Easier scoring and personal vitality: the league’s concern for the player
Ben Taylor from Thinking Basketball made a video concerning the NBA’s continued ease of offence. Taylor argues that players kept pushing the boundaries and referees altered the interpretation of the rules. The rules are still there without any language change. The nature of these changes boils down to an emphasis on the offensive player. For more mobility and autonomy, for the subject against the object. Cases include: dribbling, gather step, in the act of shooting, flopping and of course lowering the shoulder and fouling. The first four are liberations from rules while the last one penalises the defence. In the end the defensive player not the rulebook is neglected for more offence.
The mark of NBA development is offensive autonomy. The rules have been on the books but the referees ignoring them. Before moderns argue that contemporary players are so much more athletic and better, it is important to recognise the inherent advantages they have over the plumbers of old. Using dribbling as an example. Up to the seventies, if one’s hand moved from above the ball, they would be called for carrying. As players pushed the rules in the eighties moving their hand to the side of the ball, it provided more leeway and more protection of the ball. Not only would the referees call a carry but it also exposed the ball to the defence. If the player was a subpar dribbler, the defence could press and concentrating on ensuring his hand was firmly on the top of the ball, the dribbler would lose sight of the defence and lose the ball. As the hand was able to move from on top to the side, the dribbler was able to control the ball better and also cross over easily. It wasn’t that they only had one hand or were too green for crossovers, they couldn’t. It was hard enough dribbling with one hand. Yet once the ball could be palmed a little more, the dribbler had more leeway to exploit the defence.
Today, players can palm the ball. Placing their hand under the ball and carrying it. Able to palm it and switch hands instantly. While their non-dominant hand is inadequate for dribbling, by holding the ball they can protect it even in their weaker hand. The rule still states that one cannot move their hand from the top of the ball but referees do not count it. The custom of palming has overruled the codified rule. Yet this isn’t only a disregard for rules but an advantage to the offence over the defence. This has enabled the offence to move ever so quickly as if travelling since he need not actually place the ball down. He can palm it and hold it close to his chest keeping it away from the defender. While it makes the defender work harder it also placed him at a disadvantage. By the rules of the eighties today’s actions are a travel+double-dribble+carry. Breaking these rules enables the offensive player to get a leg up on the defender. He can hold the ball where the defender can’t reach it. Possession is in the hands of the offensive player and the defender is reaching for nought. This isn’t only about the rule book but even the disposition of the defence.
The gather step is another which has given the the offence an advantage. Any slight awkward movement would be called a travel back in the seventies. While they may have been overtly strict, they played by the rules. In time the rules became lax and referees swallowed their whistle more often. An extra step to the basket would enable the offender to travel. In the motion of scoring. They have an extra step or two to gather their momentum toward the basket. Like a game of handball were the momentum of firing the ball into an empty net. The player is able to lift himself toward the rim ever quicker and can manoeuvre with ease with his feet. The step back has also gotten this gather step. Where players do a step back pick up their dribble and then more steps backward. The offensive player doesn’t need to gather the ball from the floor to his body to his shooting form. Rather he already has the ball in his shooting pocket then steps back ready to fire. The defender has to contain a player who can fire with space and ready motion. Back to handball how many times does the defender block the offensive players throw, not many so too here despite the ball being bigger.
The biggest change is contact. Previously, lowering one’s shoulder or any intentional contact by the offence was called an offensive fall. This may have been a little too far. The balance for many years was a no call. Maybe sufficient leaning in to draw a fall would warrant an offensive but not anymore. Offensive initiated contact has been called a defensive fall. Defenders can’t play defence if they cannot touch the offensive player. Long gone are the days of hard fouls and hand checking. These days players place their hands behind their backs. They sag off in order for the referees to not call a foul. In the previous cases the referees ignored the penalty but here have shifted the burden. Calling dubious falls that are manipulated by the offence. Cases of lowering elbows, rip throughs, and leg kicks. Players have flopped on both sides of the ball but exaggerating contact receives every call but no punishment. The game becomes a theatre. Flopping on the defensive end seems to be a way to rebalance the offensive might. Offensive contact has crippled the defence making the opponent inoperable in his purpose.
Referees/the league did provide offence more leeway. Making the game faster and more exciting from different areas of the field. They may not have scored as many points but they could do cool moves. They could be more lethal from various parts. It made scoring a more plausible possibility. It made playing the game easier and giving smaller players more advantages. The league never changed the rules instead deciding not enforce the ones they had. The offensive player was seemingly handicapped by the rules. It wasn’t enough. Leeway and flexibility were necessary. Yet this came at a price. While placing the offensive player against the rules, it effectively demoralised the defence. The defence was crippled by giving the offensive player an endless supply of power ups. At least with hand checking, the defensive player could keep up. In a more physical game, less flopping was honourable. There is physicality in the game but it has aided the offensive player more than the defensive player. The defender is forced to play with his hands and body off the offensive player.
The defender is playing by the rules while the referees are playing by an agenda. The defender should have nothing to fear. He is following the rulebook but only he is. The offensive player has exploited the rules and the referee policeman say nothing. They allow it. They promote it. When the defender does the best he can, he is penalised. He can’t catch a break. He is a law-abiding player that is penalised while the criminal is permitted. The league has allowed this rampant insolence to go on for too long. Defence is but a rarity. While some point to the talent, it should go both ways. If you can shoot really well you can defend really well as well. There are still players who can shoot but not defend, not many on the opposite end. Dennis Rodman and recently Tony Allen are of the few that come to mind. It is not about how many points you can put up but how well you can defend. If you score ten points and your assignment scores twenty you are -10 but if you score 8 and he scores 2 then you at +6. Talent works both ways, especially with the apparent athletic advancements of the age.
All this to point out how the rules codified are cemented in law but are mere lore. The referees run the show. The defender is but a nuisance. More offence so penalise the defence. Chain him and watch him squirm. If he prevents a score punish him. The agenda has been more offence but that comes at a price of defensive capability as well as competitive enjoyment to watch. A high scoring game is enjoyable if it achieved not if it is given freely.
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