What one item could make NBA game better?

[CruzDude]

This was a thread a year or two ago. What one change to the NBA game would you make to improve the game we watch starting the 2009 season?

My input, now as before:

In the last 2 minutes of each half, any foul by the defense results in a single FT and the ball inbounded by the offensive team that was fouled.

Why?
I don't think free throw shooting should be used to decide any game. I think playing basketball should decide the game, out on the floor 5 against 5, coach against coach.

What do you all think?

 

[BonziFan]

I like that you have to be able to make free throws at the end of a game to win it. I believe it adds suspense. I like the idea of being able to possibly make an aazing comeback.

I believe they should move the three point line in like they did for a few seasons in the 90's. I like the additional scoring.

 

[Arkitect]

Young, well paid, and well trained refs. Accurate and consistent calls would be a big improvement to basketball.

 

[Bricklayer]

Radical given that its always been there, but this has been discussed from time to time over the years: eliminate the foulout. After 6 fouls every additional foul gives the opponents FTs and the ball. No other sport has the ability to get the other team's best players kicked out of the game as a tactic for winning, and you eliminate most incentives for star player favoritism. Being a hack still hurts your team, by basically awarding the other team free points without a change in possession, but floppin etc. to foul out a star player is no longer an issue, nor is the referees trying to protect them from that.

Also -- eliminate the hack a shaq tactic by making this simple change: if an opponent intentionally fouls one of your players off the ball, YOU get to choose who shoots the FTs for your team. Fouling and FTs are meant as a reward for the opposing team when your team commits a violation, not as a reward for YOUR team because of a hole in the rules.

 

[CruzDude]

Hate to admit it but like Bricks first suggestion about no fouling out. Would keep any desired player in the game and add to the game play.

As to second item, I think it is too subjective and too much up to a ref what is or is not an intentional foul. There is only a few really bad FT shooting centers who sometimes shot 8 of 10 to ruin that tactic.

Radical given that its always been there, but this has been discussed from time to time over the years: eliminate the foulout. After 6 fouls every additional foul gives the opponents FTs and the ball. No other sport has the ability to get the other team's best players kicked out of the game as a tactic for winning, and you eliminate most incentives for star player favoritism. Being a hack still hurts your team, by basically awarding the other team free points without a change in possession, but floppin etc. to foul out a star player is no longer an issue, nor is the referees trying to protect them from that.

Also -- eliminate the hack a shaq tactic by making this simple change: if an opponent intentionally fouls one of your players off the ball, YOU get to choose who shoots the FTs for your team. Fouling and FTs are meant as a reward for the opposing team when your team commits a violation, not as a reward for YOUR team because of a hole in the rules.

 

[bajaden]

I like changing the foul out rule. I agree that no other sport I can think of lets its best players get removed from the game. I have a couple of ideas, and I'm sure some won't agree with me. With the advent of the three point shot, the scoring in the league went down instead of up. I would do away with the three point shot. I'm sick of seeing players that can't shoot, pumping up three pointers. Maybe then all the big men in the league that love to stand out there, would move closer to the basket and actually play like big men.

I would reinstall the hand check rule. Just about every change in the rules has been to help the offense. They let players carry the ball, bang into the defender with their elbows and butts and many times don't even notice the change of pivot feet. The least they can do is let the defender hand check the other player. It would help the defense, and it would get rid of these stupid ticky tacky fouls where the defender reaches out and touches the other player with his hand.

 

[Superman]

I like changing the foul out rule. I agree that no other sport I can think of lets its best players get removed from the game. I have a couple of ideas, and I'm sure some won't agree with me. With the advent of the three point shot, the scoring in the league went down instead of up. I would do away with the three point shot. I'm sick of seeing players that can't shoot, pumping up three pointers. Maybe then all the big men in the league that love to stand out there, would move closer to the basket and actually play like big men.

I would reinstall the hand check rule. Just about every change in the rules has been to help the offense. They let players carry the ball, bang into the defender with their elbows and butts and many times don't even notice the change of pivot feet. The least they can do is let the defender hand check the other player. It would help the defense, and it would get rid of these stupid ticky tacky fouls where the defender reaches out and touches the other player with his hand.

