PE 131: Team Sports - Basketball

Introduction
If there is a sport most loved and most inviting among the athletes and sports enthusiasts, it
is definitely basketball. Basketball can move avid viewers into wild craze. It is a sport widely used as
a past time, as a physical fitness strategy, or as good source of income.
Basketball is a team sport that involves two teams of five active players. They compete
rigorously to score points against the opponent by throwing a ball through high hoop or the “basket”
under organized rules.
There may be variations in the size of the court, height of the basket, size of the basketball,
and length of time that the game is played according to the age, size, and skill level of players.
Basketball players play on specialized positions – either defensive or offensive – depending on
their many techniques on passing, dribbling, shooting, blocking, and rebounding the ball. Normally,
the tallest and strongest member of a team plays the center or power forward positions. The slightly
shorter and more agile players play small forward, and the shortest players or those who posses the
best ball handling skills and speed play point guard or shooting guard.

History of Basketball
Started in 1891 at Springfield YMCA New England as an academic challenge. Dr. Luther Gulick,
head of Springfield YMCA Physical Education, would like an indoor game for the rowdy short-
tempered class during winter. He instructed James Naismith to develop with 14 days a game that will
not need too much space and keeps players still in shape by involving in a not too rough game that is
also fair and attractive.

Since the basketball game originated at YMCA, the YMCA played the major role in spreading
basketball throughout the United States, Canada, and to the world. In 1893, various tournaments
were simultaneously arranged at China, India, Japan, and Persia.

Basketball continuously spread out in Japan, China, India, and the Philippines in the early 20th
century. In 1912, the Far Eastern Athletic Championship Game (FEA) initiated the first official
basketball tournament. As years passed, the tournament became dormant at the international level.
It was revived in 1954 at Manila.

FIBA, the International Basketball Federation, was founded in 1932 and basketball became an
Olympic sport in 1936 where Non-American teams and players progressed to the match. The FIBA also
exceeded American standards of play in the later 20th century and the 21st century.

Facilities and Equipment

Court. The Basketball court is the playing surface, consisting of a rectangular floor equally divided
on both sides. In professional or organized basketball, especially when played indoors, it is usually
made out of smooth wood finished parquet, often maple, and highly polished. Outdoor surfaces are
generally made from standard paving materials such as concrete or asphalt.
Basketball courts come in different shapes, sizes and colors. In the NBA, the court is 94 feet by 50
feet (28.65m by 15.24m). Under the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) Rules, the court is
minutely smaller, measuring exactly 28m by 15m (91’10.4” by 49’2.6”)

Ball. A basketball is a spherical inflated ball used in a game of basketball. The standard size of a
basketball in the International Basketball Federation, for all men’s competition in all categories, has
a circumference of 749mm at the minimum and 780mm (size7) at the largest. The ball shall weigh no
less than 567g and no more than 650g. For all women’s competitions in all categories, the
circumference of the ball shall be no less than 724mm and no more than 737mm (size 6) and shall
weigh with no less than 510g and no more than 567g.

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Basketball Hoop is a circular in shape and has an inside diameter of exactly 18in. from edge to edge.
The measurement from the floor to the top of the rim should be exactly 10ft. There should be 6in
separation from the ring to the basket.

Basket Net shall be made of white cord and shall be suspended from the ring. It should no less than
400mm and no more than 450mm in length.

Game Clock is a clock that runs whenever the ball is in play and stops whenever the ball goes out of
bounds or when a foul is committed. It should be a digital countdown clock with an automatic signal
sounding for the end of the period as soon as the display shows zero (00:00.0). It has the ability to
indicate the time remaining in minutes and seconds; as well as tenths (1/10) of a second during the
last minute of the period, and should also be placed on a clearly visible post for everyone involved in
the game, including the spectators, to see.

24- Seconds and 14-Seconds Clock/Shotclock. This clock shall have a separate control unit provided
for the 24 or 14 second clock operator, with a very loud automatic signal to indicate the end of the
24 or 14 second period when the display shows zero (0).

Player Foul Marker.

Team Foul Indicators.

Score Sheet.

Scoreboard.

The Alternating Possession Arrow.

