Basketball Strategy (1974)

As with other games in the Avalon Hill sports Strategy series, each player has an identical generic team to coach through a game. Included are a set of campaign game counters to allow players to draft unique teams. Player counters have 5 performance ratings which are used to determine shooting and passing outcomes.
You make play by play decisions which are resolved by cross-referencing offensive and defensive choices on a matrix.
As coach you make decisions about line up, defensive match-ups, time outs etc.
A full (four quarter) game would take 2+ hours.

From "The Avalon Hill General Index and Company History, 1952-1980"

Basketball Strategy (1974)
Designed by Don Greenwood

An attempt to combine Shaw’s matrix system with a random dice roll and area movement was only partially successful. The game was plagued by a longer playing time than its brethren.

We've played alot of games using this system and even did some statistical builds of College Teams for tourney games. The System plays well and is a great game. Adding both the coaching aspect as to what players you put on the court, strong defense or do you go for offense etc, with the strategy aspect of out guessing your opponents next move. In my book it is the best of the Strategy Sports games released. There are subtle differences in the charts and zones you can place players in. If you find them you can use them to your advantage!

It's one sports game I will always keep and frankly I like it better then the status pro line of games!

Magazine References:

The GENERAL Index Article List

• The GENERAL Vol.12,No.4
  • The Question Box - Panzer Leader, Basketball Strategy

Panzerfaust Article Index:

• Number 71 Jan-Feb 1976
  • Shenandoah / Wooden Ships & Iron Men / Ancient Conquest / Jerusalem / Hue / Khalkhin-Gol / Airline / Basketball Strategy / Battle of the Atlantic: The Epic Struggle of the Wolf Pack vs Convoy / Raiders of the North / Undersea Warriors / Schutztruppe / MTB - "Thumbnail Analysis" (Review), Don Lowry

• Avalon Hill's Allstar Replay
  • Vol 1 No. 4 "The Boston Celtics"
  • Vol 1 No. 4 "The Pro Style Draft League"
  • Vol 2 No. 1 "Change for the Time"
  • Vol 2 No. 1 "The Portland Trailblazers"
  • Vol 2 No. 2 "The Last Battle"
  • Vol 2 No. 2 "Zone Defenses in Basketball Strategy"
  • Vol 2 No. 3 "Rising to the Top"
  • Vol 2 No. 4 "The 1980 NCAA "
  • Vol 3 No. 1 "Shortening the Season"
  • Vol 3 No. 2 "Revamping Basketball Strategy"
  • Vol 3 No. 2 "The Magic Season"
  • Vol 3 No. 2 "Modified Basketball Strategy"