Basketball is NOT Complicated
The "Basketball for Thought" is a commentary by Kris Gardner.June 1999
I have to get some things off my chest. Frankly, NBA people have lost their minds. A committee is being formed to examine ways to improve scoring. Rules changes are being contemplated. Some of the ideas being discussed actually seem to have some legitimate merit; but, for the most part, NBA personnel, especially coaches could solve most of the scoring problems by doing one simple thing: run the damn ball! Stop this nonsense with all the half court offense!
Houston Rockets coach Rudy Tomjanovich is one member on the panel asked to fix what's wrong with the game.. His placement on the panel is similar to the blind leading the blind. Along with Pat Riley, Rudy T is one of the main culprits in the demise of scoring in the NBA! The Rockets offense can be summed up like this: throw the ball down to the low post; draw the double team; pass the ball back out to the perimeter; and shoot a three. BORING!
Clearly, the offense must have some merit since Rudy and the Rockets won back to back championships; however, that the doesn't change the fact that style offense is akin to watching grass die. One supposed rule change would be to have a three or five second count while the ball is in the low post. Sounds great! Vote it in! I'm thoroughly disgusted with Charles Barkley, Mark Jackson, Larry Johnson, and most every other post player pounding the air out of the ball before making a move. With the rule in place, a player has 5 seconds or less to make a move or pass the ball. Excellent.
Another rule is widening the free throw lane to the trapezoid shape used in international competition. The idea behind this rule is to stimulate ball and player movement. This rule is unnecessary. If coaches want to increase ball and player movement (and they should), then they should coach that way.
Other rules changes like increasing the 24 second shot clock are ridiculous. With longer shot clocks, coaches would just have their players hold onto the ball longer which would make the game even more boring.
One idea which I feel should gain more merit is this: enforce the rules! A foul is a foul is a foul! Clean up the wrestling in the paint. If enforcing the rules means referees toot their whistles ad nauseam in the beginning; so be it. Just be consistent. Don't call a hold on one of the floor and then let the same bear hug go at the other end because of the reputation of the player or the team. A foul is still a foul no matter who it's against.
Next, either simplify, clarify, or ban the illegal defense. None of the coaches, officials, players, and especially the fans have any idea of what exactly an illegal defense is. Make it clear or eliminate it.
Lastly, teams need to draft basketball players and not athletes. If a player can run and jump but can't shoot, why is he being drafted? If a player can shoot (there are so few shooters left, it's embarrassing), then don't ask him to become a point guard or a shot blocker. Let him shoot. So what, if shooting is all he can do. The entire league is full of specialists. Realize that the players who possess the complete package of skills are superstars which means, by definition, they are rare.