The Team.
Each team shall consist of:
 No more than 12 team members entitled to play, including a captain.
 A coach and, if a team wishes, as assistant coach.
 A maximum of 5 team followers who may sit on the team bench and have special
responsibilities, e.g. manager, doctor, physiotherapist, statistician, interpreter, etc.

During an interval of play, all team members entitled to play considered as players are:
1. Point Guard. Also called “the one” they should know hot to regulate the game according to
the coach plan.
2. Shooting Guard. Also known as the two or off guard combo guard, it is one of five traditional
position of a basketball team. There are also players functioning as a shooting guard switching
the small forward. They are called Swingmen.
3. Small Forward. It is called three and is abbreviated as “SF”. Small forwards are somewhat
shorter, quicker, and leaner than the power forward and centers, but on occasions are just as
tall.
4. Power Forward. It is referred to in playbook as the four position and abbreviated “PF” or
“Post” position or “Low Blocks”. They play a role similar to that of center. They typically
play offensive with their backs toward the basket and position themselves defensively under
the basket in a zone defense or against the opposing power forward in man-to-man defense.
5. Center. It is known as the “five” or the post and is commonly abbreviated as “C”. The center
is normally the tallest player on the same team and often has a great deal of strength and
body mass as well.

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 Basic Elements of Basketball
1. Dribbling – refers to the maneuvering of a ball under the control of a single player in a
given direction, while avoiding defenders’ attempts to get the ball from the dribbling player. A
successful dribble will bring the ball past defenders legally and create opportunities to score.

Types of Dribbling
In dribbling the basketball, the hand should be in a cup shape position, with fingers spread
out on the ball, elbow extended and fingers and wrist flexed. Palms should not be used.

a. The Control or Low Dribble. The control or low dribble is done as a player’s defense from a
defender closely guarding the ball the ball is dribbled using step and slide movement and free
hand on the ball slightly away from the defender at knee level or lower making it harder for
the defender to knock it off. Eyes and head should be on teammates for opening.
b. The High or Speed Dribble. Is usually done in making fast break or after making a steal in an
open court. The body is almost slightly leaning forward. The ball is dribbled on waist level or
higher to gain the maximum speed.
c. Crossover Dribble. Allows quick change in direction. The ball is dribbled as low as possible
alternately passing from left to right had depending on the position of the defender.
d. Behind the back Dribbling. This advanced dribbling technique involves dribbling the ball
behind the back either once or continuously. Dribbling once or few times in this way can be
effective in a given situation, but doing so for prolonged periods of time brings dangers of
losing the ball or a turnover.
e. The Between the Legs Dribbling. This simply means dribbling the ball low while alternately
transferring it to oppose directions passing the ball in between the legs using right and left
hand on both sides of the legs.
f. The Spin or Reverse Dribble. Another technique for change of direction is the reverse
dribble. It is used when guarded by too many defenders and making the crossover dribble
impossible.

2. Passing – is defined as the deliberate attempt to move a live ball between two teammates
without being intercepted by the opponent.

Types of Passing
a. Chest Pass. Is the most basic way to move the basketball from one player to an open
teammate who is not guarded at all by a defender.
b. Bounce Pass. Often is just as accurate as chest pass and is harder to defend. The player holds
the ball at chest level and bounce it off the floor close to the receiver.
c. Overhead Pass. Is used by snapping the ball over the head, like a soccer throw-in. This pass is
especially effective in helping to initiate a fast break.
d. Baseball Pass. Is the type of passing to use when the ball is in the back court – often after a
steal allowing teammate to break it to the basket.
e. Behind the Back Pass. Is the pass dealt to a target behind the passer’s back. Usually done to
confuse the defender, behind the back passes can either be bounced to the floor or passed
directly to a teammate’s chess.

3. Shooting – throwing the basketball into the ring and getting out from the net without bouncing
back from the upper part of the ring.

Types of Shooting
a. Jump Shot. Is mid-to-long-range shot either two point or three-point attempt shot
aiming to score a point while defending the ball from the defender. The ball is release
at the peak of the player’s jump.
b. Lay-up. Is an attempt to shoot the ball in a very close range after dribbling the ball or
receive a ball passed to a player near the hoop.

