter would have. Especially, after he trashed so many other players.

TLK · 12-23-2009, 06:13 AM

$4.99

Qwikshot · 12-23-2009, 07:40 AM

I got it, read it, it's okay...I do have a signed copy though, which is nice.

lcjjdnh · 12-23-2009, 09:06 AM

I guess the book entertained me enough that I finished it quickly, but I thought it was flawed in many ways -- even aside from many of the standard complaints about Simmons (too wordy, too many forced pop culture references, too many mentions of his "friends"). He thinks his obvious observations are brilliant ("The Secret" for instance), says he hates using stats and then uses stats to try and prove all of points, and has many logical inconsistencies throughout the book. It's not even the end result of many of this rankings that bothered me--it's the clearly flawed path he uses to reach his conclusions (and this is coming from a casual NBA fan with little stake in any of these matters).

lcjjdnh · 12-23-2009, 09:13 AM

Also, even if you like the Simmons's standard writing techniques, I didn't think he pulled them off particularly well. As mentioned above, many of the pop culture references seemed forced and there just because he expects his readers to expect them there. And his name-dropping was over-the-top--just wait until you get to the footnote about an e-mail from Matt Damon.

In addition, I'm fairly certain that many of the ideas he takes credit for and beats to the death are stolen from other people. He does credit some other writers during portions of the book, but I feel as though quotes are more to be like "See, I read SI as a kid and respect great journalists" than adding anything to the book.

Finally, as someone mentioned above, the footnotes are out of control. Many were interesting and entertaining, but it makes the book very difficult to read.

12-11-2009, 10:07 PM	#3
stevew Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: the yo'	What is the language like? I'd get it if it is PG13, but if there are more than a couple F Bombs my dad won't like it. Last edited by stevew : 12-11-2009 at 10:10 PM.

12-12-2009, 09:27 AM	#7
Subby lolzcat Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: sans pants	Unbelievable book. Right in Simmons' wheelhouse. __________________ Superman was flying around and saw Wonder Woman getting a tan in the nude on her balcony. Superman said I going to hit that real fast. So he flys down toward Wonder Woman to hit it and their is a loud scream. The Invincible Man scream what just hit me in the ass!!!!! I do shit, I take pictures, I write about it: chrisshue.com

12-12-2009, 12:12 PM	#10
Swaggs Coordinator Join Date: Oct 2000	It is a fun and really informative, but in my opinion, a difficult read. Maybe it was just me, but it was a little burdensome and took a lot of extra time, although it was worthwhile, to read all of the footnotes along with the regular content. Anyway, I definitely enjoyed it and was glad I read it (and, will probably even refer back to it from time to time). It is probably targeted more towards the age group on this messageboard (early 20s to mid-40s?) as far as a lot of the cultural references and it is a hair on the difficult side to read (I don't think someone with attention problems would do well with it). As a quick aside, I just picked up a book called "The Draft" by Pete Williams and I have been enjoying it early on. It is about the inner-workings of the 2005 NFL draft. I just got it yesterday and have only read about 50-pages, but so far it is has been discussing how agents recruit draft prospects, a little bit about teams' front offices, and then about the history of the draft. It is pretty cool and seems like it names names, which I always enjoy. I'd recommend it. __________________ DOWN WITH HATTRICK!!! The RWBL Are you reading In The Bleachers?

12-23-2009, 07:40 AM	#17
Qwikshot Pro Starter Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: ...down the gravity well	I got it, read it, it's okay...I do have a signed copy though, which is nice. __________________ "General Woundwort's body was never found. It could be that he still lives his fierce life somewhere else, but from that day on, mother rabbits would tell their kittens that if they did not do as they were told, the General would get them. Such was Woundwort's monument, and perhaps it would not have displeased him." Watership Down, Richard Adams

12-11-2009, 08:48 PM	#2
hoopsguy General Manager Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Chicago	I've put it on my Christmas list, based on multiple recommendations. Hopefully I'll have a chance to read it sometime between Christmas and New Years.

12-11-2009, 10:29 PM	#4
Philliesfan980 Banned Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Exton, PA	I'll jump in and say it's a great book. I think you can get it off of Amazon.com for $12. For the size of the book, and the quality (it's hardcover), it's a no-brainer. Really entertaining read.

12-12-2009, 10:11 AM	#8
Scoobz0202 Pro Rookie Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Dayton, Ohio	Any of the above not really care for Bill Simmon's that much but still really enjoy the book or are you guys huge Simmons fans? I ask because I do not really care for him that much but still wonder if I can get past that and enjoy his book.

12-12-2009, 11:03 AM	#9
Logan Head Coach Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: NYC	Been busy and haven't read it yet, but I'm going to guess no. It's very anecdotal, has the footnotes, cultural references, etc I'm kinda surprised he didn't try to write it in more of an informative style so someone could read it in 20 years like he talks about Breaks of the Game, etc

12-12-2009, 10:15 PM	#14
vex Grizzled Veteran Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Tulsa	I really like it but do get tired of hearing Celtics stories and Celtics biases(IMO of course). I'd still recommend it though.

12-23-2009, 06:13 AM	#16
TLK Pro Starter Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Allen Park, MI	$4.99

12-23-2009, 09:06 AM	#18
lcjjdnh College Prospect Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: NJ	I guess the book entertained me enough that I finished it quickly, but I thought it was flawed in many ways -- even aside from many of the standard complaints about Simmons (too wordy, too many forced pop culture references, too many mentions of his "friends"). He thinks his obvious observations are brilliant ("The Secret" for instance), says he hates using stats and then uses stats to try and prove all of points, and has many logical inconsistencies throughout the book. It's not even the end result of many of this rankings that bothered me--it's the clearly flawed path he uses to reach his conclusions (and this is coming from a casual NBA fan with little stake in any of these matters).

12-23-2009, 09:13 AM	#19
lcjjdnh College Prospect Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: NJ	Also, even if you like the Simmons's standard writing techniques, I didn't think he pulled them off particularly well. As mentioned above, many of the pop culture references seemed forced and there just because he expects his readers to expect them there. And his name-dropping was over-the-top--just wait until you get to the footnote about an e-mail from Matt Damon. In addition, I'm fairly certain that many of the ideas he takes credit for and beats to the death are stolen from other people. He does credit some other writers during portions of the book, but I feel as though quotes are more to be like "See, I read SI as a kid and respect great journalists" than adding anything to the book. Finally, as someone mentioned above, the footnotes are out of control. Many were interesting and entertaining, but it makes the book very difficult to read.

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