In the mid-90s, the NBA turned into an ugly game with a bunch of gangsterish mugging and what not because they allowed handchecking. I don't think the rule hurts the game at all. You can't allow the defender to push the ball handler in order to keep him from going around him. To be honest, it's not that often that you see people getting beat one on one anymore, even by the best one on one players in the game. It's not like Chris Paul and Deron Williams are blowing past their guys every time down; most teams utilize the pick and roll in order to get their ball handlers some room.

 

[LilMissDiva]

I would like the time moved up from 12:00 per quarter to 15:00 like football. I just can’t get enough.

 

[kennadog]

I like changing the foul out rule. I agree that no other sport I can think of lets its best players get removed from the game.

Soccer players can foul out. Two warnings (yellow card) and you get the red card (out of the game). Of course, fouls aren't called so much, despite the obvious flopping around like you just suffered a career-ending injury, only to jump up and join the game two minutes later.

Edit: Now that I think about it, there are sports where you can be "ejected" or "sent off," but its not exactly like basketball. In most sports you get ejected for unsportsmanlike conduct, arguing with the refs or intentionally trying to hurt someone or at least playing in a way dangerous to others. So, it's not exactly like basketball.

 

[est.1999]

Fix the charging rule and eliminte that useless dotted line. Pathetic

 

[bajaden]

In the mid-90s, the NBA turned into an ugly game with a bunch of gangsterish mugging and what not because they allowed handchecking. I don't think the rule hurts the game at all. You can't allow the defender to push the ball handler in order to keep him from going around him. To be honest, it's not that often that you see people getting beat one on one anymore, even by the best one on one players in the game. It's not like Chris Paul and Deron Williams are blowing past their guys every time down; most teams utilize the pick and roll in order to get their ball handlers some room.

No one should be allowed to push anyone, anytime, anywhere. Right now its the offensive players that are doing the pushing. When did it become legal for the offensive player to throw his butt into the defender and move him backwards. Barkley used to move people 2 feet at a time. Hand checking wasn't the problem, not inforcing the rules was the problem. Just like not inforcing the no carry rule. No wonder so many guards have terrific crossover dribbles. They carry the ball.

The rule book states. Any movement on the part of the offensive player that dislodges the defensive player from his set position is an offensive foul. Inforcing that rule would have fouled Barkley out of every game. Just because you can hand check doesn't mean you can grab or push. If you do, blow the damm whistle.

And yes, I seem to remember Paul and Parker blowing right by some of our guys. And yes, the pick and roll is still a very effective way to get open..

 

[bajaden]

Soccer players can foul out. Two warnings (yellow card) and you get the red card (out of the game). Of course, fouls aren't called so much, despite the obvious flopping around like you just suffered a career-ending injury, only to jump up and join the game two minutes later.

Edit: Now that I think about it, there are sports where you can be "ejected" or "sent off," but its not exactly like basketball. In most sports you get ejected for unsportsmanlike conduct, arguing with the refs or intentionally trying to hurt someone or at least playing in a way dangerous to others. So, it's not exactly like basketball.

I didn't think soccer was a sport.. I stand corrected. Hmmm, I wonder if they have foul outs in cricket..?

 

[bajaden]

Hell, why not just adopt international rules. Do away with lane violations and Icing. Opp's, wait, that last one is hockey. My bad..

 

[kennadog]

I didn't think soccer was a sport.. I stand corrected. Hmmm, I wonder if they have foul outs in cricket..?

Actually it doesn't. Its called football.

I looked up penalty cards at Wikipedia and was amazed not only at how many sports used them, but how many of them are obscure. Got wrapped up in reading about "Bandy." A game somewhat like field hockey on ice. And the US actually belongs to the world association for this sport. All official US Bandy games are played some place in Minnesota.

Anyway, the cards in most sports are used for unsportsmanlike conduct, too violent actions, dissing the refs, etc.

 

[Insomniacal Fan]

Move the basket up two and a half feet. Force professionals to play the game as us normal mortals do.

 

[USNAVY15]

Use the movie "Eddie" to inspire an actual situation where a nominal fan is chosen "at random" to sit on the coaches bench, and possible give a short pre-game or halftime speech(2-3 sentences).