In case you missed it we are back to some semblance of the "freedom of movement" movement again as there are some rules changes designed to get some of the physicality out of the game and allegedly improve the flow of the game. I am skeptical on both fronts but I will always keep an open mind. Two things that are not going to be implemented this year are moving to quarters like the women's game and the idiotic 55-foot timeout rule that is in the women's game and NBA.
I wish they were going to quarters, I think the women's game flows a little better without all of those 1-and-1s and whatnot but I can live with it as it is. I would like to see one less timeouts allowed but that will never happen. But the quarters system is superior to the halves so hopefully this is changed.
The dumbass 55-foot timeout rule can just burn in hell for all I care. I hate that rule - you know "the other team scored, we call timeout and now get to advance the ball out past half court!" - as it takes a strategy "the ability to full court press" almost completely out of play when it matters down the stretch. And it is basically a rule that is designed to create some sort of contrived buzzer beater or something. It is idiotic, the worst rule in sports so I hope it stays away forever....
OK, so we know what isn't coming but what rules are going to be changed for this year?
Let's take a look at them (here is a breakdown for you)
1) Coaches will now be given a challenge to overturn out of bounds, goal tending or basket interference calls. Here is how it will work:
"Regarding the proposed coach’s challenge, much like in college football, teams must have a timeout to request an instant replay review. If the challenge review is successful, teams will be granted an additional video review challenge for the remainder of the game, including overtime. If unsuccessful, the team loses the ability to challenge any other calls in the game."
OK, I hate it. I hate any review/challenge system and mostly because basketball is a free flowing game and challenges and reviews bog it down. Further, I don't think the purpose of replay was to get every single call 100 percent right (the 3-4 minute challenges to see if the cuticle of a guys finger touched the ball are ridiculous) but to overturn egregious and obviously bad calls. So I am not sure I like this nor do I think it makes for games that flow better.
2) This is the nut graph of what else is new ...
"Other enhancements approved Tuesday include new points of emphasis for officials to address delay-of-game tactics, limiting time at the review monitor, improving game efficiency and reducing physicality."
I will focus on the last one - reducing physicality - as this is probably going to be mostly a disaster. The points of emphasis are going to be enforced differently based on the crew and fans will be screaming bloody murder at times when they feel their team is being screwed.
The first one is on continuous motion and reads "With regard to the changes to the continuous motion rule, an offensive player who ends his dribble going toward the basket and takes contact from a defensive player is now permitted to pivot or complete the step and finish the field goal attempt. Currently, players are awarded the basket/field goal only when they’re are fouled in the process of shooting the ball."
Good luck with that one.
Secondly, "Officials will now the the option to call a Flagrant 1 foul whenever a player makes contact with another player’s groin area. Previously officials could only call a common foul or a Flagrant 2, leading to an ejection for the offending player."
I don't know, I hate the whole flagrant foul system with a passion but that's a different story for a different day.
And finally, there are some new points of emphasis for contact, essentially in the paint, which I think will be tough to enforce uniformly. I guess it is what people want but again, I am not sure this is all going to be easily implemented and enforced consistently from crew to crew.
