The NBA Playoffs

March 1, 2019
Grades 5-8 The latest entry in the handsome Spectacular Sports series looks at the National Basketball Association Playoffs. After discussing the history of this championship tournament, Doeden presents highlights from its greatest games, such as the Bulls 90-88 victory over the Jazz in game 5 of the 1997 NBA Finals, when Michael Jordan had the flu but managed to score 38 points, including the winning shot during the last minute of play. The section on Memorable Moments includes a spectacular reverse layup by Julius Erving in the 1980 Western Conference Finals, as well as a buzzer-beating, go-ahead shot by LeBron James during the 2018 Eastern Conference Semifinals. The text concludes with a discussion of how and why the NBA Playoffs may change in the future. The book's spacious layout and excellent color photos are attractive, but it's the text that delivers the win here. Doeden combines his knowledge of the sport and its history with a sportswriter's flair for drawing readers into the excitement of a particular play, a rewarding combination for young basketball fans.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2019, American Library Association.)