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 c. Hook Shot. Is a basketball shot made over the head with the hand father from the
basket.
d. Set Shot. Is a shot commonly used by a player who lacks the strength to shot with one
hand. A free throw is a type of set shot performed with one hand using standard
shooting form without jumping.
e. Dunk Shot. Is a basketball’s most spectacular shot which relies more on the jumping
ability than the shooting skill.
f. Tip-in. Is a basketball shot made by tapping the rebounding the ball back into the
basket.
g. Bank shot. Ins a basketball shot that bounces off the backboard before passing
through the hoop.
h. Finger role. Is a basketball shot that rolls off the tips of the fingers into the basket.
i. Charity shot. Is an uncontrolled basketball shot from the foul line; given to penalize
the other team for committing a foul.
j. Scoop shot. Is a basketball shot made with an under hand scooping motion.

Statistics
a. Points.
b. Rebounds.
c. Assists.
d. Steals.
e. Blocks.

Articles about Basketball

February 7, 2020
Westbrook drops 41 pts, 8 reb & 5 ast as the "small ball" Rockets take down the Lakers 121-111.
LeBron James had 18 pts, 9 reb & 15 ast. Anthony Davis with 32 pts, 13 reb, 3 stl & 3 blk.

Fil-Am Remy Martin facilitates attack as hot-shooting Arizona State downs UCLA

TEMPE, Ariz. — Down one of its best big men, UCLA threw double teams at Romello White all night.
Arizona State's big man did a good job of kicking it out to his teammates on the perimeter for open
shots. And the Pac-12's worst 3-point shooting team made them. Lots of them.

Alozo Verge Jr. scored 26 points, Remy Martin added 15 and Arizona State made 14 3-pointers in an
84-66 win over UCLA on Thursday night (Friday, Manila time). "It was just a matter of time," Verge
said. "Everybody just bought into what we were trying to do, just moving the ball."

Arizona State (14-8, 5-4 Pac-12) entered the game hitting 30% from the arc.
The Sun Devils found the range against UCLA, shooting the Bruins out of the gym by making 14 of 24
from 3. Verge, Kimani Lawrence and Khalid Thomas all went 3 for 3 from the arc.

Martin was the cog making Arizona State's offense click, finishing with seven assists. White had 16
rebounds, eight points and all those effective kickouts. "Top to bottom, both ends of the floor it was
probably one of our more complete games," Arizona State coach Bobby Hurley said. UCLA (12-11, 5-5)
labored without top rebounder and second-leading scorer Jalen Hill, who sprained his right knee in
practice this week.

The Bruins couldn't stop Sun Devils from the perimeter and couldn't get their shots to fall, either,
finishing 7 of 25 from the 3-point arc. Cody Riley had 16 points and Tyger Campbell 13 to lead UCLA.
"Obviously they shot the ball very well, but a lot of it was our transition defense," Campbell said. "We
didn't get back and that's a big thing for us.” The Bruins and Sun Devils have been inconsistent this
season, but playing better lately to stay in the thick of the Pac-12 race.

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UCLA arrived in the desert with four wins in five games, including a four-point win over then-No. 20
Colorado.The Sun Devils rallied from 22 points down to beat rival Arizona and entered Thursday's
game with three wins in four games. UFC ring announcer Bruce Buffer was on-hand to introduce the
Sun Devils and it seemed to hype both team, who combined to hit nine of 14 shots by the first media
timeouts. The Sun Devils kept making shots. The Bruins did not. Arizona State made 8 of 10 from the
3-point arc, using runs of 10-2 and 11-1 to lead 39-28 at halftime. The Sun Devils stretched the lead
to 16 in the opening five minutes of the second half and kept making 3s to give the Bruins no shot at
the comeback despite making a few 3s late. "I feel like we had a lot of good looks, they just weren't
falling," Campbell said. "Hopefully they'll fall next game."

Three sets of brothers in Gilas pool a rarity, but it hardly moves Baldwin

IN a rare occasion, three sets of brothers are in the national pool as Gilas Pilipinas prepares for the
first window of the 2021 Fiba Asia Cup qualifiers.

