T.J. Ford: "Once the ball hits the floor it kind of sticks"

Merdiesel

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Ford: New Ball Sticks To Floor11th October, 2006 - 2:27 pm
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Globe And Mail - Another day and another complaint about the NBA's new basketball; this time from Toronto's T.J. Ford.

"I don't think you'll see too many long bounce passes," said Ford. "Once the ball hits the floor it kind of sticks.

"It feel like an outdoor ball," he said. "When it gets wet it's hard to handle."

And he says he's slowly going to removing the long bounce pass from his repertoire. "I can't do it," he said. "The new ball doesn't slide like the leather ball. I tried one in the [intrasquad] game and I got a turnover."



http://realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/42641/20061011/ford_new_ball_sticks_to_floor/
 
This is really starting to bother me...
I hated how they would even think about changing the basketball, now its affecting the game... Just scrap that stupid idea, give us the old ball back!!!
 
This is really starting to bother me...
I hated how they would even think about changing the basketball, now its affecting the game... Just scrap that stupid idea, give us the old ball back!!!

I want our old jersies back, but that ain't happening anytime soon. Expect the ball to stay unless the players go on strike or something.
 
I read an article recently that the NBA will continue testing the ball, and if need be, they will return to the old ball. I really hope they do, because I find bringing a new ball into the system quite useless. Why fix something that isn't broken?

I really think Stern will give serious thought to returning to the old ball after the reactions of these players.
 
I want our old jersies back, but that ain't happening anytime soon. Expect the ball to stay unless the players go on strike or something.

i'm semi surprised the players didnt do more about the dress code, but i figured guys like tim duncan didnt really care, only to later find out that timmy also cared...i really cant see them keeping this ball, i see nba going back to the leather ball with a maybe a new paint job or color scheme.

U dont have to be an nba baller to know that there are big differences between the two balls, i prefer the new ball myself but i just like outdoor balls better, but everything the players are saying is right, it is a ***** to handle when its wet and u have much less grip so the long bounce passes proabbly do become more hard to correctly execute
 
The dress code had nothing to do wiht the sport and everything to do with being a grownup and a professional.

The ball, however...that cuts to the core of the sport if there actually were a problem.

Its the difference between being asked to dress a certain way for work -- whihc probably the majority of he US work force is asked to do anyway -- and being given an inferior tool to perform the work with. A secretary with a crappy computer, a construction worker with an offbrand tool, a truck driver with a crappy ride, etc. I ahve no idea whetehr there really is an issue, but its a much bigger one than being asked to grow up and dress like it.
 
maybe they are doing a "new" coke type of deal... everyone will hate it then they will bring back b-ball classic....

its all about sale....
 
This conversation is kinda funny to me: By requesting the leather balls, you are, in a sence, asking for a less standardized product: you never know what you are going to get... is it warn in leather? is it softer leather? how is the leather going to react to certain weather conditions etc..?

One of the reasons I prefer basketball to other sports is the fact that it is as fair as it can be: everything is the same. Court size, floor material, roofing...

The ball was one of the last big controllable variables, and the 'boss' just standardized it by making it synthetic.

Perhaps he should have chose tire rubber instead of a polymer (tire-rubber ball was the best ball I ever used, period.) but if it is standardized, I can live without a couple of 'sliders' here and there. (with all due respect to TJ. I love him as a player, but I don't care what he says).
 
I wonder if the league is trying to slowly move the NBA game towards the International game... they already use a synthetic ball (isn't it even a different size?).
 
could have sworn that they used the new ball this summer.... everyone will be using the new ball....
 
with the old leather balls everyball was different. Some had better bounce than others some had better grip. some were even up to 1/32 of an inch smaller. The new balls are supposed to be identical with no difference from day to the next or one year to the next. Its a good idea the players will get used to it and will like it better.
 
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