NBA Suggested Rule Changes

This past NBA season is quite different with the impact of social media bringing scrutiny on the league, its rules and officials. Thankfully it is bringing positive change with the use of technology and will become better over time.

The recognition of flopping and the addition of instant replay are positive changes the league has needed. The changes has brought light to the complainers of the league and the side conversation of the announcers. Intentional fouling of poor free throw shooters is talked often, but there are so many other aspects of the game that need to be addressed to make better.

Intentional Fouling Bad Free Throw Shooters

Almost every team has a bad free throw shooter. Almost every team exploits the other teams poor free throw shooter. Not every team has a Dwight Howard or Andre Drummond who shoot around 50% from the foul line. Stan Van Gundy has coached both players and is apparently close to his brother Jeff, the announcer. Jeff will talk about it when ever it is used in a game he is announcing.

This was used against Shaq O'Neal and was annoying. These days, star players make $5 to 20 million dollars a year to play basketball. Playing basketball involves putting a ball through the hoop. They are not required to hit 3 pointers or half court shots. If you get paid as a professional to play this great game, you can make a free throw from 15 feet away from the basket. The league should not change the rules because a millionaire can't perform what they are getting paid to do.

Challenge System for Replays

Doc Rivers might love and hate this rule. Instead of complaining about the officials after the game, there should be a challenge system in place when outside the final 2 minutes of a half a call appears to be wrong. When it appears there is a bad call made, the coach can immediately hit his buzzer for a review. This option expires as soon as the ball is put back into play.

Each team is given 2 challenges per half. The penalty for a lost challenge is 2 timeouts. If the team does not have 2 times outs, the other team may have 2 free throws and the ball out of bounds, even if it meant a change of possession. The other team should be given an option for one 3 pointer instead of the 2 free throws. With these penalties in place, it should make the coaches more reluctant to call for a challenge.

Increase of Technical Fouls

In the 90's, a player would get a technical foul called if they bounced the ball and it went over their head. LeBron James will have to control himself as he is guilty of bouncing the ball the highest after a call in most games. I miss that rule as it is no different that throwing the ball in the stands. 

Complaining about a call should be removed from the game completely with the use of Challenges. If a player or coach complains about a call to an official, they should get an immediate technical foul unless they are asking for a challenge. Doc Rivers will definitely hate this rule as he would be kicked out of every game if he continues to complain on every call against his team.

Offensive Player Initiating Contact to Draw a Foul

This is not regarding offensive fouls. Many times when both players have stopped on the floor, the offensive player will lean into the defensive player "to draw the foul." The other time this happens is when the defensive player moves into position to take the charge, but the offensive player goes to the side of the defensive player to make contact as passing by to take a shot. This play is so hard to call because many of them could go either way. If it is obvious that the defensive player stopped and the offensive player bumps him to draw contact, there should be no foul called.

In both cases, it is the offensive players responsibility to take a good shot. If they are making contact with the defensive player, they should not be helped to the free throw line. This is no different than the Reggie Miller letting his leg out wide to be clipped by the defensive player going to the side during the shot.

Furthermore, a challenge may be used when an offensive player flops and pushes the ball in the air pretending he got fouled so hard that the ball doesn't make it to the hoop. This next part would not happen, but to encourage sportsmanship, when a player flops and a challenge is used to find the truth, there should be 2 technical foul shots taken if the flopper doesn't admit it before looking at the video.

Conclusion

The technology is here to bring camera angles from anywhere and everywhere on the basketball court. The utilization of instant replay with limited challenges introduced should make for a more enjoyable game to watch. An increase in the sensitivity of technical fouls should clean the game up further. When things change in the NBA, it resonates to the playgrounds and gyms across the country.