The Ravena brothers Kiefer and Thirdy, twins Matt and Mike Nieto, and the Gomez de Liano siblings
Juan and Javi are all vying for spots in coach Mark Dickel's final roster for matches against Thailand
and Indonesia.

The last time brothers were present in the Philippine team was when the Nietos earned their spots in
the Jamike Jarin-coached Batang Gilas team for the 2014 Fiba Under-17 World Championship in
Dubai.

Familiarity is definitely a plus for having brothers who have played together all their lives. But for
Tab Baldwin, the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) program director for the seniors team, those
bonds are acknowledged but doesn't really hold much weight as all players in the 24-man pool are
assessed individually.
What matters to this new national team pool is building a culture and fostering players who will
embrace that system in preparation for the 2023 Fiba World Cup.
"First and foremost for 2023 is to develop a culture. And it needs to be a culture of belief,
dedication, and commitment," he said.

Three brothers in one pool is certainly a novelty, but Baldwin said that doesn't have any significance
on what they plan to achieve at Gilas. ”We know that every single Filipino wants us to win every
single game, and we do, too. And we'll plan for that, we'll prepare for that, we'll compete for that,"
he said. "But we're also running a parallel line with the development of younger players for the
future."

Japeth insists ‘best yet to come’ for Slaughter as Ginebra twin towers split

"THE Twin Tower is over."

That was the sentiment of many Barangay Ginebra fans after Greg Slaughter announced on Instagram
that he is "taking a break" following the expiration of his contract with the Gin Kings.

Fans, of course, were referring to the team-up of Slaughter with Japeth Aguilar, a partnership thay
spanned for seven years or since Slaughter entered the PBA.
Aguilar was also saddened with the development after he reacted to Slaughter's post. "Gonna miss
you brother," wrote Aguilar along with a heartbreak emoji. "But I know the best is yet to come for
you. Love you.” Slaughter responded by writing: "Love you too bro. It's been a pleasure hooping
beside you this past decade."

The duo won four championships together in the PBA, including the most recent one, the 2019 PBA
Governors' Cup with Aguilar winning the finals MVP. Also during the partnership, Slaughter captured a
Best Player of the Conference crown in the 2017 Governors' Cup where Ginebra also won a
championship.

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 ‘It’s his turn’: Kiefer Ravena named Gilas captain

MANILA, Philippines — National coach Mark Dickel has appointed Kiefer Ravena as the captain of the
Gilas Pilipinas on Sunday night. “It suits him. He’s talkative, communicative. It’s his turn,” the
interim mentor told scribes after the pool’s training at Meralco Gym in Ortigas. “I think he’s more
than capable of taking that role and doing a great job with it,” he added.

Ravena, a five-time gold medalist in the SEA Games and a World Cup participant, will be leading a
squad that could feature a healthy mix of pro and collegiate standouts.

Gilas is set to host Thailand on Feb. 20 and then play Indonesia in Jakarta three days later in the first
window of the tournament. “Of course I was stunned,” said Ravena of his appointment. “I guess it
just feels different because there are plenty of players younger than me, a lot of them are billed as
future of Philippine basketball,” he added. “It’s another challenge for me, how to try to make all
these stars work together in a span of 10 days.”

Dickel, meanwhile, insists that such a decision was a no-brainer. “I’ve seen him do it numerous times
for NLEX. I thought he was excellent last conference,” he said, referring to the Road Warriors top-
seed finish in the Governors’ Cup. “He really took them to his shoulders and led them,” he added.
“There’s no reason he can’t do it here.”

Dickel has repeatedly stressed that what he and Tab Baldwin are doing now is laying the foundation
for the 2023 World Cup bid. And as it turns out, Ravena will be a big part of it. “I think he can be a
world class point guard. My job this window is to start to get that out of him,” he said.

Can Fajardo get back to his best after fracturing tibia? Bulls doctor weighs in

CHICAGO - Brian J. Cole is among the top doctors in the United States and one of the country's most
sought after orthopedic surgeons.

Besides his medical degree he also holds an MBA. Among his several athlete-patients include Yao Ming
(examined a fractured tibia in 2007), Tracy "T-Mac" McGrady (performed micro fracture knee surgery
in 2009) and Joakim Noah (right thumb treatment in 2010).

