Download or read book Statistics Slam Dunk written by Gary Sutton and published by Simon and Schuster. This book was released on 2024-02-20 with total page 670 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Learn statistics by analyzing professional basketball data! In this action-packed book, you’ll build your skills in exploratory data analysis by digging into the fascinating world of NBA games and player stats using the R language. Statistics Slam Dunk is an engaging how-to guide for statistical analysis with R. Each chapter contains an end-to-end data science or statistics project delving into NBA data and revealing real-world sporting insights. Written by a former basketball player turned business intelligence and analytics leader, you’ll get practical experience tidying, wrangling, exploring, testing, modeling, and otherwise analyzing data with the best and latest R packages and functions. In Statistics Slam Dunk you’ll develop a toolbox of R programming skills including: Reading and writing data Installing and loading packages Transforming, tidying, and wrangling data Applying best-in-class exploratory data analysis techniques Creating compelling visualizations Developing supervised and unsupervised machine learning algorithms Executing hypothesis tests, including t-tests and chi-square tests for independence Computing expected values, Gini coefficients, z-scores, and other measures If you’re looking to switch to R from another language, or trade base R for tidyverse functions, this book is the perfect training coach. Much more than a beginner’s guide, it teaches statistics and data science methods that have tons of use cases. And just like in the real world, you’ll get no clean pre-packaged data sets in Statistics Slam Dunk. You’ll take on the challenge of wrangling messy data to drill on the skills that will make you the star player on any data team. Foreword by Thomas W. Miller. About the technology Statistics Slam Dunk is a data science manual with a difference. Each chapter is a complete, self-contained statistics or data science project for you to work through—from importing data, to wrangling it, testing it, visualizing it, and modeling it. Throughout the book, you’ll work exclusively with NBA data sets and the R language, applying best-in-class statistics techniques to reveal fun and fascinating truths about the NBA. About the book Is losing basketball games on purpose a rational strategy? Which hustle statistics have an impact on wins and losses? Does spending more on player salaries translate into a winning record? You’ll answer all these questions and more. Plus, R’s visualization capabilities shine through in the book’s 300 plots and charts, including Pareto charts, Sankey diagrams, Cleveland dot plots, and dendrograms. About the reader For readers who know basic statistics. No advanced knowledge of R—or basketball—required. About the author Gary Sutton is a former basketball player who has built and led high-performing business intelligence and analytics organizations across multiple verticals. Table of Contents 1 Getting started 2 Exploring data 3 Segmentation analysis 4 Constrained optimization 5 Regression models 6 More wrangling and visualizing data 7 T-testing and effect size testing 8 Optimal stopping 9 Chi-square testing and more effect size testing 10 Doing more with ggplot2 11 K-means clustering 12 Computing and plotting inequality 13 More with Gini coefficients and Lorenz curves 14 Intermediate and advanced modeling 15 The Lindy effect 16 Randomness versus causality 17 Collective intelligence

Download or read book Saving the Lakers A Be the General Manager Book written by Bryant T. Jordan and published by Lulu.com. This book was released on 2014-06 with total page 246 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Saving the Lakers: A Be the General Manager Book, is a game-changer in every sense of the word! This book could literally revolutionize the field of sports publishing by creating two new genres, namely "Be the General Manager" books as well as "Choose Your Own Ending Sports Adventure" books for adults! In Saving the Lakers, you the reader have the opportunity to try and convince Lakers owner Jim Buss to hire you as the new Lakers General Manager, draft the best available prospect (Julius Randle, Doug McDermott, etc.), use your available cap space to re-sign former Lakers or new free agents, hire a new coach, make trades, and ultimately win the NBA championship at the end of the 2014-15 season. Saving the Lakers is a 244 page adventure that is a hilarious and fun read, as well as a workout for your brain. Stat-geeks, hoops junkies, die-hard Lakers fans and casual basketball fans alike could read and re-read this book and never get bored. It's literally like a video-game on paper!

