How Much Do You Know About the NBA?

In 1896 the first basketball organization in the United States was formed, calling itself the National Basketball League (NBL). In its first years, the NBL had no structure or complete rules, and its management was scattered and unorganized at best. The NBL was short-lived and fell apart after the initial excitement of its opening. In 1946, Walter Brown, the owner of Boston Garden, constructed a Basketball Association of America (BAA) league, consisting of 11 hockey arenas and other sports venues. He merged the BAA with the NBL to create the National Basketball Association (NBA). In the decades that followed, the league continued to expand with the addition of teams such as the Dallas Mavericks, Charlotte Hornets (now the New Orleans Pelicans), Miami Heat, and Canada’s Toronto Raptors, ultimately reaching 30 teams. In less than 30 years the NBA has developed a remarkable collection of records. These include Wilt Chamberlain's 100-point game, Bill Russell with 11 championships, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar with 38,387 regular season points, Tracy McGrady scoring 13 points in 35 seconds, and Stephen Curry making 402 three-pointers in a single season. Many more records will come, and you might be able to witness the next miracle.

How Is the Season Structured?

The NBA has a total of 30 teams. All of them are split evenly between the Eastern and Western conferences. The regular season starts at the end of October and ends in late April the following year, with each team playing 82 games. For the entire league, that is over 1,200 games in a single season. Unless there is a strike from the players, the schedule for games is set in stone.

From the end of April to sometime in June, the playoffs and finals take place. The championship game is played between the winners of the Eastern and Western Conference playoffs. Each playoff series is a best out of 7 games where the first team to win 4 games gets the championship trophy named after O'Brien. All players on the winning team get a championship ring and the winner also gets home court advantage if they have the better record than the other playoff team.

2. Your NBA Ticket Guide

You could love basketball, but not know which ticket to get. Especially if you're trying to plan a surprise for your basketball-loving boyfriend, you may be asking yourself what all of these ticket options mean.

So here is a guide for buying NBA tickets.

1. Where to Get the Tickets

There are ticket options online and in-person.

1.1 In-Person Ticket Purchases

Tickets can be purchased at the official box office of the arena. Prices can vary from a couple dozen dollars to several hundred dollars. For very popular games where teams like the Warriors, Cavaliers, or Spurs are playing, tickets may be very hard to come by, and buying them at the arena may only leave you with undesirable seats if any are left.

There are also people that sell tickets outside the arena, which is a much riskier option. If you've come a long distance to see a game in person, the guaranteed ticket is much more important than risking an uncertain deal.

1.2 Purchasing Tickets on the Internet

Through the NBA's official ticket website, you can purchase tickets to an NBA game and select the seats you wish to buy. However, the truth is that a huge portion of these tickets has already been purchased by secondary ticket market sites, many of which are US-based and can be complicated for people traveling to the country without a good command of English. Therefore, you will have to use some translation helper apps, or rely on a friend with English-speaking skills.

2. Classes of Tickets

Tickets for NBA games are offered to the public in two main formats: electronic and paper tickets.

Electronic tickets include standard e-tickets and Flash Seats. For one standard e-ticket, customers must go through the buying process on that website, make the payment, and then the ticket will eventually be available in their account so that they can download and print it. Be careful with the barcode. You must not post it on social media before the game, else another person may be able to copy it.

Flash Seats were exclusive to the Timberwolves, Rockets, and Cavaliers. When purchasing, customers are required to provide a credit card number, and at the venue, they can enter by simply swiping that card.

What Do E-Tickets Look Like?

More coordination is required for paper tickets. When buying, you can select to have them delivered to your hotel or to pick them up at the stadium. If you choose to have them delivered to your hotel, you will need to provide your local hotel address, dates of your stay, and contact number. After this, the seller will organize the delivery. When collecting items from the arena, just follow the pickup address from the seller, and factor enough time into your schedule.

Traveling should be a fun experience, not an all-day journey plagued by anxiety about when the most critical ticket will arrive. For simplicity and to avoid stress, electronic tickets are often the best choice.

3. Familiarize yourself with the seating

Consider the Staples Center, for example.

4. Things to keep in mind on game day

4.1 You will need to print your electronic ticket in order to enter

This point cannot be stressed enough: you must print your electronic ticket. You must print it. You must print it. You cannot enter the venue by showing your ticket on your phone. The ticket explicitly states: “Not valid via mobile device, must print on paper.” If the date of your ticket has passed, it better be printed when you leave home. If you have already entered the USA and you are unable to locate a printer, simply ask your hotel reception to assist you with it."

4.2 Be mindful of when the game starts

The time listed is the local time. The continental US is divided into four time zones - Eastern, Central, Mountain and Arizona. It is recommended to arrive at the arena 2 hours before the game starts to avoid any traffic issues and parking delays, arriving early will also give you the opportunity to take pictures outside of the arena, grab a bite to eat and shop at the team store for merch (hats, jerseys, wristbands, plush toys) and even mascot dolls

4.3 There will be a security check

You cannot bring your own food as it is not permitted and food will be available at the arena but keep in mind that it may be more expensive than the food outside and it won't be anything memorable Mobile phones can be taken into the venue, but no DSLR cameras or video cameras are allowed. These can be checked at the team office;

make sure to pick them up after the game.

