Chris Ballard's NBA book

[PaulS]

Purchased "The Art of a Beautiful Game" on Tuesday. Any reviews?

 

[spud]

Want to say I read a quick review on Deadspin, which was extremely complimentary.

Edit: Not a review per se, but a book snippit, and a great one at that.

http://deadspin.com/5402465/book-excerpts-that-dont-suck-the-art-of-a-beautiful-game

 

[Joe Williams]

Which is better way to go, Ballard's book or Simmons' book?

 

[DanOregon]

The excerpt in SI a few weeks back was interesting. Ballard might be my favorite writer on the NBA. He doesn't just throw in the obligatory, "X Player shoots 1,000 jumpers a day, worked on his drop-step...." but gets inside a player's head.

 

[smsu_scribe]

Ballard's book will probably be on the Christmas list. In my opinion, he's made SI's NBA transition from McCallum pretty smooth. Sort of different styles between the two, but both are excellent.

 

[Hoo]

Which is better way to go, Ballard's book or Simmons' book?

I purchased both books and started with Simmons. I like him. But to be honest, if Ballard's book is half the intelligent, insightful examination the blurbs say it is -- and Ballard's history suggests -- I can't imagine it's not the better choice. Simmons' book, from what I've read so far, has some good analysis but is painfully (and predictably) indulgent and desperately in need of editing.

 

[Joe Williams]

Which is better way to go, Ballard's book or Simmons' book?

I purchased both books and started with Simmons. I like him. But to be honest, if Ballard's book is half the intelligent, insightful examination the blurbs say it is -- and Ballard's history suggests -- I can't imagine it's not the better choice. Simmons' book, from what I've read so far, has some good analysis but is painfully (and predictably) indulgent and desperately in need of editing.

Thanks, Hoo, sounds like order in which I should tackle them.

 

[Den1983]

I'm about three chapters into Ballard's book. It's alright, pretty much a look at the art of the different aspects of the game, such as shooting, rebounding, dunking, etc.

There is, however, too much forced humor for my taste, and Ballard does make himself a central figure of the book unashamedly. Not bad, I guess, but just something I don't like reading from writers.

I love the concept. I just think it could be executed better, atleast so far.

 

[Hoo]

Which is better way to go, Ballard's book or Simmons' book?

I purchased both books and started with Simmons. I like him. But to be honest, if Ballard's book is half the intelligent, insightful examination the blurbs say it is -- and Ballard's history suggests -- I can't imagine it's not the better choice. Simmons' book, from what I've read so far, has some good analysis but is painfully (and predictably) indulgent and desperately in need of editing.

Thanks, Hoo, sounds like order in which I should tackle them.

I finished Ballard's book over Thanksgiving and liked it a lot. If you love the game of basketball, you should read it. You'll probably learn a lot about the game's intricacies -- or at least the details on how the world's best players work.

 

[Den1983]

Which is better way to go, Ballard's book or Simmons' book?

I purchased both books and started with Simmons. I like him. But to be honest, if Ballard's book is half the intelligent, insightful examination the blurbs say it is -- and Ballard's history suggests -- I can't imagine it's not the better choice. Simmons' book, from what I've read so far, has some good analysis but is painfully (and predictably) indulgent and desperately in need of editing.

Thanks, Hoo, sounds like order in which I should tackle them.

I finished Ballard's book over Thanksgiving and liked it a lot. If you love the game of basketball, you should read it. You'll probably learn a lot about the game's intricacies -- or at least the details on how the world's best players work.

Yup. It's basically for those who say that the only intricacy in basketball is rolling the ball out there and letting guys play.

 

[PaulS]

Just finished it. Liked it. Even better - my seventh-grade son who rarely reads is plowing through it. That's a better recommendation than any I can give it.