Basketball is a popular sport played throughout the world. One of the most popular versions of the game is NBA basketball. The majority of the league’s fans follow the Los Angeles Lakers and New York Knicks teams. The Lakers are often considered as the gold standard among NBA teams due to multiple rings as well as several NBA championships. The team is led by head coach Earvin ‘Magic’ Johnson, and they have played in more than one million games over the course of their 67 year history. The Knicks have only been around for a little over 70 years, but they are still considered to be one of the best teams in the NBA due to their solid play and consistent excellence. Led by Hall of Fame player and coach Earl ‘The Pearl’ Monroe, the Knicks have made the playoffs in every year of their existence and have won more than 30 games (regular season and playoffs combined) 13 times.
The Hockey League (NHL) was also established in the 1920s. However, it was not until the 1930s that the NHL’s popularity began to rival that of the NBA. Since then, the popularity of the game has continued to grow and more people are looking to play than ever before. The NHL is currently one of the top soccer-like sports in the world, and it is commonly played indoors due to winter climate. Usually, the Hockey League plays October through March, but they play their games either way round the year.
One of the most exciting aspects of Hockey is the fights that break out during the games. Fights are not uncommon in Hockey, and they are often times very entertaining to watch. While Basketball is a game that usually needs less physical contact, there is definitely more room for action in Hockey. Hockey has gone through many changes over the years, and many people believe that the game is better today than it has ever been before.
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Fewer Rules And More Leagues
The first difference that you will notice when comparing Basketball to Hockey is that there are fewer rules in Basketball. In general, the rules are simpler in Basketball compared to Hockey. Some of the Basketball rules that you will not find in the Hockey rule book are:
- Only five players, plus a goalkeeper, are allowed on the court at a time
- A shot must be set up in advance
- The defense must defend the basket (three points) or the opponent’s goal (two points)
- There is only one foul per team per game
- You cannot dribble away from your marker (the foul line) or take a flying leap (no longer legal)
There are also some Hockey rules that Basketball does not use, such as:
- Players must keep their feet inside the red lines on the court
- Goalies must wear a mask and hair net
- You must wear a visor
- Hockey is a contact sport and it is played in teams of two
- Fighting of any kind is prohibited
In most cases, you will only need to know how to play Basketball, as opposed to Hockey, to be able to understand and play the game. Knowing how rules work in general and knowing the common terms and concepts behind both sports will certainly make it easier to master and understand the rules when playing.
Exercise And Entertainment
Another important aspect of comparing Basketball to Hockey is that the former is mainly an exercise and recreational sport while the latter is a competitive one. In most cases, Basketball is played in the offseason by amateurs and Hockey is played in the offseason by professionals. This implies that Basketball is mainly a sport that you play for fun and recreation while Hockey is a sport that you play to improve your performance and to have some fun with your mates. While Basketball is an individual sport that you play by yourself or with a friend, Hockey is a team sport that you play with your mates. Knowing this will make it easier to understand why Hockey is a more focused and intense sport than Basketball. In addition, Hockey is much faster paced and requires more skill to play successfully. If you are new to the game, it can be difficult to keep up, especially since Hockey is less forgiving (if you are not skilled enough) than Basketball. While Basketball is a great game for people of all ages and skill levels, Hockey is more suitable for people who are already physically active and skilled.
In conclusion, comparing Basketball to Hockey shows that the former is a simpler game with less regulation and more entertainment value. However, it is also a much more physically demanding sport. If you want to play professionally, you will have to choose Basketball, since Hockey requires more skill and is more focused on competition (and therefore, the professionals). If you want to play just for fun, you can choose Hockey since Basketball is mostly an offseason sport and therefore, less competitive.