Download or read book Julius Randle the Inspiring Story of One of Basketball s All Star Forwards written by Clayton Geoffreys and published by . This book was released on 2021-07-03 with total page 154 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Learn the Inspiring Story of the New York Knicks All-Star Power Forward, Julius Randle! Read on your PC, Mac, smartphone, tablet or Kindle device! One of many riveting reads in the Basketball Biography Books series by Clayton Geoffreys. In Julius Randle: The Inspiring Story of One of Basketball's All-Star Forwards, you'll learn the motivational story of one of basketball's young All-Star Power Forwards, Julius Randle. Since being drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2014 NBA Draft, Julius Randle has had quite the journey in order to become the All-Star that he is today. His consistent hard work over time paid dividends, as he was given the NBA's Most Improved Player Award in just his second season with the Knicks and named a reserve for the 2021 NBA All-Star Game. Randle has many good years of basketball left, so it'll be exciting to see what he achieves next. Get this basketball book on Julius Randle today if you're looking for an inspiring basketball biography book to read, or a gift for a basketball fan! It's perfect for reading at home or on the go. Here is a preview of what is inside this Julius Randle book: Chapter 1: Childhood and Early Life Chapter 2: High School Career Chapter 3: College Career Chapter 4: NBA Career - Getting Drafted, Injured Rookie Year, The Return, Final Season in LA, The Short Stop at Nola, Moving to the Big Apple, and Becoming an All-Star Chapter 5: Personal Life Chapter 6: Impact on Basketball Chapter 7: Legacy and Future An excerpt from this biography book on Julius Randle's story: In the NBA, or even in the game of basketball as a whole, there are players who are born to be stars the moment they first get to touch a ball. When they get to the NBA, they are already poised to become some of the best players in the entire league because of how seemingly talented and ready they are for the next level. This is something that is quite a rarity in the league, as only generational talents have this attribute. When you think about such players, names such as Wilt Chamberlain, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Michael Jordan, and LeBron James come to mind. Those few generational talents came to the NBA and instantly became megastars. In a league that is never shy of talent, such players are rare, as only those who are born with the gift and the potential to become big-name players get to rise to such heights. Of course, these are the type of players that will excel in whatever situation and team you put them in. But we are not here to talk about such names. Too much has been said about the greatest players the league has ever seen. Instead, we are here to talk about the players who may have been immensely talented but still needed to be in the right place at the right time to truly shine and become the best versions of themselves. These are the guys who may have had the potential to become stars but were not in the best situation at the start of their careers. One such name that we can think of in the NBA right now is the versatile power forward named Julius Randle. Did you enjoy this excerpt? If so, be sure to pick up a copy of this basketball biography book on Julius Randle today! This is just one of many basketball biographies by Clayton Geoffreys. Also, be sure to check out Clayton's biography on Derrick Rose and Rudy Gobert after you finish this one.

Download or read book Saving the Celtics A Be the General Manager Book written by Bryant T. Jordan and published by Lulu.com. This book was released on 2014-06 with total page 174 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Saving the Celtics: A Be the General Manager Book, is a game-changer in every sense of the word! This book could literally revolutionize the field of sports publishing by creating two new genres, namely "Be the General Manager" books as well as "Choose Your Own Ending Sports Adventure" books for adults! In Saving the Celtics, you the reader have the opportunity to try and convince Celtics CEO Wyc Grousbeck to hire you as the new Celtics General Manager, draft the best available prospect (Julius Randle, Dante Exum, etc, etc.), use your available cap space to re-sign former Celtics or new free agents, hire a new coach, make trades, and ultimately win the NBA championship at the end of the 2014-15 season. Saving the Celtics is a 172 page adventure that is a hilarious and fun read, as well as a workout for your brain. Stat-geeks, hoops junkies, die-hard Celtics fans and casual basketball fans alike could read and re-read this book and never get bored. It's literally like a video-game on paper!

