Zone defense, Handchecking and other rules

[BringTheHeat]

I wanted to know what you guys thought about some major rule changes that have had a huge impact on how the game is played, 3 in particular.

1. The inclusion of Zone Defense in the NBA since the 2001-2002 season.

Thoughts on this? Should zone be allowed in the NBA or should it be how it used to be with strictly man to man defense?

2. Handchecking

Same as before, should it be allowed in today's NBA?

3. The High School to NBA rule. The rule that players cannot go straight from High School to the NBA a la Kobe Bryant or LeBron James.

[SteelersFreak]

Re: Zone defense, Handchecking and other rules

I like the way the NBA has zone defense, good use as a change of pace and makes teams play more team basketball. The lack of handchecking would be fine if it was called consistently. And I'm happy with the no high school to NBA rule, for all the LeBron James and Kobe's you had plenty more Darius Miles and guys who could've greatly helped their career by going to college.

[st0rmb11]

Re: Zone defense, Handchecking and other rules

I wanted to know what you guys thought about some major rule changes that have had a huge impact on how the game is played, 3 in particular.

1. The inclusion of Zone Defense in the NBA since the 2001-2002 season.

Thoughts on this? Should zone be allowed in the NBA or should it be how it used to be with strictly man to man defense?

2. Handchecking

Same as before, should it be allowed in today's NBA?

3. The High School to NBA rule. The rule that players cannot go straight from High School to the NBA a la Kobe Bryant or LeBron James.

1. I like that they allow zone defense, but I would like to see them do away with the "defensive 3 in the key". If you're going to let teams play zone, let them play a real zone. Offenses have to deal with zones at every level, so why make it easier on the most talented offensive players in the world?

2. They should allow hand checking. I hate that they cater to wing players, while post guys are allowed to be pushed in the back and beat on while trying to establish position. I hate that super athletic, hardly talented guards and small forwards are able to get to the rim at will, and never have to develop any sort of outside game. If you allow hand checking, those guys would have to work on their actual abilities (ball handling, shooting, etc.) to create their own shot.

3. I like that they make guys go to school, but it should be more than 1 year. Give a coach a chance to actually build a bit of a program around a guy, rather than having to adjust his game plan and system after one season. Plus, with not as much turn over in players, we'd either get to see some great teams form for a season or two. Or, some guys would have to go to different schools because they wouldn't want to be stuck behind guys from the previous class. Hell, they may have to develop their game, to try to overtake the returning players.

[cdg0219]

Re: Zone defense, Handchecking and other rules

1. Absolutely allow zone defense. Remove 3 in the key and the restricted area.

2. Basically what st0rmb11 said. I hate seeing post guys get pushed all over the court in some cases while a little nudge on the shoulder of your Rose/Westbrook-mold guy can be called (not that it always is.)

3. No strong feelings on this. There are good arguments for it and against it. One-and-dones seem against the purpose of higher education to me, though.

[AlexBrady]

Re: Zone defense, Handchecking and other rules

I wanted to know what you guys thought about some major rule changes that have had a huge impact on how the game is played, 3 in particular.

1. The inclusion of Zone Defense in the NBA since the 2001-2002 season.

Thoughts on this? Should zone be allowed in the NBA or should it be how it used to be with strictly man to man defense?

2. Handchecking

Same as before, should it be allowed in today's NBA?

3. The High School to NBA rule. The rule that players cannot go straight from High School to the NBA a la Kobe Bryant or LeBron James.

1. I've never been a fan of zone defenses. They cramp pivot play too much. Even though zones are relatively easy to combat, today's players are dimmer than ever and usually pass the ball around the perimeter and hoist a jump shot. Nobody screens or cuts against a zone.

2. Hand checking should absolutely be allowed, to get more real defense in the game. However, scoring would plummet.

3. High Schoolers should not be allowed to enter the NBA until their High School Class has graduated. That means four years in College, time for their games to mature. The trouble with youngsters jumping to the NBA all started when Spencer Haywood declared himself a "hardship case" in 1970.

[Dice]

Re: Zone defense, Handchecking and other rules

1. I say you either allow teams to play a true zone(and not the pseudo-zones the NBA plays now) OR go back to strictly man-to-man defense.


2. I’ll tie this into the first question. If the league allows zone defense then I’d prefer to keep the hand checking rule in place. Zone relies so much on foot movement that hand checking would probably be unnecessary against a dominate scorer. If the league goes back to man-to-man defense, then I’d remove the hand checking rule. I don’t care who you are defensively, a dominate offensive scorer will either score or draw the foul against a dominate defender. The defender has to have some sort of advantage against the player so let him use his hands.


3. The ‘one-and-done’ rule has slightly changed the college game and NBA game in terms of quality but not enough in terms of what these games used to be. Yes, it’s good not to have so many straight from high school players. It makes the NBA game a lot better. However, it does cheapen the college game in terms of the student athlete. Guys who use college as a one year training ground for the NBA, basically is making the education part of it worthless. The athletic scholarships that they use on these ‘one and done’ guys gives other student athletes who want to graduate less of a chance.

