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BY RANDY HILL
FOXSports.com
Oct. 25, 2001 11:46 a.m.
This column is presented on tape delay from L.A.'s Staples Center, where Al and Tipper were THIS close to slapping an NC-17 on the last Democratic National Convention.
It's Tuesday night.
(Editor's note: Just go with it.)
I'm here to hunt for signs of NBA anarchy. The NBA, by the way, gets after it for real in only five days; if you're not good with math, imagine the longevity of Dennis Rodman's marriage to Carmen Electra.
Anyway, our guide on this hoop-chaos safari is L.A. Clippers assistant coach Rex Kalamian. Rex is our guy because he's a whiz at cutting through the heavy foliage of an NBA chalkboard. Watches more videotape than the uncle your parents never talk about.
Given the whimsy of its competition committee, NBA chalkboards and video rooms are expected to be wild with reactions to the league's rules changes.
Here's a quick rules-changes tour:
Zones are now legal everywhere, except Texas Tech.
The offense must advance the "rock" beyond the mid-court line (not seen on Fox telecasts) in eight (not 10) seconds. Nice idea, but ambushing NBA ballhandlers can be as simple as snagging fleas with an oven mitt.
Rim raised to 11 feet. Whoa, fantasy fiends. Just checking to see who owns a Swiss Army Knife. Semi-seriously, No. 3 has something to do with the resumption of reasonable hand-checking. We're talking about a caliber of touching similar to what occurs 60 seconds before the married guy is hauling a blanket to the sofa.
So our search for rules-changes discord has dragged us to a Clippers-Phoenix Suns dress rehearsal.
We're bugging Kalamian, who's scribbling game-plan tips on the locker room board. The first two: "Pick up gallon of milk. Let Jason Kidd shoot the jumper."
We still joke because we can. Actually, Rex is very aware that the Suns shipped Kidd to the New Jersey Nets, who volleyed Stephon Marbury out to Phoenix.
Steph, a son of New York, had no comment on the rules changes, but did assure me the New York Yankees will win the World Series.
As Kalamian jots down some advice on how to deal with Marbury, I ask him about the expected influence of those dreaded rules changes.
How about it, Rex? How much will these rules changes -- designed to upgrade the flooooooooow of the game -- alter NBA action?
"Not a whole lot," says Kalamian, an expert witness of six exhibition tilts. "Any zones we've seen, for the most part, have been used in out-of-bounds situations."
Right, most of your sneakier screen-oriented, out-of-bounds plays drop dead against a nice zone.
Let's press on. Is the presence of zone technology of little interest in the think tanks of today's NBA?
"No, we've spent time on it," Kalamian says. "It's an area of concern. I just think you'll see it used more in crucial situations late in games. And you probably won't see teams lining up in traditional 2-3 zones. Too easy."
Yeah, over 48 minutes, NBA sharpies and sharpshooters will turn a card-carrying zone into an uglier scene than my bank statement.
But, according to sources who only take cash, some teams are prepared to spring a gimmick defense or two. And the Milwaukee Bucks, whose defensive indifference often pushes coach George Karl to the doorstep of chagrin, may have plans to get cozy with the use of zones.
Around the NBA campfire, we also hear tales about a fortified zone thrown up in San Antonio. Spurs coach Gregg Popovich is amused by the notion that his historically stingy defense -- featuring 7-foot cronies Tim Duncan and David Robinson -- would need to play gimmicky.
Pop's peers counter that the Spurs have zoned for years.
What we will see -- especially at crunch time -- is double-teaming of star players ... when they don't have the ball. Yeah, bat that one around a minute. The premise seems as horrible as two kids playing the second parent against the first parent before the first parent has a chance to say "no."
OK, so with the zoning issue covered, let's find out the greatest challenge presented by the rules changes.
Our first witness is Suns forward Rodney Rogers.
"The defensive three-second call," Rodney says with zero hesitation. "It's harder to adjust to than avoiding illegal defense."
Illegal defense, by the way, is a buried concept that was completely understood by, oh, six NBA officials and the four humans who figured out the lyrics in "Louie, Louie."
The new defensive three-second call is an asterisk riding the zone-is-legal decree. Without it, rascals such as L.A. Lakers player Shaquille O'Neal would have this zone-validated blessing to put a lounge chair in the lane while on defense. Just like the good old days.
Now, if a defender is loitering in the lane -- and not guarding anyone -- for three seconds, the offensive team is awarded a free throw. No warnings required. The penalty makes this rule as intimidating and expensive as short-term parking.
Of course, anyone loitering in the lane couldn't be guarding anyone in there, because offensive players (except Shaq, it has been alleged) still are forbidden from lane-hanging for three seconds.
