Watching B ball

Question
Bret
I am an old white Canadian guy (52) that has recently developed an interest in basketball. Compared to other sports it sure looks great on a big HD TV!
I do know the basics, and I guess I could go online or get a library book, but I am hoping it would be easier to ask you.
1.Basicly, what do I watch for when watching a game on TV? What are the basic rules and infractions that are called?
I also big brother work first nations boys (American Indians as they are called in the U.S.), and basketball is the sport of choice for them, even over hockey (way too expensive now)
2.Also, come spring I may start shooting baskets in the driveway. I might even go to some adult drop in games, so apart from baskets, how do I practice dribbling or anything else?
Thanks so much for taking the time to answer!

Answer
Hi Bud,

So  glad you developed an interest in basketball. It really is one of the most exciting team sports you can watch, especially at the higher level. Your question could spark me into writing a book  because there is so much to watch for.  As an official, when I watch a game, I tend to look at what's being called by the officials on tv and then I'm always questioning myself as to whether I would have called the same thing. So I tend to watch the game on TV a little differently than the average fan. For you The basic rules you should watch for are violation rules such as traveling, 3 seconds in the key, carrying the ball, goaltending, just to name a few. But fouls are really the most important thing to watch for.
as far as practicing on your own, figure out which is your dominant hand, and just dribble around as much as you can and then try practicing with your off hand once you have mastered it with your dominant hand. Practice shooting from all areas on the court, and you will eventually discover which spot on the court is your favorite and most successful area to shoot from. Practice lay-ups as this should be the easiest form of scoring other than shooting a free throw. Just have fun with. Do plenty of stretching as basketball is a high intensity sport and injuries are common. Have fun.