NBA Blog Spectrum

NBA blogging has quickly become a legitimate industry. There is money to be made in some cases, and personal satisfaction to be made in others. So, I guess maybe industry might be a bit strong.

Regardless, the number of great NBA blogs out there is truly remarkable, and very few of them replicate each other whatsoever. The writers of these blogs both collaborate and squabble, and in a sense represent some of the best online basketball minds, amateur statisticians, and NBA fans out there. But in these different avenues, a variety of types of blogs have found their own meaning of success, whether through scholasticism, game summaries, link lists, or YouTube snippets.

In order to make sense of the variety of NBA blogs on the net, I offer the following spectrum:


(Click on the image for an enlarged version)

First, I'd like to note that none of these particular sides of the spectrum are insults, or are meant to be insulting in any way. Though chaos and subjectivity may seem to be inherently negative, they are merely used as a way to balance the continuums of objectivity and order. For more specificity, look to the following operational definitions:

objectivity - The desire and execution of blogging without apparent bias. The blogger(s) write about a variety of topics without dwelling on a player or team in order to express a particular like or dislike. Being focused on a single team is acceptable under these guidelines, provided the blogger leaves their fanhood on the door and does their best to expertly define the team's successes and failures, players and coaches, trials and tribulations.

subjectivity - A blogging style that ignores the desire to approach the NBA from a neutral perspective. The blogger can approach their posts as a fan, a critic, or an insider. The blogger exhibits either a position that favors a certain team or player or a position that displays a team or player in an unfavorable light.

order - Planning; stability; when visiting one of these blogs, you know what to expect on a consistent basis. Posts typically compose of in-depth analysis, or other provided content related to the blog on a regular basis. Mainstream.

chaos - Unpredictability; random in nature and content or leaning away from the mainstream of NBA analysis. Some of these blogs may be "reliable" in the sense that they are consistent, but are "chaotic" in the sense that their approach to the NBA is nontraditional.

General trends:

• Note that achieving perfect objectivity, subjectivity, order, or chaos is impossible. There is no absolute, and it would be impossible to achieve.
• The most obvious observation is that in general, team blogs are located in quadrant IV (lower right quadrant: subjective order). This is likely due to the nature of having a team-oriented blog, although some blogs do spur the trend
• Most professional bloggers are located quadrant I (the upper right quadrant; objective order).
• The two player blogs used are both in quadrant III (the lower left quadrant; subjective chaos)
• Most of the blogs used are on the objective side of the spectrum. This could have something to do with the samples chosen, or my own personal preference.
  

I welcome all of these bloggers to contact me (upsideandmotor@gmail.com) if they have a problem with their blog's placement on this spectrum; everything is up for discussion. The placement on the spectrum is based purely on my impressions, and if you feel your blog has been wrongfully represented, please let me know.

Blogs Used:
FreeDarko
TrueHoop
Fanhouse
Hardwood Paroxysm
Sports Guy
Basketbawful
Odenized
Too Much Rod Benson
Agent Zero Blog Files
Ball Don't Lie
The Basketball Jones
Empty the Bench
The Association
Hoops Addict
The Painted Area
3 Shades of Blue
Queen City Hoops
DC Sports Blog
Brian Windhorst
Detroit Bad Boys
Need4Sheed
BrewHoop
ClipperBlog
Blazers Edge
Sactown Royalty
Forum Blue and Gold
Blog a Bull
Mavs Moneyball
Knickerblogger
Indy Cornrows
Bright Side of the Sun
The Dinosty
Golden State of Mind

EDIT: Make sure to check out the Bloggers Readers Choice Awards over at Hardwood Paroxysm, they're pretty rad.