The NBA is reportedly advising teams of a number of rule changes that are going to go into effect this season. The league's new anti-whining crusade is probably the rule change that's getting the most attention, but there are several others that may turn out to be important.
Notable changes include crackdowns on traveling, palming (when was the last time you saw that called in the NBA?) and hand and forearm checking. The league is also trying to address my biggest complaint about how basketball is played by limiting teams to one full timeout during the last two minutes of the game.
As should be expected in a league run by a Wall Street lawyer, there are also a number of rule changes that will appeal only to guys who think "casual" means wearing a blazer without a tie. These include requiring players to tuck their shirts in before they approach the scorers table, prohibiting wearing sweatbands anywhere but on the wrist, and banning rubber bands. These changes will undoubtedly prove as popular with the players as the new ball.
Of course, none of these changes addresses the biggest problem with the NBA rules -- the guys who enforce them on the court are the worst officials in all of pro sports. Even after last year's Super Bowl fiasco, I've still got to give the nod to the NBA refs for overall incompetence. I don't think this is a close call -- I mean, when Ralph Nader and Mark Cuban see eye-to-eye on something, then I think we can all agree that it's not a controversial point.
Thursday, October 12, 2006
NBA Rule Changes
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3 comments:
I really do hope they stick to calling travling, carrying and palming. This happens way to often and a certain Cavalier has been known to do it from time to time.
But there's been talk of crackdowns before but once the season starts the lax rules returns.
I really hope they stick to it and call an enormous amount of traveling etc duringthe first month of so. Sacrifice those games, let the players know you're serious about this and then wait for them to adjust. They won't like it, but they'll do it.
I hope they don't crack down, now that my team is the one with the superstar.
If a certain No. 23 palmed, travelled, carried and non-fouled his way to six titles, I want our No. 23 to be able to do the same thing.
True, but I'd rather him not blatantly travel. I mean, ya, other guys do it, but if they can stop it, I'd be all for that.
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