Ratliff comments on NBA rule change possibilities.

HAWKS NOTEBOOK: Ratliff part of rules committee

Jeffrey Denberg - Staff
Monday, March 26, 2001

Milwaukee --- After attending two days of meetings as a member of a committee that will propose rules changes for next season, the Hawks' Theo Ratliff says some defensive restrictions certainly will be lifted.

"I think you will see changes to where the referees won't have to pay so much to attention to whether a team is playing illegal defense," Ratliff said.
But an outright zone where Ratliff, Dikembe Mutombo or Shawn Bradley can hang out at the rim? "No. That won't be allowed," Ratliff said.

Ratliff said he was honored to be one of only two active players on the committee. Of course, he and Miami's Alonzo Mourning had the time to devote to it because they are injured and not playing.

"It was very interesting. There were some great people there and a lot of ideas. I think the committee will come up with some things that will help the flow of the game. That's what we really need."

Suns owner Jerry Colangelo chaired the committee, which included Jack Ramsay, Dick Motta, Rod Thorn, Wayne Embry, Jerry West, Bob Lanier, Stu Jackson, Ed Rush and Purvis Short. With the exceptions of the two players and Thorn and Colangelo, no other individual is currently aligned with an NBA team.
The committee will make its first report this week to the board of governors, with more suggestions to come. "This time around, we need major changes," Colangelo said. "And whatever is done will be implemented for next season."
Colangelo said illegal -defense rules must be changed, calling them "nothing more than a state of mass confusion. It changes from official to official, from game to game, from call to call. No one understands it. What is an illegal defense? What isn't?"

He said one possibility might be to allow any defense but with a defensive three-second rule preventing shot-blockers from camping in the paint.
Colangelo also is sick of the isolation game on offense. "Whatever we do, it is going to be bold," he said.


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