basketball-schiedsrichter.de | Organisationen | USA

New York, Nov. 11 – The National Basketball Association has approved two rules changes – the Three-Point Rule and the Seven-Second Rule – in its minor league, the National Basketball Development League, for the 2004-05 season.

“The NBDL gives us an opportunity to experiment with the rules of the game,” said Stu Jackson, NBA Senior Vice President Basketball Operations. “With these rule changes in our minor league, we will be able to observe how the game is affected and gather data from an entire basketball season in a league with like rules and a similar style.”

The Three-Point Rule states:
a) During the first, second, third, and fourth periods, a successful field goal shall count as two points if it is attempted (i) from any spot on the floor when the game clock shows 3:01 or more time remaining in the period, or (ii) from the area on or inside the three-point field goal line when the game clock shows 3:00 or less time remaining in the period. During any overtime period, a successful field goal shall count as two points if it is attempted from the area on or inside the three-point field goal line.
b) When the game clock shows 3:00 or less time remaining in the first, second, third, or fourth periods, and during the entirety of any overtime period, a successful field goal shall count as three points if it is attempted from the area outside the three-point line, in accordance with the following:
(1) The shooter must have at least one foot on the floor outside the three-point field goal line prior to the attempt.
(2) The shooter may not be touching the floor on or inside the three-point field goal line.
(3) The shooter may contact the three-point field goal line, or land in the two-point field goal area, after the ball is released.
(4) If the attempt is made during the first, second, third, or fourth periods, the ball must leave the shooter’s hand with the game clock showing 3:00 or less.

The Seven-Second Rule states:
A team shall not be in continuous possession of a ball which is in its backcourt for more than 7 consecutive seconds. EXCEPTION (1): A new 7 seconds is awarded if the defense: (1) kicks or punches the ball, (2) is assessed a personal or technical foul, or (3) issued a delay of game warning.
EXCEPTION (2): A new 7 seconds is awarded if play is suspended to administer Comments on the Rules – N – Infection Control and all jump balls.
PENALTY: Loss of ball. The ball is awarded to the opposing team at the midcourt line.

The league is not considering similar rule changes in the NBA at the current time. Potential NBA rule changes are first considered by the league’s Competition Committee before being recommended to the Board of Governors. Rule changes in the NBA require a two-thirds vote in favor by the Board of Governors.

The NBDL, the NBA’s minor league, includes the Fayetteville Patriots (N.C.), Florida Flame (Ft. Myers), Huntsville Flight (Ala.), Roanoke Dazzle (Va.), Columbus Riverdragons (Ga.) and Asheville Altitude (N.C.).

NBA airballs new 3-pointer concept

So the NBA, in its finite wisdom, is contemplating doing away with the 3-point shot for the first 43 minutes of each game. (What about overtime?) The plan is to institute this new dispensation in the NBDL and then see if it might someday be transported into the NBA.

Absent the threat of yielding an extra point on each sequence, defenses will be more apt to clog the paint. This means minimizing the effectiveness of pivot-bound players like Shaquille O'Neal, Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Eddy Curry, Erick Dampier, Jermaine O'Neal, Jamaal Magloire, Yao Ming, and even Joel Przybilla! Indeed, the proposed rule would just about close down the possibility of anybody posting up anybody — guards included.

Limiting the 3-pointer would make the lane even more clogged. (Nathaniel S. Butler / GettyImages)

With the lane so crowded, even the quickest, slickest ball handlers would be unable to wend their way to the hoop. Also, defenses wouldn't be overly concerned with combating high picks — there would be fewer double-teams here and the defensive bigs would be reluctant to even show on the weakside of the picks. In addition, the screen/roll would be transformed into screen/fade.

There would be far fewer dunks to excite the fans and provide highlights on the evening news. Early deficits would be much harder to overcome. And NBA action would be reduced to a perimeter-shooting contest — which means that the league-wide scoring totals would take a nosedive.

We'd see fewer players stopping to shoot beyond the arc on 4-on-1 fastbreaks. Out of necessity, more players would also be forced to learn how to pull up their high-speed dribbles and shoot accurate mid-range jumpers.

And what is the most plausible scenario for the last five minutes when 3-pointers are in effect? A madcap 3-ball circus. All things considered, then, curtailing the rewards of the long ball is a bad idea.

But if the NBA bigwigs are determined to institute new rules that would improve the game, here are some better alternatives:

One other suggestion — rig each ref with a live electric wire, and allow each coach to push a button that would zap a ref for a particularly atrocious call. In the name of compassion, however, each coach would be limited to only two zappings per game (plus one more for each overtime period).

Charley Rosen, former CBA coach, author of 12 books about hoops, the next one being A PIVOTAL SEASON — HOW THE 1971-72 LA LAKERS CHANGED THE NBA, is a frequent contributor to FOXSports.com.