Yao gets hammered most of the time without getting a call. NBA rule is in favor of American athletes who can initiate and have muscle to live with lots of contact. So most European/Asian players won't get the call when there's less contact happening. And American 'superstars' can bump into the opponents and get a lot of contact and get to the charity line more often.Do you think it's fair? Is that really pure basketball anymore? And let me push it even further, is that the difference between so called 'toughness' and 'softness'? IMO, a foul is a foul, no matter how much contact there is. If yao shoots a jump shot and gets slightlest hit on the hand/arm, it's a foul. If he tried to post up, and gets grabbing from the opponent, it's a foul. That's why USA can't win the world champ with so many 'superstars'. Because NBA rule is designed for them, and they are not true 'basketball' stars.
It really depends on the day of the week and the noise of the crowd (or size of your market). I always think Yao will get more calls if he plays for New York/LA.
I have never played BB, but I cannot believe that what happens to Yao in the low block is legal. Last night looked like greco-roman wrestling between Darko and Yao. I have watched the Rockets avidly since the early 80s, and I don't remember Dream getting treated like that, except during the 94 finals against the Knicks. I am pretty sure that you aren't allowed to put two hands on a player in the low post, this happens to Yao all the time. If the league will not allow you to put two hands then I cannot believe hooking his arm to pull him off balance and shoving him out of the block is legal.
The NBA rules clearly state that if a player is over 7'5" and not from the United States, then one freely may push him with two hands, elbow him, and freely hit him in the head (witness Darko and Swift). Furthermore, a foul may be called on that at any time player just for being tall (witness the call on Yao versus Gasol).
Dude, it has nothing to do with being American or Foreign. That is just stupid to say. Shaq gets hacked just about every time he touches the ball. And I'm pretty sure they don't call a foul every time down the court. Also, it's not helping that Yao is playing a lot of high post and shooting more long jumpers. Last season under JVG, he averaged 8.6 free throw attempts. This year, only 6.9. You get most of your fouls when you attack the basket. Shooting jumpers and fadeaways all the time will not get calls. I also think that today's game is completely soft. You lay a finger on a guard on the perimeter and you get called for a foul right away. While big men down low, claw and scratch each other with no calls. But big men like Shaq and Yao are so hard to officiate because of their size. It has nothing to do with being american or foreign. That makes no sense.
Yes it is, if you stand in and take a charge, you bet that is real basketball. Get rid of that idiotic restricted area and it will be even more effective. DD
No, I mean the NBA itself is soft. Watch an NBA game in 90s, compared to what we see now. They let much more contact go and it made the game run smoother. If a foul was called, it was clearly a foul. Not these ticky tack calls you see today. A lot of so called "flagrant fouls" would have been just regular fouls back then. Actually, maybe its better like this. I don't think whiners like Pau and Dirk could handle the old style. Guys like Rodman, Barkley and Oakley would have made them cry. He said FLOPPING. Flopping is not the same as taking a charge. And the restricted area is fine. It's pretty cheap to take a charge that close to the rim.
I always wondered if an offensive guy is flashing through the baseline and runs over a defensive guy standing still but he happens to be in the restricted area, that still has to be a charge. I thought that restricted area was just a visual to help out the refs, but refs are just treating it like the 3pt line or out of bounds line, either you're in or you're out, no gray line.
If anybody remembered watching shaq play in his prime, the amount of hacking he received far surpassed yao. I think calls are based on how tall and strong the player is, with taller and stronger players generally having a more difficult time getting calls because they aren't as affected as much. Players like Iverson, wade, gasol get some of the most ticky tack fouls, and although I don't think it is fair for small guys to get the advantage in drawing fouls, I don't it would work if big guys were officiated like guards because there is just inherently more contact in the big man game.
I agree that he gets hammered every night by his defender trying to get around him to front, banging on him, etc. But I think it's partially the responsibility of the entry passer. We see it all the time that he gets the calls when the entry pass is made and he's getting hammered, that's when he gets the calls. Too many times guys like Luther and Rafer sit there and hold the ball, stagnate the offense and end up passing away from Yao. If they just take the chance and throw the entry pass when the defender is fronting or trying to push Yao out of the lane, Yao will get the call. They started to figure this out last year when Yao was dominating until he got hurt, and they never really went back to it consistently. We saw it a couple times last night too.
I agree, the restricted area just adds more confusion. That being said, the best basketball played in the world is still in the NBA, not Europe. Any American team can consistently beat any Euro Club. The reason the Americans struggle in the international game is because you pull together a bunch of guys who haven't played together and put them up against familiar teammates. The lesson is that basketball is a team game - and a better team can beat better talent. In a way, that's a nice thing isn't it?
Dont ever forget they are playing American NBA. Its American Basketball and americans make the rules. Whoever wants to survive here, may pay two times effort than americans. IMO, the changed rules of NBA are catering more for the entertainment, arent they? As long as NBA is entertaining me, its OK for me. Big man may sacrifice more.
I assume one major reason is because NBA rules shape how Americans play and NBA rules are quite different from international rules. Meanwhile, you got to admit that more and more talents are coming from outside of USA. The lesson is that basketball is a team game - and a better team can beat better talent. In a way, that's a nice thing isn't it?
The NBA rules are designed to ensure the game doesn't become too boring to watch. If the NBA had Euro rules there would be so much goal-tending and fouling that the scores wouldn't crack 50 some nights. The 3-pt line would be in more, and everything would be crowded. The NBA is still much faster than Euro-ball and still far more athletic. The defense in the NBA is so good, the league has had to create rules to limit the advantage. I think as Euro leagues continue to catch up they will run into problems the NBA and American basketball dealt with decades ago and you'll see a similar evolution of the game more towards NBA style.
Since I only watch NBA, I know less about European basketball rules. I watched Olympic basketball games. But seems you present a pretty much persuasive statement
Please DADA you know there is a hell of a difference between taking a charge and FLOPPING As a friend of mine would say . . .don't be acting like you all Brand New Rocket River
It is sad to say this but The Refs have to feel threatened. We need to have someone. . . I nominate steve francis In the 1st quarter of every game get in some opposing center's face .. . . very harshly and make the Refs feel that if they don't call the fouls the rockets will take matters into their own hand "YOU %@@%^^%@@ YAO LIKE THAT AGAIN I'LL #$@%@% You candy #$%%" - Rocket Player "Oh ***** . .. I need to get a handle on this overly physical play . .. . " - Ref
