Change is inevitable, but who will reap the rewards?

Sporting News, The, Feb 19, 2001 by Sean Stewart

In case you haven't heard, there is something wrong with the NBA. But determining what that "something" is is as difficult to figure out as logarithms.

There is always the Michael Jordan factor, the belief that M.J.'s departure has given the NBA a hangover it just can't shake. While the lack of Jordan is somewhat problematic on the court, it is even more so on Madison Avenue, where the NBA wishes somebody--anybody--would be like Mike.

But finding the next pitchman doesn't address the problems with the game, including (but not limited to) overzealous whistle blowers and a lack of scoring.

So what should be changed? Last weekend at the All-Star Game I put that question to some of the game's stars, the ones who, after any rules changes, most dramatically will affect how the game is played.

Hands on

At times, when you are watching a game, it seems a player runs the risk of a whistle if he breathes on an opponent. Often, a quick whistle can halt what's supposed to be a fluid game.

Portland's Rasheed Wallace, who racks up fouls and technicals like The Sopranos racks up Emmy nominations, says that interruption of play is what concerns him most. "Take away that light-touching hand rule they've got out top," he says. "There would be more of a flow, less stoppage of the game. Being out there at a crucial point of the game and you put your palm on the hand, they're blowing the whistle, and that's stopping the game."

Miami's Anthony Mason agrees. "It's a great game, but I don't think I'd be so nitpicky with the hand checking and stuff like that. I'd probably go back to where people are allowed to play defense."

But Orlando's Tracy McGrady had a different take on the hand-check issue. McGrady sees the current rules on hand checking as a plus.

"Some people would like them to change the hand-check rule, but that does help the guys who are capable of getting to the basket, the guys who can dribble," McGrady says. "That helps a guy like me."

What about me?

Some players had more specific adjustments in mind. Minnesota's Kevin Garnett and Atlanta's Dikembe Mutombo proposed changes that were laced with both humor and some common sense.

"I'd let me do my finger wave after I block a shot," Mutombo says. "Let me wave my finger and not fine me thousands of dollars. We need to entertain our fans."

Garnett, who reigns as both the NBA's king of on-court enthusiasm and one of the league's best players, seeks a simple adjustment.

"I would change goaltending," Garnett says. "I have so many blocked shots, man, they call it goaltending every time I block a shot."

Who needs change?

Still, some players think the game is fine the way it is. Milwaukee's Ray Allen for one, thinks the game doesn't need any tinkering offensively.

"My team is scoring over 100 points a night so I don't know how much more open you want the game to be," Allen says. "In days past, you had teams scoring 120-130 points (a game), but I can't see what I'd do differently on a regular basis. We're doing fine. I don't know what the perception of the league is, but I think it just goes down to what players you have on your team."

While having one scorer like Allen is a luxury for most teams, the Bucks have two other players--Glenn Robinson and Sam Cassell--capable of dropping 30 points on an opponent.

"We just have to keep doing what we are doing, keep playing hard and keep showing everybody that we do work hard on our games and we do enjoy playing the game," he says.

Coach's corner

Like the Bucks, Rick Adelman's Kings don't struggle to make the scoreboard turn to triple digits on most nights. Still, Adelman understands that getting a handle on what needs to be changed can be difficult.

"It's a hard question. Everyone has their opinion," Adelman says. "I think you have to do something to get more ball movement in the game. Whether that's putting a time frame on how long a guy can have the ball ...

"I think the 3-point line is a real detriment because it encourages isolation and post-up. You double, and you're going to give up a 3. Anything that can create movement can help. You have to take the ball out of one guy's hand."

Zoning out

While opinions differ on most suggestions to change the game, one idea meets a unified voice--the idea of bringing the zone defense to the NBA. At first glance, the idea of zones in the NBA is problematic. At second glance, it's ludicrous. If the league thinks packing in a zone is going to solve its offensive problems, then league officials are nuttier than a Payday candy bar.

"I don't see where the zone is going to create movement," Adelman says. "I think something needs to be done but you have to be careful to not make it so radical. It has to be tried in exhibition but sometimes people are in a panic to change."

TSN's Power Poll

Rk.   Team            W-L     Comment

1.    Portland        35-13   Might be first team ever to lose to
                                Clips and move to No. 1 in one
                                week.
2.    Philadelphia    36-14   Replacing Ratliff will be tougher
                                than replacing Snow.
3.    Utah            32-15   All-Star Games were better when
                                Malone and Stockton played.
4.    Sacramento      31-15   Stojakovic is the king of 2ball.
5.    San Antonio     31-16   Eight straight wins crushed under
                                weight of loss to Nets.
6.    L.A. Lakers     31-16   If you were as big as Shaq, your foot
                                would hurt, too.
7.    Minnesota       32-18   Another strong week might land the
                                Timberwolves in the top 5.
8.    Milwaukee       29-18   Bucks' four post-break games vs.
                                Sixers will decide the East.
9.    Dallas          31-19   Eisley proving to be one of the
                                offseason's best additions.
10.   New York        29-18   Losses too frequent, wins too close
                                to say Knicks are well again.
11.   Miami           30-20   At 34, Mason is playing his best
                                basketball.
12.   Phoenix         28-20   Team's rap sheet beginning to rival
                                that of early-'80s Suns.
13.   Seattle         28-24   Poll favors Suns over Sonics, Nuggets
                                in race for eighth playoff spot
14.   Denver          27-24   Nuggets said last road trip would be
                                different. They lied.
15.   Toronto         26-23   Raptors should find a way to play
                                Davis, Clark together more.
16.   Orlando         25-23   Magic 6-10 vs. West with 7 or 8
                                against West after the break.
17.   Charlotte       26-23   Hornets would be foolish to run Silas
                                out of town.
18.   Houston         25-25   What a difference a week makes: Dream
                                Shake is awake.
19.   Boston          32-27   Current road trip should postpone
                                playoff talk.
20.   Indiana         21-27   Pacers running out of time to prove
                                they're better than this.
21.   Cleveland       20-27   After 364 minutes, Mihm still looking
                                for his first assist.
22.   Detroit         19-31   Cleaves won't be a star, but he's a
                                keeper.
23.   L.A. Clippers   16-34   Old Clippers wouldn't have won 3
                                straight after 9 losses.
24.   New Jersey      17-34   Nets beat Sixers, Spurs during 3-0
                                week.
25.   Atlanta         16-33   Hawks regaining their futile
                                early-season form.
26.   Golden State    15-33   Warriors need to get healthy long
                                enough to find out what they have.
27.   Vancouver       13-36   Tuesday's Grizz-Wiz winner will have
                                a stranglehold on No. 27.
28.   Washington      12-37   It's always embarrassing to host
                                All-Star Game and be unrepresented.
29.   Chicago         6-42    As losses mount, futility record
                                comes into focus.