4.4 Respect the Other Fans

Please rise for the U.S. national anthem before the game. Be sure to cheer for your team, but do not start fights with fans of the opposing team. You will be there to enjoy the experience.

3. Don’t Miss These NBA Events

With over 1,200 games a season, it is safe to say not every fan can go to every game, but if you only have the chance to go to one game, or you want to take someone to a game as a gift, there are a few games that stand out.

1. Christmas Day Matches

Each Christmas Day, the NBA puts out some of their biggest games as these games are meant to attract attention. There is always a focus on rivalries whether they be previous finals opponents, a star player facing his old team, or ex-teammates going against each other. There is a lot of money to be made from the drama of these games.

What rivalries would the 2016 Christmas games have? There was a lot of potential.

Key Games

Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Golden State Warriors — December 25, 2016, 14:30 local time

San Antonio Spurs vs. Chicago Bulls — December 25, 2016, 16:00 local time

Los Angeles Lakers vs. Los Angeles Clippers - December 25, 2016 19:30 local time

All-Star Weekend

All-Star Weekend showcases the Three-Point Contest, Skills Challenge, Slam Dunk Contest, Rookie Challenge, and the All-Star Game. It spans across three days. 2.1 Three-Point Contest The Three-Point Contest occurs the day before the All-Star Game and features elite shooters in the league. It consists of two elimination rounds. Each player attempts 30 shots including five money balls that are worth two points, while the other balls are worth one point. The top three scorers in the first round move on to the final. The second round has the same format as the first. If there are ties in the final, players will compete again until the ranking is determined. 2.2 Skills Challenge The Skills Challenge is meant to highlight the fundamentals and technical prowess of the top point guards in the league. Players race against the clock to complete a series of tasks that involve dribbling and passing, an obstacle course, and shooting. This event has been won by stars such as Steve Nash, Jason Kidd, Deron Williams, Tony Parker, and Derrick Rose. 2.3 Slam Dunk Contest The Slam Dunk Contest is considered the main attraction of All-Star Weekend. It has been held since 1984, making it a signature event of the weekend. The contest consists of two rounds. In the first round, each player has three dunk attempts and the three top scorers move on to the final round. Judges for the event are selected from current or former NBA players, including past dunk champions. In the final, each participant has two chances to dunk, and the one with the higher score wins.

In 2015 Slam Dunk Contest, Zach LaVine from Minnesota Timberwolves won the competition with four amazing dunks. In 2016, LaVine competed against Aaron Gordon from Orlando Magic in the finals and won again after two overtime rounds. Do you think he will win again in 2017?

2.4 Rookie Challenge

The NBA Rookie Challenge is one of the most anticipated events during All-Star Weekend. The players competing in this Challenge are players who are rookies and sophomores in the league. In January, the NBA coaching staffs pick the nine best rookies and second-year players from the current season. These players are split into two teams: one made of rookies and one made of sophomores. The head coaches are the assistant coaches from the teams with the best records in the Eastern and Western Conference. Sometimes, NBA superstars are invited to be honorary team managers to make the game more interesting.

After 2012, this format was modified where two NBA legends picked their favorite first- and second-year players to form teams and compete.

2.5 All-Star Game

The NBA All-Star Game usually takes place in Mid-February. The top performers from the Eastern and Western Conferences are divided into two teams and play each other. Each team comprises of 12 players: 5 starters who are chosen by fans through a vote on the NBA website and 7 reserve players selected by the NBA coaches.

The purpose of this game is for entertainment and the referees generally don’t enforce the rules, therefore the outcome of the game is usually not the main concern. However, the NBA expects the players and coaches to play hard and strategize when the game is in a critical moment. The Western Conference All-Stars won against the Eastern Conference All-Stars by a score of 196 -173 in 2016. The record for most points scored in an All-Star Game was broken, as they scored 369 points collectively.

4. NBA Teams Chinese Fans Should See in Person

1. Houston Rockets

Chinese Fans have an emotional attachment to the Yao Ming-Tracy McGrady Rockets team. This is the team McGrady played for when he won the championship and when he scored 13 points in 35 seconds so it's a very historic team. They also had a 22 game winning streak which is still a record. They hold the record for their winning streak and a perfect 24 minutes from McGrady when he went 9-for-9 from the field and 6-for-6 from the free-throws. Additionally, in 2016, Yao Ming became the first Asian person to be inducted into the Hall of Fame and after he and McGrady retired, many fans became uninterested in the team. This changed in 2012 when they signed James Harden. Harden was the reason they were going to win another championship. He was very good at facilitating and getting everyone involved, and also made big plays when it was needed.

