Bits and Pieces

It's been a while since I've been able to go on to my blog because for some reason my computer wasn't working properly and wouldn't let me get onto blogger. But it's all good now.
I wanted to try and find out exactly what purpose the basketball net served in a game. So I delved a bit into the history of basketball.
Basketball was invented in 1891 by a Canadian clergyman, educator and physician, James Naismith. He was instructed by his superior to invent a new rigorous recreation suitable for playing indoors. So basketball was invented, with 13 original rules, 9 players a side, and played originally with a soccer ball and wooden peach baskets fixed to walls.

http://library.thinkquest.org/10615/no-frames/basketball/history.html

http://www.athleticscholarships.net/history-of-basketball.htm

A peach basket were closed at the bottom, so everytime someone shot a basket someone had to climb up a ladder to retrieve the ball. Soon the peach basket was replaced by metal rims connected to backboards with a net hanging from the rim. In 1906, people started cutting open the netting to let the ball fall through. The ball was changed too, and so the modern basketball we know today was born.

http://www.hoopdepot.com/history-of-basketball.htm

On wikipedia, it added that before the metal rims and nets were brought in, the bottom of the peach baskets were first removed so the ball could be poked out with a long dowel whenever a basket was shot.

The only equipment that is essential to the game is a basketball and a court. The only time a net is realy necessary is in a regulation basketball court in international games.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basketball#The_first_rules.2C_court.2C_and_game
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basketball#Equipment

Therefore the net does not appear to have any particular use or purpose.

There's a picture here which is of the first basketball court. The peach basket can be seen.