But Dr. Cole, head team physician of the Chicago Bulls, became a household name - a spotlight he
does not seek - last May 2012 when he repaired the torn ACL on the left knee of former NBA MVP
Derrick Rose.Despite his enormously busy schedule tending to his private practice and heading the
surgery departments at Rush University Medical Center and at Rush Oak Park Hospital, Dr. Cole was
generous enough to spare us some time and share his expertise about the injury sustained by
perennial San Miguel slotman June Mar Fajardo.

SPIN.ph: Based on your experience, how long is the healing process for a player who underwent
surgery for a "complete fracture in the right tibia? Please factor in rehab and recovery.
Dr. Brian J. Cole: Typically it takes eight to 12 weeks to heal and consider increasing load to the
area post operatively. It largely relates to the initial severity of the fracture so these are basic
projections for fracture care.
After the fracture is deemed healed, then consideration for getting the athlete "sport ready" involve
a ramp up of non-contact basketball specific activities advanced to and through contact that could
take another 3 to 4 months conservatively.

Again, projections are largely based upon basic assumptions of the nature of the fracture which in
the end dictates the timelines in addition to any associated injuries present at the time of the initial
event.
SPIN.ph: Does a player who sustains such injury return to his 100 percent level?

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Dr. Brian J. Cole: It is likely variable and dependent upon the initial fracture severity and and the
associated soft tissue injuries requiring time to heal or treatment. It is possible in general.
SPIN.ph: The player alluded to here is a reigning five-time MVP in the Philippine Basketball
Association (PBA) who is 6-foot-10 and 269 pounds. Does that factor in all these?
Dr. Brian J. Cole: Healing is load related and clearly, the large and more forceful the athlete and the
specific sport and position in that sport will weigh in to the probability of successfully getting back in
a predictable way without performance disability.
So there you go. The injury, without sugar-coating it, is grim. But the prognosis is bright and sunny.
I'm sure he has the best bone doctors in our country tending to him, plotting the map to mental and
physical recovery.

All told, June Mar will have at least five months to prepare for his second act. That's a lot of spare
time for a young, mega rich adult. I pray that he has a Netflix subscription.

February 12, 2020

James Harden (42 points) and Russell Westbrook (36) combine for 78 points to defeat the Boston
Celtics: 116-105.

February 15, 2020

Tim Duncan has been named a finalist for the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Class of
2020.

2020 NBA Dunk Contest: Aaron Gordon & Derrick Jones Jr.

Aaron Gordon and Derrick Jones Jr. put on an insane show at the 2020 NBA Dunk Contest. Gordon
lost by one point after dunking over Tacko Fall for his last dunk.

Tacko Fall measured 7’7” in shoes at the 2019 draft combine, per the NBA’s measurements, Aaron
Gordon jumped over him on the second dunk-off — and received a 47 out of 50.

All-Star Game 2020 Players

Team LeBron Team Giannis

Starters
LeBron James - Los Angeles Lakers
Anthony Davis - Los Angeles Lakers
Luka Doncic - Dallas Mavericks
James Harden - Houston Rockets
Kawhi Leonard - Los Angeles Clippers
Reserves
Nikola Jokic - Denver Nuggets
Damian Lillard - Portland Trail Blazers
Chris Paul - Oklahoma City Thunder
Domantas Sabonis - Indiana Pacers
Ben Simmons - Philadelphia 76ers
Jayson Tatum - Boston Celtics
Russell Westbrook - Houston Rockets
Starters
Giannis Antetokounmpo - Milwaukee Bucks
Joel Embiid - Philadelphia 76ers
Pascal Siakam - Toronto Raptors
Kemba Walker - Boston Celtics
Trae Young - Atlanta Hawks
Reserves
Bam Adebayo - Miami Heat
Jimmy Butler - Miami Heat
Rudy Gobert - Utah Jazz
Brandon Ingram - New Orleans Pelicans
Kyle Lowry - Toronto Raptors
Khris Middleton - Milwaukee Bucks
Donovan Mitchell - Utah Jazz

NBA All-Star Game 2020: Kawhi Leonard Wins MVP as Team LeBron Beats Team Giannis

LeBron James captained the winning team in the NBA All-Star Game for the third straight season as
Team LeBron beat Team Giannis 157-155 on Sunday at United Center in Chicago.