While competing against the Suns, Clippers forward Elton Brand is whistled for this defensive three-second violation. Now that we've ratted him out, let's ask him about it.
"It's tough at first," Brand says of avoiding the lane on defense. "But we know what's going on and we just have to adjust. It does seem like quite a change from what I've been taught."
For more on such de-programming, let's check back with Kalamian. Rex, why are defenders having a tough time adjusting to the defensive three-second rule?
"Players are used to giving help in the lane," Kalamian points out. "That's what they've been taught since they started playing basketball. Their instinct tells them to get into the lane and protect the basket."
In Tuesday's game at Staples, Brand's ticket is the only Clippers' defensive three-second violation. The Suns are tagged twice.
That seems to be the league-exhibition norm, although the Lakers were hit four times in the first quarter of last Friday's game at San Diego.
But, contrary to O'Neal's preemptive spin, don't expect the refs to pick on Shaq. He and other superstars will receive encouragement to vacate the lane or else. Rookies will be shot, with their teams assessed the requisite technical.
However, we can't help but imagine the doomsday howls if Shaq consistently pays for three-second sins.
And if these defensive three-second technical fouls were accompanied by fines (they're not), we'd recommend a bar code as his next tattoo.
In hunting for bottom lines, our next topic is the NBA's excuse for making these changes:
Flooooooow of the game.
"I think it might help," Clippers ace Lamar Odom says of rules dreamed up to eliminate the allegedly stagnant nature of NBA offense. "We seem to be scoring over 100 every night."
Amen, but only six of the 18 NBA teams at work on Tuesday night were able to reach triple digits. That means nothing and everything.
Got a question or comment for Randy? Send it along and he'll answer the best responses.
Comments:
According to Suns forward Shawn Marion, the rules changes won't have much impact.
"Honestly? Not really," Marion says when asked if the new guidelines can pep up his sport. "You might see a zone here or there, but defense in this league already is tough. There's really no reason to make big changes."
Mr. Marbury?
Mr. Marbury says the Yankees over the Diamondbacks.
The best perspective we careen into is provided by Clippers guard Eric Piatkowski, his team's best free-throw shooter.
"I love the new rules," he says. "Especially that defensive three-second rule. Every time it's called, I just step up to the free-throw line. It's an easy point."
Ladies and gentlemen, Piatkowski's interpretation may not be anarchy.
But it is within walking distance.
FOXSports.com
Oct. 25, 2001 11:46 a.m.
This column is presented on tape delay from L.A.'s Staples Center, where Al and Tipper were THIS close to slapping an NC-17 on the last Democratic National Convention.
It's Tuesday night.
(Editor's note: Just go with it.)
I'm here to hunt for signs of NBA anarchy. The NBA, by the way, gets after it for real in only five days; if you're not good with math, imagine the longevity of Dennis Rodman's marriage to Carmen Electra.
Anyway, our guide on this hoop-chaos safari is L.A. Clippers assistant coach Rex Kalamian. Rex is our guy because he's a whiz at cutting through the heavy foliage of an NBA chalkboard. Watches more videotape than the uncle your parents never talk about.
Given the whimsy of its competition committee, NBA chalkboards and video rooms are expected to be wild with reactions to the league's rules changes.
Here's a quick rules-changes tour:
Zones are now legal everywhere, except Texas Tech.
The offense must advance the "rock" beyond the mid-court line (not seen on Fox telecasts) in eight (not 10) seconds. Nice idea, but ambushing NBA ballhandlers can be as simple as snagging fleas with an oven mitt.
Rim raised to 11 feet. Whoa, fantasy fiends. Just checking to see who owns a Swiss Army Knife. Semi-seriously, No. 3 has something to do with the resumption of reasonable hand-checking. We're talking about a caliber of touching similar to what occurs 60 seconds before the married guy is hauling a blanket to the sofa.
So our search for rules-changes discord has dragged us to a Clippers-Phoenix Suns dress rehearsal.
We're bugging Kalamian, who's scribbling game-plan tips on the locker room board. The first two: "Pick up gallon of milk. Let Jason Kidd shoot the jumper."
We still joke because we can. Actually, Rex is very aware that the Suns shipped Kidd to the New Jersey Nets, who volleyed Stephon Marbury out to Phoenix.
Steph, a son of New York, had no comment on the rules changes, but did assure me the New York Yankees will win the World Series.
As Kalamian jots down some advice on how to deal with Marbury, I ask him about the expected influence of those dreaded rules changes.
How about it, Rex? How much will these rules changes -- designed to upgrade the flooooooooow of the game -- alter NBA action?
"Not a whole lot," says Kalamian, an expert witness of six exhibition tilts. "Any zones we've seen, for the most part, have been used in out-of-bounds situations."