Download or read book Julius Randle written by Richard K Caldwell and published by Independently Published. This book was released on 2024-02-04 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Julius Randle: A Life in Basketball: The Evolution of a Star From the concrete courts of Dallas to the bright lights of Madison Square Garden, Julius Randle's journey is a testament to resilience, unwavering passion, and the transformative power of hard work. This is not just a biography of a basketball star; it's a portrait of a young man defying expectations and forging his own destiny. Witness Randle's meteoric rise, from college phenom to NBA draft bust, and ultimately, to All-Star and the heart and soul of the New York Knicks. Dive into the crucible of early injuries and doubts, and revel in the triumph of his explosive 2020-21 season, a year that redefined his career and ignited the hopes of a city. This isn't just a collection of stats and game-winning shots. "Julius Randle: A Life in Basketball" delves deeper, exploring the formative years that shaped his character, the mentors who guided him, and the unwavering support of his mother, Carolyn, a former college player herself. You'll discover the man behind the athlete, his dedication to social justice, and the foundation he established to empower underprivileged youth. This book is for anyone who has ever dared to dream beyond their circumstances, for anyone who has faced setbacks and risen stronger. It's a story of grit, determination, and the unyielding belief that anything is possible. Read "Julius Randle: A Life in Basketball" and experience the evolution of a star, both on and off the court. Key Highlights: * Follows Julius Randle's journey from humble beginnings to NBA stardom. * Offers a behind-the-scenes look at his challenges and triumphs. * Explores Randle's character, values, and commitment to social justice. * Serves as an inspiration for aspiring athletes and dreamers.

Download or read book Goodbye My Yesterday Hello and Good Morning My Tomorrow written by Charles Konadu-Adjei PhD and published by WestBow Press. This book was released on 2022-08-22 with total page 192 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: David said in Psalm 23:4, “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil.” Why did fear not cripple David in his darkest moment? It’s all about how he perceived the darkness he was walking through. It’s what you see while in the darkness that shapes your tomorrow. Charles Konadu-Adjei, Ph.D., a minister of the Gospel, drives that point and many others home in this book geared for those who have abandoned their dreams because of yesterday’s mistakes, struggles or tragedies. He offers ten practical strategies that any individual can use to reset their lives. Learn how to: • avoid brooding over past failures and lost opportunities; • avoid making excuses when going through tough times; • stop telling God how big your problems are—and begin telling your problems how big your God is. Losing is not important, but the way you deal with setbacks is important. It’s easy to stay down, but it takes men and women with purpose to get up and fight back. Join the author as he shares biblical and practical insights to help you learn from the past, reset your life, and move toward better tomorrows.

Download or read book Built to Lose written by Jake Fischer and published by Triumph Books. This book was released on 2021-05-04 with total page 295 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "From front offices to college campuses, Jake Fischer takes you on an engrossing tour of the NBA in its latest golden age, when some of the most captivating teams won by losing." —Lee Jenkins, former Sports Illustrated NBA writer An insider account of modern NBA team-building, based on hundreds of exclusive interviews A single transcendent talent?can change the fortunes of an NBA franchise. One only has to recall the frenzy surrounding recent top pick Zion Williamson to recognize teams' willingness to lose games now for the sake of winning championships later. It's a story that weaves its way behind closed doors to reveal intricate machinations normally hidden from public view. Backed by extensive reporting and hundreds of interviews with top players, coaches, and executives, Jake Fischer chronicles secret pre-draft workouts, feuding between player agents and executives, surprising trade negotiations, interpersonal conflicts, organizational power struggles, and infamous public relations fiascos, making for a fascinating look at the NBA. The definitive account of the NBA's tanking era, when teams raced to the bottom in the hope of eventually winning a championship.

Download or read book Julius Randle written by Andrew Flores and published by Independently Published. This book was released on 2024-02-22 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: What if a single injury could change your life forever? That's what happened to Julius Randle, a rising star in the NBA, who dislocated his shoulder in a freak accident during a game. He was told he would need surgery, months of rehabilitation, and a lot of patience to recover. He was also told he might never play basketball at the same level again. But Julius Randle refused to give up. He refused to let his injury define him. He refused to let his dream die. He decided to turn his pain into power, his struggle into strength, and his setback into comeback. He decided to write his own story, his own journey, and his own legacy. He decided to become a Knicks legend. In this book, you will discover: How Julius Randle fell in love with basketball, became a star, and joined the Knicks How he faced adversity, overcame injury, and led his team to glory How he changed the game, inspired millions, and made history How he developed his skills, his style, and his attitude How he earned his recognition, his honors, and his awards How he created his impact, his difference, and his legend This book is more than a biography. It is a guide, a tool, and a gift. It is a guide for anyone who wants to learn from Julius Randle's story, journey, and legacy. It is a tool for anyone who wants to apply Julius Randle's way, method, and philosophy to their own life. It is a gift for anyone who wants to share Julius Randle's passion, inspiration, and love. This book is a tribute, a celebration, and a thank you. It is a tribute to Julius Randle, the basketball player, the Knicks player, and the legend. It is a celebration of Julius Randle, the person, the husband, the father, and the friend. It is a thank you to Julius Randle, the leader, the performer, the winner, and the hero. This book is a story, a journey, and a legacy. It is a story of how a dislocated shoulder made him a Knicks legend. It is a journey of how he achieved his dream and his glory. It is a legacy of how he created his legend and his legacy. This book is the Julius Randle Way. And it is a way that you don't want to miss. Get your copy today and join the Julius Randle Way. You won't regret it.

