5 Tips for following the NBA | Thebigtip

With the new season just two days away, there will be a large number of new fans who have absolutely no idea how to approach the 82-game season. So with that in mind, here are 5 tips that will have following the NBA down to an art:

1. Know your resources

This is by far the most important point. With so much information available, it’s important to have a routine you follow – the alternate is getting lost amongst the club forums, local newspapers and national outlets. Pick no more than a handful of sites to keep you in the loop. For example, my rotation consists of the Yahoo NBA page, SpursTalk, The Basketball Jones and Bill Simmons. That covers almost every angle you can think of, and it doesn’t take long to complete.

2. Get some mates involved

What sports are there that aren’t better when there are mates involved? From celebrating together when your team wins to the back and forth banter when your teams play each other – it’s a lot easier to become attached when bragging rights are on the line.

3. Pick a storyline that will interest you

On first glance this might seem a little confusing. A storyline? Why can’t I just pick a team?
I’ve always been a firm believer that you should never pick a team to follow just for the sake of it. A sports team is for life, so without proper research and familiarising yourself with the league, you run the risk of being stuck with a team you don’t feel a connection with. That’s why I’ve come up with this idea.

With a little bit of research (it won’t take long once you’ve settled on your rotation of sites), the main storylines of the season will become fairly obvious. Perhaps you want to follow the Rookie of the Year battle? How Dwyane Wade’s Miami Heat will cope with the pressure? The Western Conference team that will rise to challenge the Lakers?

Once you pick a storyline and follow that around the league, you have a base to work from. Not only will you have the enjoyment of watching it unfold, along the way you’ll find yourself completely sucked into something that you never would have picked.

Another personal example: many years ago, I was following the upper echelon of Western Conference teams when I stumbled across San Antonio @ Dallas. Looking back now, I can’t remember the season, and I can’t even remember the final result. What I do recall is Tim Duncan putting the Spurs on his back and single-handedly carrying them back into the game from a huge deficit. About halfway through I found myself cheering him on and I realised that was it – I’m a Spurs fan.

4. Learn the commentary teams

With the increase of television coverage in recent seasons, we’re normally welcomed by either ESPN or TNT coverage. In the same way that you can talk along with Channel 9 cricket commentary team (who hasn’t said the Gone! Got Him! Yes! with Bill Lawry at one point?), there are plenty of chances to do the same if you take note of the catch phrases.

If you’re watching an ESPN game with Mike Breen as the play-by-play man, wait for the big three pointer ... “From downtown....BANG!” If Mark Jackson is the colour analyst, look for “Hand down, man down” on roughly every second possession. It makes a game that much more entertaining when you can call exactly what’s coming from the sideline.

5. Don’t burn yourself out

It’s a long season. From October to June and pre-season to playoffs, you run the risk of getting worn out if you throw yourself into everything too quickly. The key is to start slow, and build yourself up. There’s no point in watching double-headers on TV and the Internet if you’ve had enough by mid-December.

Once you have the first four points locked down, it should prevent the fifth from happening. Once you’re in a solid routine, have mates to heckle/cheer along with and have the commentary mannerisms down pat you’re on the way to becoming a full-blown fan of the NBA. Well, that and having your internet usage increased to a larger amount.