Right, most of your sneakier screen-oriented, out-of-bounds plays drop dead against a nice zone.
Let's press on. Is the presence of zone technology of little interest in the think tanks of today's NBA?
"No, we've spent time on it," Kalamian says. "It's an area of concern. I just think you'll see it used more in crucial situations late in games. And you probably won't see teams lining up in traditional 2-3 zones. Too easy."
Yeah, over 48 minutes, NBA sharpies and sharpshooters will turn a card-carrying zone into an uglier scene than my bank statement.
But, according to sources who only take cash, some teams are prepared to spring a gimmick defense or two. And the Milwaukee Bucks, whose defensive indifference often pushes coach George Karl to the doorstep of chagrin, may have plans to get cozy with the use of zones.
Around the NBA campfire, we also hear tales about a fortified zone thrown up in San Antonio. Spurs coach Gregg Popovich is amused by the notion that his historically stingy defense -- featuring 7-foot cronies Tim Duncan and David Robinson -- would need to play gimmicky.
Pop's peers counter that the Spurs have zoned for years.
What we will see -- especially at crunch time -- is double-teaming of star players ... when they don't have the ball. Yeah, bat that one around a minute. The premise seems as horrible as two kids playing the second parent against the first parent before the first parent has a chance to say "no."
OK, so with the zoning issue covered, let's find out the greatest challenge presented by the rules changes.
Our first witness is Suns forward Rodney Rogers.
"The defensive three-second call," Rodney says with zero hesitation. "It's harder to adjust to than avoiding illegal defense."
Illegal defense, by the way, is a buried concept that was completely understood by, oh, six NBA officials and the four humans who figured out the lyrics in "Louie, Louie."
The new defensive three-second call is an asterisk riding the zone-is-legal decree. Without it, rascals such as L.A. Lakers player Shaquille O'Neal would have this zone-validated blessing to put a lounge chair in the lane while on defense. Just like the good old days.
Now, if a defender is loitering in the lane -- and not guarding anyone -- for three seconds, the offensive team is awarded a free throw. No warnings required. The penalty makes this rule as intimidating and expensive as short-term parking.
Of course, anyone loitering in the lane couldn't be guarding anyone in there, because offensive players (except Shaq, it has been alleged) still are forbidden from lane-hanging for three seconds.
While competing against the Suns, Clippers forward Elton Brand is whistled for this defensive three-second violation. Now that we've ratted him out, let's ask him about it.
"It's tough at first," Brand says of avoiding the lane on defense. "But we know what's going on and we just have to adjust. It does seem like quite a change from what I've been taught."
For more on such de-programming, let's check back with Kalamian. Rex, why are defenders having a tough time adjusting to the defensive three-second rule?
"Players are used to giving help in the lane," Kalamian points out. "That's what they've been taught since they started playing basketball. Their instinct tells them to get into the lane and protect the basket."
In Tuesday's game at Staples, Brand's ticket is the only Clippers' defensive three-second violation. The Suns are tagged twice.
That seems to be the league-exhibition norm, although the Lakers were hit four times in the first quarter of last Friday's game at San Diego.
But, contrary to O'Neal's preemptive spin, don't expect the refs to pick on Shaq. He and other superstars will receive encouragement to vacate the lane or else. Rookies will be shot, with their teams assessed the requisite technical.
However, we can't help but imagine the doomsday howls if Shaq consistently pays for three-second sins.
And if these defensive three-second technical fouls were accompanied by fines (they're not), we'd recommend a bar code as his next tattoo.
In hunting for bottom lines, our next topic is the NBA's excuse for making these changes:
Flooooooow of the game.
"I think it might help," Clippers ace Lamar Odom says of rules dreamed up to eliminate the allegedly stagnant nature of NBA offense. "We seem to be scoring over 100 every night."
Amen, but only six of the 18 NBA teams at work on Tuesday night were able to reach triple digits. That means nothing and everything.
Got a question or comment for Randy? Send it along and he'll answer the best responses.
Comments:
According to Suns forward Shawn Marion, the rules changes won't have much impact.
"Honestly? Not really," Marion says when asked if the new guidelines can pep up his sport. "You might see a zone here or there, but defense in this league already is tough. There's really no reason to make big changes."
Mr. Marbury?
Mr. Marbury says the Yankees over the Diamondbacks.
The best perspective we careen into is provided by Clippers guard Eric Piatkowski, his team's best free-throw shooter.
"I love the new rules," he says. "Especially that defensive three-second rule. Every time it's called, I just step up to the free-throw line. It's an easy point."
Ladies and gentlemen, Piatkowski's interpretation may not be anarchy.
But it is within walking distance.
