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Check out my latest article on the NBA’s foul-baiting problem
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July 15, 2021 1 Comment
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Well done, Spencer. Excellent take on the ‘non-basketball’ moves that some players have been taking advantage of to draw fouls and get to the line. I’ve always hated that Harden, Young, and other guards get every touch foul while players like LeBron, Giannis, and Shaq get mugged on the exact same play and it’s more often than not just ‘play on.’
My big problem with the current rule is that refs treat plays on the perimeter differently than plays in the paint. To me, the rules should be the same regardles of where the player is on the court. What is allowed to defend in the paint should be allowed on the perimeter. What’a foul in one area should be a foul everywhere.
I do think the new rules will help as it’s especially egregious to see offensive players jumping sideways or sticking out their legs to draw fouls. Guards veering into a defender when driving to the basket should ‘no calls’ or offensive fouls if overly physical, not shooting fouls. Great offensive players understand the value of the bump to create space and time to get shots off. That’s enough of an advantage without awarding free throws.
The other thing that drives me nuts is players intentionally fouling to prevent a fast break after a turnover. The league should outlaw intentional fouls that aren’t legitimate basketball plays but just designed to stop play to prevent an easy basket. That should be similar to ‘clear path’ fouls and give the team freethrows plus possession of the ball as a deterent. Nothing is more frustrating than seeing a great defensive play and fast break opportunity becoming a simple side out because a defender grabbed whomever was around.