Download or read book I m a Big Fan of Julius Randle Are You Notebook for Notes Thoughts Ideas Reminders Lists to Do Planning for Basketball Lovers Basketball Gifts written by Fansof Publishing and published by . This book was released on 2020-01-06 with total page 122 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Looking for a great gift idea ? Need a new Journal/Notebook in your life ? Then you need to buy this gift for your father, mother, brother, sister, Auntie, wife, husband, Boss, employeer, co-worker ... and celebrate their birthday. Size is perfect for use at home, office, or other work place High quality ruled journal of ideal size suitable for kids, women or men to write. Perfect for Pencils, Ball Pen, Gel Pen or Ink. Suitable for Taking Note, Doodle Diaries, Writing Your Daily To Do Lists. Gag Gift Idea for Any Special Occasion Festivals for Friend and Lover to Remember. Desired Awesome Journals are perfect for: Birthday Christmas Gifts New Job Gift Colleague/ Co-worker/ Boss Gifts Journals & Planners Doodle Diaries Homeschool Planners for Kids Creative Writing Notebooks Gifts for Mom Dad, Grandma Grandpa, Cousins, Brother Sister Retirement Gifts School Notebooks Student Graduation Gifts Teacher Thank You Gifts Mom Daughter Journal Journaling For Kids Book Lover Souvenir Novelty Blank Scrapbook Monthly Project Tracker Practical Plan Checklist Click on Author Name under the title in this listing to view all of our other amazing books

Download or read book Players First written by John Calipari and published by Penguin. This book was released on 2015-02-24 with total page 321 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Now with a new chapter on the Wildcats' legendary comeback in the 2014 Final Four John Calipari, one of the most successful coaches in NCAA history, presents the world of college basketball from the coach's chair, unvarnished and straight from the heart. Players First is Calipari's account of his first six years coaching the University of Kentucky men's team, leading it to a national championship in 2012 and the championship game in 2014, all while dealing with the realities of the "one-and-done" mentality and an NCAA that sometimes seems to put players last. Filled with revelatory stories about what it takes to succeed at the highest level of the college game, Players First is a candid look at the great players and rivalries that have filled Calipari's life with joy and a sense of purpose.

Download or read book 100 Things Lakers Fans Should Know Do Before They Die written by Steve Springer and published by Triumph Books. This book was released on 2021-06-08 with total page 317 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Now in its third edition, an essential guide for all Lakers fans, including the 2020 NBA championship! Most Los Angeles Lakers fans have taken in a game or two at the Staples Center, have seen highlights of Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, or remember the epic battles with the Celtics in the 1980s. But only real fans know how the Lakers acquired Hot Rod Hundley, which hobby fascinated both Chick Hearn and Elgin Baylor, or the best place to grab a bite in LA before a game. Whether you were there for the Showtime era or started watching during Kobe Bryant's prime, this is the ultimate guide for Lakers faithful. Every essential piece of Lakers knowledge and trivia, as well as must-do activities, is ranked from 1 to 100, providing an entertaining and easy-to-follow checklist for those on their way to fan superstardom.Readers will experience a vivid tour of Lakers history, featuring LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and the team's 2020 championship season.

Download or read book Research Methods and Design in Sport Management written by Damon P. S. Andrew and published by Human Kinetics Publishers. This book was released on 2019-10-16 with total page 377 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Research Methods and Design in Sport Management, Second Edition, explains research design, implementation, and assessment criteria with a focus on procedures unique to the discipline of sport management.

