Bulpett: MBA Considering Rules Changes

[Way Of The Ray <wayray@ix.netcom.com>]

      Boston Herald  

      NBA considers opening things up: Rule changes on the horizon
      by Steve Bulpett 
      Wednesday, June 9, 1999
      CHICAGO - Get ready for a kinder, gentler NBA next season.
      That seemed to be the main sentiment as team representatives emerged from 
      the Competition Committee meeting yesterday prior to the start of the 
      league's pre-draft camp.
      ``Nothing was definitive,'' said Milwaukee general manager Bob Weinhauer, 
      ``but that's the way everything was leaning.''
      With a blue-ribbon panel set to meet in the next several weeks to discuss 
      the state of the game and possible rules changes, some attending 
      yesterday's session were feeling a bit superfluous.
      ``It felt a little strange in there,'' said one team representative. 
      ``Here we are talking about things, and everyone knows they're going to 
      bring together that group of coaches and players and ex-players. Those are 
      the ones who will probably decide this stuff.''
      Another general manager believes some decisions have already been made by 
      the league.
      ``I think their minds are made up,'' he said. ``It was like they were just 
      running some stuff by us. I do think they listened to what we had to say, 
      but I think they already know what they're going to do.''
      The possible rules changes will be mainly related to taking away the 
      clutching and grabbing that goes on, thus freeing up offensive players to 
      move, creating more flow to the game. Coincidentally, the aims are similar 
      to those being put forth in the NHL by president Gary Bettman, a former 
      NBA executive.
      Celtics coach and president Rick Pitino, absent yesterday but part of the 
      aforementioned panel, will be happy to know that his opposition to players 
      being held up as they try to cut is shared by many.
      ``I think the perception among most everyone is that the game is very 
      physical, and that really needs to be cleaned up a bit,'' said Weinhauer.
      According to a coach in the session, Cleveland's Wayne Embry and the 
      Lakers' Jerry West spoke up at one point about the hard hitting. But 
      Washington's Wes Unseld reminded them that the NBA was physical in the 
      1960s and '70s, too.
      As far as rules to address the problem, the general feeling was that they 
      are already in the book. Thus, referees will likely be instructed to call 
      the game more by the book and less by interpretation. Similar to baseball 
      umpires calling the high strike, there is question whether the plan will 
      fly during the regular season. But there are certain to be some extremely 
      long and foul-filled exhibition games next fall.
      Those games may be played on a court with a wider foul lane. The 
      Competition Committee discussed adoption of the trapezoidal international 
      lane (wider near the baseline) as well as simply adding space evenly from 
      the foul line to the baseline.
      The league may seek to address the aesthetically unpleasant sight of post 
      players isolating and backing in on defenders by giving the defense the 
      right to the position and calling offensive fouls.
      Also, it appears the 24-second clock will survive in present form, 
      although it may be reset to 14 seconds instead of 24 when the defense is 
      called for a kicked-ball violation or a non-shooting foul in the 
      frontcourt.
      ``The ball is already over midcourt by then, so they shouldn't need the 
      full 24 seconds,'' Weinhauer said. ``That would speed the game up and add 
      possessions.''