Two of the most sought-after
important references for those who bet college and pro basketball annually
have arrived at Gambler's Book Shop. They are the Blue Ribbon College
Basketball Yearbook (383 pages, paperbound, $21.95), edited by Chris
Dortch and Killer Sports' NBA Annual (153 pages, spiralbound,
$34.95).
The Blue Ribbon
compilation, now in its 25th year, was originally produced by the legendary
Chris Wallace. Wallace was so knowledgeable about basketball that he
was hired to be general manager of the Boston Celtics, where he still
presides. The work, used by bettors, coaches, players, scouts, sports
talk show hosts, sports services, sports book directors and recruiters,
as well as just plain fans of the game, offers in-depth analysis, including
strengths and weaknesses of virtually every major college team.
Don't expect spreads
or betting analysis. It's not that kind of publication. This is purely
a book for getting ready for the season ahead, telling you where teams
improved; how well they recruited; the impact of an injury; how good
the backup man might be; where the "sparkplugs" or defensive
aces might be located; coaching approaches. In fact, it doesn't appear
there's an aspect of the game that's been overlooked.
With more than two
dozen individuals responsible for the gathering of the material, this
book is fresher than most basketball magazines, and in more depth. Schedules
(of course subject to change due to the whims of schools and their TV
guarantees) are included.
Part of the book's
strength is in the answers to questions about offensive and defensive
improvements. If a team has a weakness, has it been plugged by a recruit,
the maturing of a player or a JC transfer? The book has great value
for the most part in the first part of the season before teams get into
conference play, while they are "gelling" and super players
begin to emerge.
The colleges begin
play in November, a week or two after the pros get into action. Blue
Ribbon should alert you to sleepers teams which have quietly shored
up their bench and to those who may be over-ranked.
This is a book to
be read before the season begins to give the reader at least a week
for the required highlighting or underlining.
The NBA Annual
by Ed Meyer, is a combination of betting angles; three years of regular
season spreads and totals history; and perhaps the most important section,
room to keep records, plus a schedule with a "twist."
Meyer and crew brilliantly
alert you to situations where a team has had rest or no rest between
games, factors that are vital where travel and fatigue play a role in
scheduling, and sometimes when teams go to a high altitude arena, those
legs get a bit weary in the final quarter.
One of the most
dedicated and astute compilers in the game, Meyer includes "player-based
trends" which often impact the outcome of a game. If a particular
player is injured or if he has more turnovers than assists or if a shooter
scored so many points--how has his team performed in the past? Simply,
what is the impact of the loss or return of a specific individual on
team performance?
RME Sports Investments
has produced an NBA Workbook (95 pages, spiralbound, $14) for
the first time, which allows a bettor to record the results of every
pro game this regular season, and includes about two dozen betting trends.
There are no pointspread records or totals from past years, but for
those who just want to track streaks and keep scores, it's an excellent
time-saver.
Finally, the Sporting
News Official NBA Guide (765 pages, paperbound, $18.95) allows you
to see the score of every pro team last year; rosters; team records
from every past season; individual and team records; past playoff histories;
schedules; where to write or call for ticket information; broadcast
and cable TV information, it's here. This is an excellent work for settling
arguments; trivia contests; for the young or casual fan.
The companion volume,
also by the Sporting News, is the 2005-06 Official NBA Register
(488 pages, paperbound $18.95). From Abdul-Wahad of Dallas to Yao of
the Rockets, you can find players easily in alphabetical order -- including
real name; date and place of birth; where they attended school; correction
pronunciation of names; collegiate; regular season; playoff records;
injury records; who was traded or waived from where to where. Plus,
for the nostalgia or trivia buffs; great retired all stars; present
and past coaches and section on promising newcomers. Both books are
a good source if you're in a fantasy league; want to know how to spell
a player's name correctly or want to win a bar bet. Also, they make
an excellent gift for a bartender who must settle arguments.