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James is unbeaten since the NBA adopted the All-Star draft format in 2018. This is also the second
year the four-time league MVP bested Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Los Angeles Clippers star Kawhi Leonard collected the game's Kobe Bryant MVP Award, lifting the
trophy for the first time.

Heading into the fourth quarter, Team LeBron trailed Team Giannis 133-124. That set the stage for a
frantic final frame, decided by Anthony Davis' free throw. Davis added a bit of drama by missing his
first attempt, but he sank the second.

Notable Performers:
a. Kawhi Leonard, F, Team LeBron: 30 points, seven rebounds, four assists, two steals
b. LeBron James, F, Team LeBron: 23 points, six assists, five rebounds, two blocks, one steal
c. Chris Paul, G, Team LeBron: 23 points, six assists, two rebounds
d. Giannis Antetokounmpo, F, Team Giannis: 25 points, 11 rebounds, four assists, three blocks,
one steal
e. Kemba Walker, G, Team Giannis: 23 points, three rebounds, three assists, one steal
f. Rudy Gobert, C, Team Giannis: 21 points, 11 rebounds, two assists, one block

2020 Dunk Contest: Derrick Jones Jr. (MIAMI HEAT)

2020 Skills Challenge: Bam Adebayo (MIAMI HEAT)
2020 3-point Shootout: Buddy Hield (SACRAMENTO KINGS)
2020 All-Star Game: Team LeBron
2020 All-Star Game MVP: Kawhi Leonard

ASIA CUP 2021 QUALIFIERS: GILAS 12

Kiefer Ravena - Ateneo de Manila University
Roger Pogoy - Far Eastern University
Troy Rosario - National University
Poy Erram - Ateneo de Manila University
Abu Tratter - Dela Salle University
Justin Chua - Ateneo de Manila University
CJ Perez - San Sebastian College / Lyceum of
the Philippines University
Dwight Ramos - Ateneo de Manila University
Thirdy Ravena - Ateneo de Manila University
Juan Gomez De Liano - University of the
Philippines
Matt Nieto - Ateneo de Manila University
Isaac Go - Ateneo de Manila University

Philippines go all out with star-studded FIBA 3x3 Olympic Qualifying Tournament Squad

MANILA (Philippines) - The Philippines are not holding anything back as they prepare for the 2020 FIBA
3x3 Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Bengaluru, India.

The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) has named four players - two of the top 3x3 players in the
country and two from the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) - to be part of the Philippines' 3x3
national team that will compete in Bengaluru from March 18-22.

To nobody's surprise, the top-ranked 3x3 player in the Philippines, Joshua Munzon, made the cut
along with another vaunted 3x3 player, Alvin Pasaol.

Also joining them are PBA stars Jaymar Perez and Moala Tautua, both of whom won gold medals in
last year's Southeast Asian Games for the Men's 3x3 event. Tautuaa was the number one overall pick
in the PBA Draft five years ago, while Perez saw action for the Philippines at last year's FIBA
Basketball World Cup in China.

As of now, their training is being overseen by Serbian 3x3 star Stefan Stojacic.

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To show that indeed they are not scrimping on the team's preparations, the SBP are also tapping a
few more Serbian players to work out with the Filipinos in a bid to get them even more acclimatized
to the style of play they should expect at the FIBA 3x3 Olympic Qualifying Tournament.

In Bengaluru, the Philippines have been drawn into the same group as Qatar and the Dominican
Republic in addition to Slovenia and France, both of which are among the top ten 3x3 teams in the
world. Only the top three teams will qualify to the Tokyo 2020 Olympics from the FIBA 3x3 Olympic
Qualifying Tournament.

Kyrie Irving to have season-ending shoulder surgery; Nets ‘looking at big picture’

PHILADELPHIA -- Brooklyn Nets star Kyrie Irving will undergo season-ending arthroscopic surgery on
his right shoulder, general manager Sean Marks announced Thursday night.

Marks said the decision was made after Irving had visited with a specialist the past few days.