Download or read book The Back Roads to March written by John Feinstein and published by Anchor. This book was released on 2021-03-16 with total page 450 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: #1 New York Times bestselling author John Feinstein returns to his first love--college basketball--with a fascinating and compelling journey through a landscape of unsung, unpublicized and often unknown heroes of Division-1 college hoops. John Feinstein pulls back the curtain on college basketball's lesser-known Cinderella stories--the smaller programs who no one expects to win, who have no chance of attracting the most coveted high school recruits. To tell this story, Feinstein follows a handful of players, coaches, and schools who dream, not of winning the NCAA tournament, but of making it past their first or second round games. Every once in a while, one of these coaches or players is plucked from obscurity to lead a major team or to play professionally, cementing their status in these fiercely passionate fan bases as a legend. These are the gifted players who aren't handled with kid gloves--they're hardworking, gritty teammates who practice and party with everyone else. With his trademark humor and invaluable connections, John Feinstein reveals the big time programs you've never heard of, the bracket busters you didn't expect to cheer for, and the coaches who inspire them to take their teams to the next level.

Download or read book Only a Black Athlete Can Save Us Now written by Grant Farred and published by U of Minnesota Press. This book was released on 2022-01-18 with total page 144 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A call to arms exploring the protest movements of 2020 as they reverberated through the athletic world Starting with the refusal of George Hill of the Milwaukee Bucks to participate in an August 2020 playoff game following the shooting of Jacob Blake by police in Kenosha, Wisconsin, Grant Farred shows how the Covid-restricted NBA “bubble” released an energy that spurred athletes into radical action. They disrupted athletic normalcy, and in their grief and rage against American racism they demonstrated the true progressivism lacking in even the most reformist-minded politicians and pundits. Farred goes on to trace the radicalism of black athletes in a number of sports, including the WNBA, women’s tennis, the NFL, and NASCAR, locating contemporary athletes in a lineage that runs through Muhammad Ali as well as Tommy Smith and John Carlos at the 1968 Olympics. Only a Black Athlete Can Save Us Now uses sport as a point of departure to argue that the dystopic crisis of our current moment offers a singular opportunity to reimagine how we live in the world. Forerunners: Ideas First is a thought-in-process series of breakthrough digital publications. Written between fresh ideas and finished books, Forerunners draws on scholarly work initiated in notable blogs, social media, conference plenaries, journal articles, and the synergy of academic exchange. This is gray literature publishing: where intense thinking, change, and speculation take place in scholarship.

Download or read book Fightin Words written by Joe Cox and published by Simon and Schuster. This book was released on 2016-10-11 with total page 308 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The long-standing rivalry between the Kentucky Wildcats and the Louisville Cardinals is one of the most heated in college basketball. Facing off against each other on the court for over a century, the intrastate rivalry became red-hot over thirty years ago when the two faced each other in 1983 NCAA tournament, and Louisville narrowly edged out the Wildcats to advance to the Elite Eight. The heat hasn’t died down since ’83; in fact, the animosity between the two has only gotten stronger, with numerous face-offs—both on and off the court. In Fightin’ Words, Joe Cox and Ryan Clark expertly narrate the blow-by-blows of all the most important moments in the history of the Kentucky-Louisville rivalry. Fightin’ Words, first published in 2014 and now newly updated in paperback, covers the hundred-plus year span of the feud. From the twelve games played prior to the fated 1983 meeting, to the Wildcat-Cardinal meet-up in the Final Four round of 2014 NCAA tournament, and every game in between through the 2014-15 season, all the games covered include insightful pregame evaluation, commentary on the games’ most important plays, and expert postgame analysis, along with interviews from key players. From off the court, read how Louisville coach Denny Crum craftily out-recruited Kentucky coach Joe Hall or the athletes in inner-city Louisville; discover a blow-by-blow of Hall of Fame coach Rick Pitino’s move from the Wildcats to the Cardinals; and learn how John Calipari transformed a losing Kentucky team into NCAA Champions. With individual chapters chronicling every meet-up, Fightin’ Words is a must-have for every true fan of college basketball. Skyhorse Publishing, as well as our Sports Publishing imprint, are proud to publish a broad range of books for readers interested in sports—books about baseball, pro football, college football, pro and college basketball, hockey, or soccer, we have a book about your sport or your team. Whether you are a New York Yankees fan or hail from Red Sox nation; whether you are a die-hard Green Bay Packers or Dallas Cowboys fan; whether you root for the Kentucky Wildcats, Louisville Cardinals, UCLA Bruins, or Kansas Jayhawks; whether you route for the Boston Bruins, Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, or Los Angeles Kings; we have a book for you. While not every title we publish becomes a New York Times bestseller or a national bestseller, we are committed to publishing books on subjects that are sometimes overlooked by other publishers and to authors whose work might not otherwise find a home.

