Here comes the ZONE! Owners approve rule changes Associated Press NEW YORK – NBA owners approved a package of four rules changes Thursday, one of which eliminates the league's long-standing ban on zone defenses. Designed to improve the flow and pace of the game, the new rules will go into effect next season. The changes are: All existing illegal defense guidelines will be eliminated. A defensive 3-second rule will be established, limiting the amount of time a defensive player may stand in the lane when he is not closely guarding anyone. Reducing from 10 seconds to 8 seconds the amount of time a team will have to advance the ball past midcourt. Redefining what constitutes a foul to allow for brief contact initiated by a defensive player if it does not impede the progress of a player with the ball. The NBA did not release the result of the vote. A two-thirds majority was required for passage, meaning at least 20 of the 29 teams were in favor. ------------------ The ox is slow but the Earth is patient.
Oh well, there goes Rudy's system. Should be an interesting season next year. Hopefully, if nothing else, this will help the Rockets' quite pitiful defense. ------------------ Hakeem "The Dream" Olajuwon is the greatest player in the history of basketball. If you disagree, you are not a Rocket fan.
I don't think the game will be as entertaining with the zone allowed. Real basketball players should be playing man-to-man anyway. ------------------
When owners play the game, they should be allowed to make the rules. Right now the players are the ones who have to play, and they have been overwhelmingly against zones, maybe these guys should listen to the people who actually play the game. ------------------ Founder and President of the Houston Homers Club(HHC) - Are you a homer? Join now! The Rockets will be NBA champions. Believe.
I'm ok with the rules. I don't see how it will increase scoring (you'd think if the zone actually helped the other team score points, the defense wouldn't implement it). But, I don't give a damn about scoring more points anyway. I like watching knock-down defensive battles anyway. If you make scoring too easy, it'll be like watching lay-up lines which is worse. When teams have to really work for points, I'm entertained. So bring it on. ------------------ RealGM Gafford Art Artisan Cakes
I think what the zone does is goes back to more traditional basketball. Not many NBA player shave good outside shots nowadays, at least not as many as 15-20 years ago in the NBA. It lets the big guys control the lane and give help defensivly but it wioll open up more outside shots from the zone defense. The outside shooter so fht eleague should be happy! I don't know if it is more exciting, but I know I kind of like it. Maybe I have just watched too many Vince dunks on ESPN!
The only ways that Shaq will be taken out of a game are if the refs start calling fouls, or people pull a Barkley and get him to swing at them. ------------------ "Of course, thats just my opinion, I could be wrong" -- Dennis Miller
I think that the new rules are going to lead to more 18+ foot jump shots. I don't think that is exciting. I would much rather watch a guy with great one-on-one skills and his defender go at it. The Rockets ran this offense to 2 titles. No one could stop Dream, so they doubled. Guys hit 3's and we won. I think the new rules will hurt Shaq a lot. Teams will lay off the post-passer and play Shaq with a guy in front and behind him. I think the post game will really start to disappear. Tim Duncan and C-Webb can step out and take their man off the dribble or shoot the 15 footer. Shaq can't do either. I think he will have to get a lot of points off of offensive rebounds next year. Personally, I think the zone rule is terrible. The 3-seconds in the land for a defender rule is not a big deal. The NBA basically already has that rule with the illegal defense; if the guy you are guarding is above the 3-point line, you can't be underneath the free-throw line. The zone really will just eliminate the post game. ------------------ - Beck Dream...bring back the goggles
I think the NBA had to do something. Ratings are down and many fans hate watching one-on-one basketball every time (myself included in that group). I love Cat 7 Franchise but I don't enjoy watching ISOs or PNRs every time down. I love to see ball movement, I love to watch a guy hit an open outside jumper, rather than dribbling twice to get closer and having a hand in his face.
As everyone has stated MORE JUMPERS LESS DUNKS Kinda like one of the sports reporters were saying . .. about baseball people feel bad about low scoring games but a pitcher's duel can be entertaining Well . .. every game will be a pitcher's duel . .. if ya shooters on . . you win If not . .. you lose Rocket River ------------------
I agree that it will eliminate the post game but I disagree that it is not a big deal. What is the point in running a zone if you can't put your center in the lane and have him try to block shots or rebound. All an offensive team has to do is pull their center out and then overload one side, pass to a cutter and there is a good possibility that he will 1)score on a layup or 2)be fouled by the defensive center trying to get back in position to block a shot or help defensively. I think what will eventually happen is that you will see most teams go to a combination of part zone part man. Very similar to what we have today without the illegal defense, allowing players to float around and help out on the perimeter. CK