Matches at the Toyota Center

March 12 2017 - Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Houston Rockets

March 15 2017 - Los Angeles Lakers vs. Houston Rockets

March 26 2017 - Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Houston Rockets

March 28 2017 - Golden State Warriors vs. Houston Rockets

Houston Rockets 2. San Antonio Spurs The Spurs are a singular franchise: Regardless of the era, they are never a team to overlook. Head coach Gregg Popovich had been in charge of San Antonio for 20 years. Since 1996, when he took over, he had led the Spurs to six NBA Finals and five championships. He also reached 1,000 wins in 1,462 games, becoming the ninth coach in NBA history to achieve that. That summer, Tim Duncan quietly announced his retirement, bringing the “Big Fundamental” era to its close. Tony Parker and Manu Ginóbili remained to support the Spurs. Kawhi Leonard was steadily maturing, while LaMarcus Aldridge was gradually taking on responsibilities once shouldered by Duncan. The Spurs also signed Pau Gasol that summer. A player who had been a central piece of Phil Jackson’s triangle offense seemed well placed to develop strong chemistry under Popovich. Great coaching, above all, was still driving the franchise’s sense of purpose. San Antonio’s New Core: Featured Matchups January 12, 2017 — Los Angeles Lakers vs. San Antonio Spurs January 31, 2017 — Oklahoma City Thunder vs. San Antonio Spurs March 11, 2017 — Golden State Warriors vs. San Antonio Spurs March 25, 2017 — New York Knicks vs. San Antonio Spurs March 27, 2017 — Cleveland Cavaliers vs. San Antonio Spurs 3. Golden State Warriors The Golden State Warriors began as the Philadelphia Warriors and moved to California in 1962. Wilt Chamberlain was playing for the Philadelphia Warriors when he scored 100 points in a single game. In 2015, the Warriors cemented their place in history by winning their first franchise Championship in the NBA. As part of that team, Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green popularized a new style of play for the NBA, called small ball. The combination of driving to the rim by Curry and shooting from the perimeter by Thompson made them difficult to defend. The Warriors went 73-9 in the regular season and lost the championship series by giving up a 3-1 lead to the Cleveland Cavaliers. That offseason, the team signed Oklahoma City superstar Kevin Durant, which increased the teams already high-level 3-point shooting. Losing the title was motivating for the team to make the new season successful. Big Four of Golden State: Notable Games January 16, 2017, game against the Cleveland Cavaliers January 28, 2017, game against the Los Angeles Clippers February 8, 2017, game against the Chicago Bulls March 8, 2017, game against the Boston Celtics

Los Angeles Lakers

In each NBA season, the Los Angeles Lakers are one of the most interesting teams to see. With the purple and gold colors of the Lakers, there is an emotional connection for the fans. The 2015-16 season was the end of an era for the Lakers as Legend Kobe Bryant retired. Now the Lakers would be starting a new era with a young core. For the 2016-17 season, the Lakers drafted Brandon Ingram with the 2nd overall pick, hired Luke Walton as their head coach, and had an exciting young squad that included D’Angelo Russell, Jordan Clarkson, Julius Randle, and Larry Nance Jr. This core was the foundation of a new dynasty for the Lakers. The Staples Center has provided Lakers fans the opportunity to experience their team's return. Lakers' New Generation: Featured Matchups Boston Celtics v. Los Angeles Lakers - March 3, 2017 Philadelphia 76ers v. Los Angeles Lakers - March 12, 2017 Cleveland Cavaliers v. Los Angeles Lakers - March 19, 2017 Minnesota Timberwolves v. Los Angeles Lakers - March 24, 2017 5. Chicago Bulls When we think of the Bulls, the first name that comes to mind is Michael Jordan. The achievements and legends surrounding ''Air Jordan'' do not need any sort of introduction. But after the likes of Jordan, Dennis Rodman, Scottie Pippen, and others retired, Chicago suffered years of drifting and failed to regain its glory. In 2008, the Bulls got the first overall pick and with it drafted Derrick Rose. His entry into the league brought instant hope to the franchise. Just two seasons later, Rose was the youngest player to win the MVP award and led Chicago to the Eastern Conference Finals. That was a long-awaited good news for Chicago Bulls fans. In the summer of 2016, there was more hope for the franchise. Dwyane Wade, after 13 seasons with the Miami Heat, agreed to join the Bulls. At 34, Wade was still chasing another ring and wanted to do it with the Chicago Bulls. Chicago also had Rajon Rondo, a Finals MVP from the Celtics era, alongside Jimmy Butler, and brought that Trio Finals experience. The great chicago Bulls era seemed to be back. Windy City Big Three: Featured Matchups March 2, 2017 Chicago Bulls vs. Golden State Warriors March 10, 2017 Chicago Bulls vs. Houston Rockets Chicago Bulls March 10, 2017 — Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Chicago Bulls