Download or read book The World Almanac and Book of Facts 2017 written by Sarah Janssen and published by Simon and Schuster. This book was released on 2016-12-06 with total page 3377 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Get thousands of facts right at your fingertips with this essential resource. The World Almanac® and Book of Facts is America's top-selling reference book of all time, with more than 82 million copies sold. Since 1868, this compendium of information has been the authoritative source for all your entertainment, reference, and learning needs. The 2017 edition of The World Almanac® reviews the events of 2016 and will be your go-to source for questions on any topic in the upcoming year. Praised as a "treasure trove of political, economic, scientific and educational statistics and information" by The Wall Street Journal, The World Almanac® and Book of Facts will answer all of your trivia needs—from history and sports to geography, pop culture, and much more. Features include: • 2016—Top 10 News Topics: The editors of The World Almanac® list the top stories that held the world's attention in 2016. • 2016—Year in Sports: Hundreds of pages of trivia and statistics that are essential for any sports fan, featuring complete coverage of the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio, the 2016 World Series, and much more. • 2016—Year in Pictures: Striking full-color images from around the world in 2016, covering news, entertainment, science, and sports. • 2016—Offbeat News Stories: The World Almanac® editors found some of the strangest news stories of the year. • World Almanac ® Editors' Picks: Time Capsule: The World Almanac® lists the items that most came to symbolize the year 2016, from news and sports to pop culture. • 2016 Election Results: The World Almanac® provides a comprehensive look at the entire 2016 election process, from the roller coaster of the early primaries to state and county presidential voting results and coverage of House, Senate, and gubernatorial races. • The World at a Glance: This annual feature of The World Almanac® provides a quick look at the surprising stats and curious facts that define the changing world. • World Almanac ® Editors’ Picks: The Best Teams That Never Won It All: In light of Golden State's unprecedented regular season success and eventual downfall in the NBA Finals, The World Almanac® takes a look back into sports history for the best teams that fell just short of championship glory. • Statistical Spotlight: A brand-new feature highlights statistics relevant to the biggest stories of the year. These data provide context to give readers a fresh perspective on important issues. • Other New Highlights: Newly available statistics on sexuality, student loans, overdose deaths, state minimum wages, and much more.

Download or read book Spaced Out written by Mike Prada and published by Triumph Books. This book was released on 2022-11-01 with total page 398 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A hands-on, illuminating deconstruction of NBA basketball, tracing the tactical evolution of the modern game As the NBA celebrates and surpasses 75 years of existence, today's game looks nothing like it did in generations past when Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar took turns ruling the league. But it's also entirely different from a decade—even half decade—ago. Today's stars enter the league with more versatility and fluidity than ever before, and they need it to handle the strategies, philosophies, schemes, skill sets, movement patterns, and measures of basketball intelligence that simply didn't exist in the past. Spaced Out tells the story of what professional basketball looks like right now and how it got here. Taking a court-level view, Mike Prada breaks down high-level play to elucidate the athleticism, strategy, and skill demonstrated on a nighty basis, while shining a light on the historical forces that have dramatically altered the shape of the game and the role of its superstars. Topics covered include the explosion of three point shooting, the rise and fall and rise again of zone defense, the impact of tighter enforcement of perimeter contact rules, and other pivotal factors impacting the pro game. From Xs and Os to keen historic analysis, this definitive volume will reveal the intricacies of a beautiful game for savvy fans, players, and coaches alike.