more hate from our favorite rosen: link \ Spread the floor and run the triangle offense all the way to a satisfactory conclusion. Instead, they depended far too much on letting Kobe go one-on-one against Shane Battier. Relentlessly hounded by Battier, Kobe was 11-for-33 — although it must be noted that Battier face-guarded Bryant on virtually every jumper. The last time I looked at the rule book, face-guarding was illegal really face-guarding is illegal? i never ever heard of a rule like that...Rosen probably knows more about the little rules than I do, but i dont see how trying to block someone's vision is illegal.
This bozo should see how Bruce Bowen plays D. Bowen does the same thing and no one ever mentions it being illegal. Man the hate keeps rolling.
I was under the impression that the defender cannot face guard a player while he is holding the ball. I don't think it applies while the player is in the act of shooting. I could completely wrong but if what Battier does is anywhere in the universe of being illegal I think it would have been mentioned by opposing teams and brought to the attention of the league many times. I'm sure Mark Cuban would have compiled hours and hours of video along with a blank check and sent it to David Stern to check it out.
Funny... this guy is paid to cover the NBA and has never noticed Battier's defensive tactics before. Charley Rosen, consider yourself EXPOSED!
According to Feigan, it's legal in the NBA: http://blogs.chron.com/nba/2008/03/cant_catch_22_rockets_roll_pas.html And I'm more apt to believe a current NBA beat writer, than Rosen who glorifies the 60's and 70's so much, that it wouldn't surprise me if it's been that long since he cracked open a rulebook.
can someone actually confirm if this is true or not im pretty sure coaches don't consistently emphasis hand in face for a shot if it was illegal
According to Feign, he's done it all season. Does that make it legal though? I'm looking for a more absolute answer. Good find though, and quick too.
This is the only thing I could find in the rulebook, nothing about putting a hand in shooter's face or blocking shooter's vision. m. Eye guarding (placing a hand in front of the opponent’s eyes when guarding from the rear) a player who does not have possession of the ball is illegal and an unsportsmanlike technical shall be assessed.
I don't see face guarding violates any rule: http://www.nba.com/analysis/rules_a.html?nav=ArticleList
i thought the whole point of playing defense is to put a hand in the shooters face....what would be the point of defense?
From what I understand, it is illegal to face guard player when they don't have the ball? I really doubt you can make what Battier did (when opponent is shooting) illegal. Then how you play defense against great players like Kobe?
