People read it for the features and in-depth reporting on issues bigger than simply the games.
More of a baseball publication in the off-season, but covers hoops from December through the NBA playoffs. For example, Kentucky has CatsPaws, which covers Kentucky athletics from cover to cover. The reporting in these publications is biased because most of them are owned by the school or franchise, but they're a good way to keep up with your team. Has the largest compilation of basketball-oriented columns in the country. This publication, produced by longtime basketball writer Larry Donald, is one of the best for keeping up with hot hoops topics.