NBA set to implement rule changes

[UltimateDeron]

NBA alters emphasis for shooting fouls in 2011-12 - ESPN

NBA set to implement rule changes

By Ric Bucher
ESPN The Magazine
Archive

NBA vice president of basketball operations Stu Jackson confirmed Wednesday that several new rule interpretations will be a point of emphasis for the league's referees when the regular season begins on Dec. 25.

"Rip-through" moves, in which an offensive player swings the ball into a defender's outstretched arm and then attempts a shot once he has created contact, will be considered non-shooting fouls if the contact begins before the offensive player starts his shooting motion.

Also, on drives to the basket, a shooting foul will be called only if contact occurs after the offensive player has begun his shooting motion, not after he has initiated his leap toward the basket.

"Certain types of contact involving the shooter were all being called in his favor," Jackson said. "It doesn't look good for the game. There was a strong feeling that those types of plays were creating an ill-advised reward for the shooter, often with three free throws."

The league will also make traveling in the post and on the perimeter a point of emphasis, with a player hopping off of and landing on the same foot viewed as an automatic violation. Referees will also consider locking or clamping an opponent's arm or hand under the basket while battling for a rebound and discontinued or hesitation dribbles as automatic violations.

Several rule changes will also be introduced, most to shorten the overall length of games and speed up the final minutes of a contest:

• Substitutions will only be allowed before the final free throw of any trip to the line that is not for a technical or flagrant foul.

• Two horns will be sounded 15 seconds apart after every timeout. Teams whose players are not moving toward the court as soon as the second horn sounds will receive a delay-of-game warning.

• Instant replay will be utilized only during full timeouts, not 20-second timeouts, when necessary.

• Whether a player's foot is on the three-point line or midcourt line will be determined by where it last touched the floor, meaning a player could have a toe on the three-point line but if he leans back on his heels before he releases the ball a successful shot would be deemed a three-pointer.

• The eight-second backcourt violation will occur when the shot clock reaches 15 seconds, rather than 16.

The last rule is necessary because the 24-second shot clock will now be equipped to show 10ths for the final five seconds and work as a "true" clock. From a technical standpoint, the old shot clock began with 24.9 seconds and expired with .9 left. Now the clock will switch from 24 to 23 seconds after .1 second has expired.

Jackson said a survey of coaches determined when the shot clock would break into 10ths.

"We didn't want to run them for the whole 24 seconds and the consensus was, from a strategy standpoint, that the final five seconds were the most valuable," he said. "Before, you could have two seconds left on the shot clock but you wouldn't know if it was 2.9 or 2.1. That makes a big difference."

Referees also will be hyper-vigilant about defenders making contact with offensive players when they're in the air and fully extended attempting to score. In most cases, expect that kind of foul to draw a Flagrant Level 2, which is two free throws, possession of the ball and the defender being ejected.

"That type of contact was a trend last season and it's really dangerous," Jackson said.

Ric Bucher is a senior NBA writer for ESPN The Magazine.

[SelfDestruct808]

Originally Posted by UltimateDeron

NBA alters emphasis for shooting fouls in 2011-12 - ESPN
"Rip-through" moves, in which an offensive player swings the ball into a defender's outstretched arm and then attempts a shot once he has created contact, will be considered non-shooting fouls if the contact begins before the offensive player starts his shooting motion.

Kobe's one of the best, if not THE BEST, in doing this

[tristan20]

Originally Posted by SelfDestruct808

Kobe's one of the best, if not THE BEST, in doing this

Exactly what I was thinking, also Durant

[Jin]

I like these changes alot. Want to take more of the game's result off of free-throws and ticky tacky foul calls and more on physical play

[98whitesteed]

Referees also will be hyper-vigilant about defenders making contact with offensive players when they're in the air and fully extended attempting to score. In most cases, expect that kind of foul to draw a Flagrant Level 2, which is two free throws, possession of the ball and the defender being ejected.


Ron Artest and Andrew Bynum fans just shed a tear.

[mmondayjr]

Originally Posted by SelfDestruct808

Kobe's one of the best, if not THE BEST, in doing this

Originally Posted by tristan20

Exactly what I was thinking, also Durant

paul pierce is pretty good too. he annoys the hell out of defenders by doing the lean into contact then fade away shot attempt. its hilarious to watch as a boston fan...but for other teams, i completely understand how ridiculous and annoying it is

[XARZY]

Im very happy with the new rule interpretations especially the shot clock one

[Orangejello727]

basketball is becoming weak in the NBA. No touch, No contact, no standing in the way of scoring!! Thats what it seems to me.

For the majority of people, high scoring games is where the excitement comes. For me its defense and stats. I like watching guys getting blocked, hurt and running into walls. nothing like watching a PG drive the lane and run into a wall thinking he is superman.

[paul06901]

These new rules are great!

Sick of seeing Durant with the 'rip-through' move, or Tony Parker get a tiny hip bump he initiates and they call it a foul.

This season should be interesting but only IF THE REFS ACTUALLY CALL GAMES THIS WAY!

Theoretically, its great

[Stats]

I like the rule changes, it will change strategy and getaway from all of the cheap shooter fouls

[fullmetal]

So much for Tim getting 8-10 free throws per game.

Next changes:
Raise the rim to 10'6"
Move the three-point line out 3"
Widen the lane
Remove the inadvertent 'kick ball' shotclock reset
5 personal fouls for a disqualification
Enforce the official rule that only one player can speak to an official
Enforce free throw lane violations
Crackdown on palming/carrying the ball

[tupark82]

The league will also make traveling in the post and on the perimeter a point of emphasis, with a player hopping off of and landing on the same foot viewed as an automatic violation. Referees will also consider locking or clamping an opponent's arm or hand under the basket while battling for a rebound and discontinued or hesitation dribbles as automatic violations.

the traveling thing is going to be disastrous. it's gonna be turnover central added to a season that promises bad basketball. the hesitation thing is also kind of ridiculous. that's gonna be a total judgment call on the refs and something tells me there's gonna be a lot of BAD whistles. not sure if they picked the best of time for this.

the whole rebound thing... lol just about every good rebounder does this. if they had that rule while rodman was playing... his career might have been ruined.

[paul06901]

Originally Posted by tupark82

the traveling thing is going to be disastrous. it's gonna be turnover central added to a season that promises bad basketball. the hesitation thing is also kind of ridiculous. that's gonna be a total judgment call on the refs and something tells me there's gonna be a lot of BAD whistles. not sure if they picked the best of time for this.

the whole rebound thing... lol just about every good rebounder does this. if they had that rule while rodman was playing... his career might have been ruined.

I agree with the first part, but in my opinion, i'd rather have a disastrous season. Rather that, and a rebuild as players conform to the 'CORRECT' rules of the game, than to have this terrible 'streetball' current mentality of the NBA.

That is what turns away a LOT of fans. Yea sure Wade and Lebron throw down some nice moves and dunks, but they travel almost EVERY single play. Then you have fundamental players who do NOT do this, and they're abilities are limited.

Durant and Duncan swinging their arms drawing contact ... TERRIBLE! Fans don't want to see 3- freethrows.

Sacrificing excitement for legitimacy is worth it for me, and I'm glad the league is implementing these new changes in order to at least attempt to regain integrity of the game.

[SacGWYNN19]

I wonder how long these "rules" will actually last. Wasn't it just a few years ago they said traveling would actually be called, that lasted for one week.

It would be nice if they actually enforced the rules that are already in place before adding new ones. Traveling and palming are a complete joke in the NBA.