"He's obviously upset about this, and we are here to support him, support the process moving forward
with him and the rehabilitation," Marks said before the Nets' game against the Philadelphia 76ers at
Wells Fargo Center. "He saw specialists including our people at [New York's Hospital for Special
Surgery] and it has been a group consensus that at this point in time, and this juncture, this is the
best course of action.”

Irving, who joined the Nets as a free agent last summer alongside Kevin Durant, played in just 20
games in his first season in Brooklyn. He missed 26 games over the span of nearly two months with a
right shoulder impingement, before eventually returning in mid-January following a cortisone shot.

But after he missed the final five games before the All-Star break with a knee sprain he suffered in a
nasty-looking fall in a loss to the Washington Wizards on Feb. 1, it was determined that it wasn't
worth Irving playing through pain in the shoulder any longer, and that surgery was the right course of
action.

What wasn't on the table, Marks said, was Irving getting another cortisone shot.

"I think we look at our players' long-term health as the No. 1 priority," Marks said. "Kyrie has been
adamant like the rest of us that he would take one cortisone shot and see how it goes.

"We are looking at the big picture here. We are not looking at the next 2-3 months. We are looking at
the next 2-3 years."

The possibility for surgery had been on the table during Irving's initial absence. At the time, it was
decided that the better path was for Irving to get the cortisone shot and see how his shoulder
responded, in the hopes of avoiding surgery altogether.

"A cortisone shot lasts as long as it can," Irving told reporters back on Jan. 4. "You either continue to
get cortisone shots, which is obviously detrimental to your health and your muscles, or you go get
arthroscopic surgery. For me, it's just about being able to go back out there after the right amount of
rehab, the right amount of rest and recovery and see what we can do for the rest of the season and
then reevaluate after a few months."

It turned out, however, that it would be another six weeks before he would be shut down for the rest
of the way.

Thursday's announcement closes the door on a disappointing first season for Irving in Brooklyn. He
played extraordinarily well at times, including scoring 55 points in his first game for the Nets in a

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season-opening overtime loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves, but also spent the vast majority of the
season watching in street clothes alongside Durant, who is out with a torn Achilles tendon and
officially ruled out a return this season in an interview earlier this week with Bleacher Report.

Rather than figuring out how Irving fits next to Spencer Dinwiddie, Caris LeVert and Joe Harris ahead
of Durant's return next season, the Nets saw them together for only 19 games this season. Now,
Brooklyn will have to try to make the playoffs without Irving. The Nets entered Thursday seventh in
the East, two games ahead of the eight-place Orlando Magic and five games ahead of the ninth-place
Wizards.

Nets coach Kenny Atkinson admitted Irving being ruled out will force the Nets to start from square
one in terms of piecing together their roster when their two stars return next season.

"I think that's the big thing," Atkinson said. "You wanted some time to work things out, work on our
continuity and obviously work on the chemistry of the team and how we're going to use him. That's
the disappointing part. We're not going to have that opportunity. We'll have to start fresh next season
and figure it out quickly. But that is the disappointing part.

"I don't know if there's enough, especially when you throw Kevin into the mix. I think it's going to be a
different structure, a different chemistry, different rotations."

That said, Atkinson was excited by the brief glimpses of what he saw from Irving, who averaged 27.4
points and 6.4 assists, on the court this season, and is looking forward to seeing more next season.

"I've said this before: He was better than I even thought, a better player than I thought, and I had
tremendous respect for him in Cleveland and Boston," Atkinson said. "Faster than I thought, more
skilled than I thought, a higher-level competitor than I thought, much more physical than I thought. I
don't think people give him enough credit for how physical he is on both ends, how active he is
defensively and what an attacker he is. That bodes really well for the future.

"I really love the player, and I feel like we have a really good relationship. So, we're in a good place
there. Obviously, you want more reps, more time with him, but we'll have time with him in the
offseason, too, to connect and, when he gets healthy, to work with him a little bit."

Marks said Irving is still evaluating his options and didn't say when he would have the surgery. But
Marks did indicate that the rehabilitation process would allow Irving to be back before the start of
next season.

"I think that is something that will have to be determined," Marks said of Irving's rehab timeline.
"With all surgeries once somebody goes in there and takes a look at it then you evaluate how long the
rehab is.

