Learning the Basics 🏀 Hoops Tabletop Pro Basketball

[@larryrice5231]

Rod - thanks for this. I just picked this game up and you've saved me undoubtedly much time of thumbing through the rule book. Will bookmark this one as a reference tool. Appreciate your thorough explanations!

[@redfanrod]

Congrats on your Hoops purchase, Larry. I sure hope you picked up some ABA seasons. I pushed hard for 1971-72 ABA to be published and even wrote some notes to creator Mark Vecellio regarding defensive ratings and characteristics for the players in that season. Another awesome (and this time, healthy) season for Rick Barry with the Nets and the Colonels are incredible and should have been the champs. Cheers! 🏀

[@guykipp2905]

I don't use the clock. I just use the deck as my timer, placing a "6 minute card" after 35 cards of the 70-card deck, a "2-minute card" after 58 cards of the 70-card deck, etc. Also, I streamline the jump ball process by just calling "odd-even" on the opening tip-off. HOOPS is a great game with great flow, spot-on accuracy, a generous selection of teams from the past and present, high-quality game components and easy-to-read cards.

[@redfanrod]

Good call, Guy. The Hoops clock is interesting. It's hard to explain, but it "snakes" back and forth down the card (versus "left to right" followed by a "carriage return" like other game clocks). I mess up the clock at least once per game. Good thing that the time is established by the amount of game cards in the FAC deck. Cheers! 🏀

[@guykipp2905]

@@redfanrod It's my ingrained Strat-o-Matic training at work.

[@redfanrod]

@@guykipp2905 I figured that's where your "clock roots" lie, lol. I was raised on Fast Break Pro Basketball, so I've been accustomed to a separate game clock. Cheers. 🏀

[@Pops_Reviews]

Hey Rod, thanks for these videos for Hoops! I got the game and got the 89-90 set as well! I just did an unbox video and you are favorably mentioned!! Take care my friend and God Bless!!🙏🏾☺️

[@redfanrod]

Just threw a "like" and big comment on your Hoops unboxing video. The 1989-90 season is a good one. I would've liked to have seen "Drexler vs. Jordan" in the 1990 NBA finals. I think it would've been closer than the Trail Blazers-Pistons series was. The 1990-91 Trail Blazers should've faced off against the Bulls in the finals that year but Magic pulled a fast one on us in the Western Conference finals. I respect the Bulls a lot and it is a shame Portland didn't draft the greatest player of the 1990s when it was sitting in "our" lap at the 1984 NBA Draft. Cheers! 🏀

[@RoseannRomano-y3y]

Good video for a good game. Flow is pretty good. Players perform close to real life. Not too hard to learn

[@redfanrod]

HI Roseann. Hoops is the most accurate game in terms of player and team stats that I know of. The biggest complaints about Hoops is its limit of 12 player cards per team. Not really a factor with older "classic" seasons but there are so many players these days. Have a good one. 🏀

[@davidarlington1206]

Thanks for this video. You are very clear about how to play this game and show it off to its best light. You got me interested in it! :)

[@redfanrod]

Hi David. Hoops is a good game. It is an easy game to broadcast because it flows so well. I highly recommend this game. It is statistically accurate - more than all others - and Mark Vecellio at Hoops has an expanding list of past seasons available. Have a good one. 🏀

[@lloydtorso6045]

You have gotten very good at videos. Your content is great.

[@redfanrod]

Thanks for the praise, Lloyd. I've tried to improve my video presentation as the months have passed. I know I've got a lot more to learn but I appreciate the positive reinforcement as it motivates me to do better. Take care. 🏀

[@redfanrod]

Note: The "speed test" is a reflection of the time consumed while playing a "modern" game of professional basketball, utilizing the three point shot to its fullest. There will be significantly more dice rolls for three point attempts while playing a "modern" game of Hoops. By contrast, a "classic" game - without or with minimal use of the three point shot - will take significantly less time to play. 🏀

[@bruinsfan9645]

Hey Rod, Nice to see you back playing some Hoops. After playing this game for several hours along with a few other Basketball Games, Ive noticed that implementing the player’s Choice on the Action Card’s to see who takes the shot like replay has done, Has really helped with a more accurate distribution of FGA’s. I don’t seem to get that luck of the draw feeling that the action cards in Hoops and other games tend to do to your mind while playing. It would be nice to have that option in Hoops. I also wanted to mention that I’m getting a hard time in my area from some of my fellow College Football friends and local Washington Huskie football fans for saying that they will lose to Oregon this weekend, I believe the Ducks are the superior team and should’ve won the first game. Anyway, We will see. Take Care