Here’s what I think needs to happen, from the NCAA standpoint they should reform their athletic scholarships in the form of contracts. So what they could do is make the athletic scholarship a 3-year deal. So they have to commit to the university for 3 years and if during that time they decide to drop out or go pro, the athlete will have to pay back all the scholarship money they used during their stay there. And this year for players who submit their names for the draft that didn’t hire agents, they moved the time to withdraw from the draft and keep college eligibility from the first week of June to second week of April. I think they should move it back to the first week of June. Let those player go to the workouts and combines and let them test the waters before they realize where they stand.

In terms of the NBA, I think they should keep the 19 years old age limit. BUT I think they should cap of the number of players drafted. So right now, any player 19 and at least one year from high school graduation would be eligible for the draft. So basically, cap those players who are one year out of high school(Freshmen) to 1 or 2 players. So if the Bobcats and Hornets are one and two in the draft and they select freshmen then all other freshmen are ineligible for the draft. For those who are two years out of high school(sophomore), cap them to about 4-6. For those three years out of high school(juniors) cap them at 8-10. And those four years and more out of high school have no cap. This to me would make the draft very intriguing and would make the strategy much more complex for teams. BUT in the end, it would make the NBA and college game a lot better.

[BringTheHeat]

Re: Zone defense, Handchecking and other rules

1. I have to say I'm not a big fan of zone defense. I just feel that it's lazy and lets bad defenders flourish when they shouldn't. However, basketball is Chess and it is just a strategy that coaches need to be able to attack. Every defense has a weakness. I'd say the major problem I have with zone though is that it takes away the dominant big man. (Howard is overrated, he doesn't count.) I don't care if the ball sticks and scoring plummets to the 80s, I'd rather see good basketball than no defense, run and gun, score 110 points a game basketball.

2. Absolutely think they need to bring hand checking back. I think the game needs to be a lot more physical, mainly on guards. Guards are wimps now, trust me, I've seen my share of wimps. (DWade)

3. Dice has a very good idea, only problem I see is that, when these athletes make as much money as they do, they still would do one and dones. And another encouraging factor would be if they stay one year=less money to pay the school. I do think players need at least 2 years of college, but that it should be paid for in some form. I think this because college isn't free, and I understand a lot of players come from a place where they can't afford to go to college.

So another question, what do you guys feel about changing the Playoff system so that the top 16 teams, regardless of conference, are in the Playoffs? For example, this year the first round could have a matchup of OKC and New York.

[cubsball899]

Re: Zone defense, Handchecking and other rules

i have nothing really to add to 1 and 2..

as far as 3.. let kids declare for the NBA draft after high school. if they aren't ready they're only hurting themselves and those who gambled on them. BUT if they decide to go to college, make them stay for 3 years. that will help the athletes, help the schools, and help the NBA franchises i think. there is always gonna be kids good enough for the NBA that have absolutely no use for college, the Lebrons, Kobes, Garnetts.. you can get a degree in 3 years and even if you don't you'll be well on your way. by this point there will be plenty of film on draft prospects. strenghts and weaknesses will be set in stone, and players will have more of a mind for the game. it will help the college game because more great players will play longer.


as far as changing the playoffs? i wouldn't have a problem with it, i won't necesarily be for it but i won't have a problem with it either. in this country we are so used to having our leagues divided into conferences. but i can't say thats the best way... but if you're gonna change it so conferences don't mean anything for playoffs, a balanced schedule is vital...

[SuperBowlNachos]

Re: Zone defense, Handchecking and other rules

Would it help the college game though? Forcing them to be 3 years out of HS would just send more guys to play those years overseas.

Jeremy Tyler made $290,000 combined his two years playing overseas(and one of those years he should have been a senior in HS). Brandon Jennings made $1.65 million guaranteed in salary and then got a $2 million endorsement deal from Under Armour.

[da ThRONe]

Re: Zone defense, Handchecking and other rules

Zones should be in the game. NBA players are far too good to expect a zone to work every position, but it's a great change of pace techinque for coaches. If anything they should get rid of the 3 second rule. If as a coach I want to quaduple team the guy without the ball I should be able to.

Hand checking should also be in the game, but sports leagues seem to love handicapping defense.

The high school rule is the worst. Why take away a person right to do a job they are capable of doing? If anything the evidence shows that most of the guys who came out of HS stay in the league long term. Theres always going to be bust in every sport.

[cubsball899]

Re: Zone defense, Handchecking and other rules

Would it help the college game though? Forcing them to be 3 years out of HS would just send more guys to play those years overseas.

Jeremy Tyler made $290,000 combined his two years playing overseas(and one of those years he should have been a senior in HS). Brandon Jennings made $1.65 million guaranteed in salary and then got a $2 million endorsement deal from Under Armour.

i think it would help the college game. and it doesn't even have to be '3 years out of hs' just if they decide to go the college route make them commit for 3 years. let coaches build them up and get a style of play going. let coaches build a team instead of just assembling players....

guys like Jeremy Tyler and Jennings... i don't need to see them in the college game. if they think they're good enough for the NBA let em. if they're not there is always the d-league or overseas