"This is something that he should be back in plenty of time to be working out this summer and
obviously be ready for next season.”

Like Atkinson, Marks was looking forward to having this season as an evaluation period for his newly
built roster. The Nets signed LeVert and Taurean Prince to extensions before the start of this season,
have to decide whether to do the same with Jarrett Allen before next season and have to deal with
the free agency of Harris -- one of the NBA's best 3-point shooters -- this summer.

Marks will have to go into the summer and make those decisions without the benefit of seeing the
full roster together on the court this season.

"I'd be lying if I said I wish all our guys weren't healthy for the whole time. It's been kind of a roller-
coaster year," Marks said. "We've had Caris out as well. So we've had multiple guys who've had these

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strange, unforeseen injuries.

"But I have the utmost confidence in our performance staff, our doctors, all the specialists we've
used as well. And also the guys. The guys have fought hard with their rehab and obviously that's led
by Kevin over the course of the last four or five months while he's been a Net."

Warriors’ Stephen Curry confirms March 1 return date to play in NBA game

There is no more speculating Stephen Curry's return date as the Golden State Warriors star and two-
time NBA MVP said that March 1 has always been his target to return to the court after breaking his
left hand at the end of October.

Curry was cleared for contact Saturday and participated in his first scrimmage with the team since
he last saw time in an NBA game.

"It was fun, man," Curry told reporters after practice Saturday. "That's what you're used to, again,
just playing basketball. I've done every rehab you can think of by yourself in the gym to work on your
conditioning and skill work, and all that type of stuff.

"That's all fun, and you know there's a purpose to it, but there's nothing like just playing basketball
and competing and having fun out there the way I like to do. So, it was nice. I was excited this
morning, for sure."

The Warriors still have four more games remaining before facing the Washington Wizards at home on
March 1.

Thirdy Ravena takes charge as Gilas wins away qualifier over Indonesia

GILAS Pilipinas opened its Fiba Asia Cup 2021 qualifiers campaign with a 100-70 rout of Southeast Asia
neighbor Indonesia on Sunday at the Britama Arena in Jakarta.

Thirdy Ravena led the charge for this group of PBA players and amateur standouts who turned it on in
the third quarter after a close first half.

Ravena finished with 23 points including two off an alley-oop pass by older brother Kiefer as Gilas
picked up the away win after its home game against Thailand was cancelled due to the threat of the
novel coronavirus outbreak.

Prior to the game, Dickel said he believed the game will be close based on what he saw from
Indonesia in the 2019 Southeast Asian Games.

Dickel’s words proved prophetic in the first three quarters of the game as the home side kept Gilas
within range, 55-51, until the midway point of the third quarter.

Ravena sparked a 12-0 run to enable Gilas to open a 67-51 lead late in the third. A basket by
Hardianus Lakudu to close the third ended the run but by then, the gap was already 14.

Gilas continued to pour it on in the final quarter, outscoring the Rajko Toroman-coached Indonesia
squad, 33-17, to win pulling away.

Ravena also converted three of his four three-point attempts to go along with his eight rebounds.

Roger Pogoy had 16 points and six rebounds while CJ Perez tallied 11 points and seven rebounds for
Gilas. Kiefer Ravena and Juan Gomez De Liano had 10 points each.

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Andakara Prastawa Dhyaksa had a game-high 28 points for Indonesia.

The scores:

Philippines 100 – T. Ravena 23, Pogoy 16, Perez 11, K. Ravena 10, Gomez de Liano 10, Rosario 7, Chua
6, Ramos 5, Tratter 5, Erram 5, Nieto 2, Go 0.

Indonesia 70 – Dhyaksa 28, Grahita 17, Wicaksono 6, Lakudu 5, Gemilang 4, Kosasih 4, Wisnu 4,
Sitorus 2, Joni 0.

Quarters: 18-15; 37-28; 67-53; 100-70.

Trivia about Kobe Bryant

Full name: Kobe Bean Bryant

Born: August 23, 1978
Died: January 26, 2020
Career Points: 33,643
Last Game Points: 60 points
Team: Los Angeles Lakers
Jersey #: #8 to #24
Playing Career: 1996-2016

Instructor: Kenneth Darwin B. Yu, LPT

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