[@redfanrod]

Hi Bruins Fan. I haven't played enough Hoops over the past year. It's on my short list of great games, including Fast Break and PTG Basketball (by Big League Game Co.). Like you said, Hoops has a "choice" option, especially with the top shooters/ballhandlers on each team and, as coach/commissioner, you can be as flexible as you want with it. As for the Ducks, I'm actually a Beaver fan (OSU Class of 1989) who typically roots for Oregon teams, so go Ducks vs. the Huskies! 🏀

[@markvecellio5528]

Just to clarify here, if player choices are determined per the rules of the game (randomly) the FGA will be precise over a sufficient sample size. We play test to the tune of thousands of games per team. This, of course, will also be dependent upon rest intervals for the X players. Normal variation from game to game should be expected.

[@bruinsfan9645]

@@markvecellio5528 Thanks for the clarification, One important thing I should’ve clarified myself before commenting to Rod was that I was talking about CB2. The Pro game I have not played enough of to really comment on the game, My experience with the Pro Game so far has been positive in every aspect. Its in my opinion one the hardest things to accomplish when designing a game is to get the balance of accuracy from playing a single game realistically versus getting the overall yearly statistics realistically. I totally agree with you on sample size, Its means everything. Thanks Mark

[@bruinsfan9645]

@@redfanrod I’m a ‘85’ Michigan grad so I’m very aware of College Rivalries. Hopefully Michigan will show to play this year, Last year was embarrassing in the final four playoff. I also wanted to clarify something I said in the last comment to you, When I spoke about having the choice option on the action cards, I was referring to CB2 not the NBA version. I definitely have decided to take it upon myself to make the decision when necessary to choose the shooter and at times the type of shot taken. Take Care Rod, “GO BLUE and GO DUCKS”

[@redfanrod]

It's all good, bruinsfan. Go Wolverines and go Ducks! I'm going to have more CB2K action coming up. Maybe some Fab 5 game play? Cheers! @@bruinsfan9645

[@TheReplayGamer]

Do you have any videos explaining the "Forced Shot ratings and 24 second Violations" rule? I'm not sure I'm doing that right... :-)

[@redfanrod]

That's a really good question because that's a difficult rule to follow. It's been a few weeks since I last played Hoops but I remember that this occurs on the third card turn on a possession (or on a "buzzer shot" at the end of the period - just read that). If you get a "pass" reading on the offensive card for an inside shot ("I"), you shoot with the left "FS" column range (like 4-7). If it's an outside ("O") shot, the instructions say you can choose whether to shoot a two or three point shot (ex. 4-7, 2-3). If the third card turn shows an asterisk (*) for possession, you roll one die (1-6) and give it to a random player, with a "6" going automatically to the point guard. Apparently, you can only shoot a two point shot in that instance. Finally, a "pass" result on the defensive card on this third PAC draw is considered a shot clock violation (no shot attempted). I'll try to demonstrate this in a future video between the 72 Lakers and 72 Colonels (don't tell anyone). Love your stuff, Replay Gamer!🏀

[@J-DOUBLE-A]

Good video, as always, and interesting game! I've seen this game but never pulled the trigger on it. After watching this, I might want to give it a try. Looks like the player cards have a lot of info/stats on em. I like that. I use to read the back of all the basketball/football/baseball cards I collect back in the late 80s and 90s so that attracts me to this game.

[@redfanrod]

Thanks, Jason. Hoops cards also have "rest" and average minutes per game, making it easy to remember how much to play the starters and subs. Hoops is a game on my "recommended" list. What it lacks in charts (for injuries, technical fouls, etc.) it gains in smooth game play and fun. Take care. 🏀

[@davidcrouch1220]

I have this game and a season of ABA. Thanks for the demonstration - great job as always Rod!@@redfanrod

[@redfanrod]

@@davidcrouch1220 Thanks for the praise, David. I own all three ABA seasons of Hoops cards and need to play them more often. I provided input on the defensive ratings assigned to 71-72 ABA, which is one of my favorite seasons of cards because of Rick Barry on the Nets, Dr. J on the Squires and rookie A-Train on the Colonels. Have a good one. 🏀