Hey, about time you get your PS4 back! I would like to play 2k with you, we can play co-op against the CPU, I think, like last year. I did so with members of this forum and after a period of learning how to play together it was quite good.
The basics of basketball are quite easy, actually, but understanding "systems" like the triangle or the miami pace and space (as da czar shows in some videos) it's not necessary to really enjoy the game.
Anyway, in youtube you can find great stuff about the most basic principles (pick'n'roll, pick'n'pop, pick'n'fade, screens etc...) and stuff about systems, such as this one:
EDIT: Sauce Videos below are much better!
And good and more ind-depths articles like this one:
http://www.coachesclipboard.net/TriangleOffense.html
The good thing about the NBA is the blend of individuality vs team movement. In certain conditions, it's all about skill, while in others it's all about the system and the plays, but the fact you can't defend in zone lets big stars shine better.
By the way, how is it called that book?