Devlog 4

With the requirements that Bennett Foddy listed for something to be a sport, the list is unexpected and at times confusing. In the video, he listed something like CS: GO a sport because it is competitive and there’s an audience once players start to spectate after they die. This is interesting because there is also a large Esports scene behind it like Dota 2. Foddy also stated that it’s not always a sport. For it to be considered a sport it has to be played in front of an audience like it is during a tournament in a stadium. That means when just playing regularly, it’s not considered a sport which is interesting because when playing CS: GO regularly it’s considered a sport because the players turn into spectators. Also, the sport I would like to analyze using Macklin and Sharp’s tools would be basketball. Why basketball? Because it’s the one sport I know the most about and enjoy watching when any team is playing. Over the years I have noticed a rise of a different playstyle compared to about 10 years ago. Some players would use moves to intentionally get fouled and shoot free throws. This aspect of the game can be considered a strategy for players to exploit the rules like that. This leads to the next point of decision-making and feedback. Fans have been asking the league to do something to prevent players from flopping and getting to the line which takes no skill in the NBA. The interplay of skill in the NBA is big. Superstars like Kevin Durant and Luka Doncic are clearly more skilled than an average player in the league which gives them an advantage because of the work they put in during practice. Have skill in basketball doesn’t just mean being able to shoot the ball, but it also includes the players' ability to make smart decisions when they are under pressure. Chris Paul is considered one of the best point guards in the league because of his decisions on setting other players up to score and his leadership. Last season his team, the Phenix Suns, made the NBA finals for the first time since Charles Barkly. Also, Devin Booker scored the most points for any player in their NBA Playoffs debut. This adds to the context and storytelling in basketball which fans do enjoy when players make history. Also, the other tools from Macklin and Sharp are goals and challenges. The goal for every team is to win a championship in the end, but during the game of basketball itself, the goal is to score as many points as possible without giving too many up to the opponents. Finally, the challenges would be for teams to stop or slow down the offense of the opposing team. Also, the challenge of the NBA would for teams to compete and try to get the top seeds in order to play in the playoff games. After that, it would be to with all the series in order to get to the finals and win that as well. When breaking down basketball, it’s not so simple because different leagues have different rules.