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Finding the finesse A couple of rule changes would open up the game
Posted: Wednesday May 03, 2000 10:24 PM
The NBA powers-that-be should consider a few rule changes to open up the game. Basketball is supposed to be a finesse game, but it's becoming a physical game. One thing I'd like to see is a scoring change -- if a team scored within the first five seconds of the shot clock, the basket would be worth three points. That would force coaches to open up the floor. Another rule change I would suggest involves charges. The only way you should be called for a foul is if you charge the man who's guarding you. Anybody who comes in off the ball and takes a charge should be called for a block. That call has closed up the middle, and we're not seeing these tremendous athletes driving to the basket. When these defenders come over, there's no effort to go for the basketball. They're just coming over to take the charge. That's a football play, not a basketball play.
Coaches should stay out of the trainer's roomAs a coach, you have to stay totally out of an injured player's return. You leave it up to the doctor, the trainer and the player -- mainly the player, because he's the only one who really knows how he feels. When I was a player, I once roomed with a player named Eddie Miles. He was complaining of an Achilles' problem before people were aware of those injuries. Everybody figured he was jaking it, just taking off. But he went out one day, and his Achilles' exploded. After that, I told myself that if I ever coached, I would never question a player's injury. That said, I played with my right foot numbed in the playoffs one time, but when I played the money was very, very serious. I bought my first house with the first big playoff check I got, so it meant an awful lot. BreakdownKnowing Pat Riley and the way Miami is handling the Tim Hardaway situation, he might be hurt pretty bad. They're a little paranoid down there about exposing their injuries, so the more I hear about it, the more I'm thinking he might not be in there. Hardaway's ability to play will have a huge effect on that series.If Hardaway does play, I give the major edge to Miami, because Alonzo Mourning has had such a great year. Neither team really double-teams a lot in the post, and I think the edge in that matchup goes to Mourning. Patrick Ewing doesn't get involved in his team's offense as much as Mourning does, and Ewing has slowed up a step. But without Hardaway, it's a very even series. It will be interesting to see how Anthony Carter responds when the Knicks double-team and trap. I would think he'd get an awful lot of pressure. Kevin Loughery is a former NBA player and head coach. He appears each Sunday on CNN/Sports Illustrated's "This Week in the NBA."
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