What was obvious tonight during Rockets - Spurs game was the number of ticky-tack fouls that were called. It is getting to the point where you cannot touch a player, basketball is a contact sport and a man's game! Say what you want, but in Europe and other leagues players are at least allowed to play physical and you all know how it affected even a great player like Deron Williams. NBA might have the best players but with these referees and rules it figures guys look really good. Therefore, rules must change! Guys can beat each other up in practice but then in a real game have to put the breaks on, especially if you're on a team nobody really cares about. If you're on the Lakers, Mavs, Heat or Celtics you can get away with a lot more than when you are on the Rockets, Bucks, Raptors or Pacers.
Yup, it is Stern's NBA and he can do whatever he want and get away with it. I feel like Stern has soften the NBA in the past decade. Compare today's game to the 80s or 90s makes players today look like a bunch of overpaid cry babies... The small ticky tack fouls that the refs call in today's game is ridiculous. The players cannot play at a high competitive level as they want because they would foul the other player. Also I hate how the technical fouls are being whistle in today's game. I know players do complain a lot sometimes but at least let them show their emotions sometimes. That is one of the fun things about sports. I really wish Stern and the NBA would let the players compete at a high level with the physicality of the NBA back then.
I really hate to say this because I could care less about tattoos - but I bet they'd be more prone to allow more physical play if the whole NBA wasn't covered head to toe in tattoos now. Stern is really obsessed with keeping a clean image for the NBA and keeping the 'league of thugs' talk to a minimum.
Totally agree with you, its an absolute joke to see the fouls being called. Its the stars calls and the non stars calls.
I can't say I agree with you. NBA was very ugly in the 90s when it was all about the defense and and physical play. I for one don't want to go back to that.
But it's also hard to watch a game that has more than 40+ free throws taken each game. The game stops every 45-60 seconds because of the ticky-tack fouls and that to me is a lot harder to watch.
I agree. The fouls today make it tough to watch. I lost some interest. Reds can soometimes determine games. Kinds sucks
Refs always call the games more strict in the preseason But we should go back to playing like the 90s
I guess either way you lose. And unfortunately I highly doubt that if Sperm was to be replaced, his replacement would be better. It'll still be the same Sperm school of taught.
I'm guessing a lot of that will be ironed at as players round into basketball shape. Out of shape = grabbing instead of defending the way you are supposed to defend. The rules were not suddenly changed against the defense this season, if anything, the rule changes favor the defense. No longer is the offensive player allowed to swing his shooting arm into the defenders outstretched arms to draw a foul.
