Curry, officials, still getting used to NBA's new foul rules
We learned this past summer that the NBA would be implementing new rules to reduce non-basketball moves used to draw fouls for the 2021-2022 season, first reported by Shams Charania of The Athletic.
What exactly does that mean?
Officials have been trained to identify non-basketball moves, which include:
-Offensive players launching into defenders.
-Offensive players abruptly veering off of their path.
-Shooters kicking their legs out at abnormal angles.
-Offensive players using their off-arm to hook the defender.
If marginal contact is made by either the offensive or defensive player then play will go on, however, if the defensive player’s speed, quickness, balance, or rhythm is thrown off, then the offensive player could be called for a foul in such instances.
Obviously, this rule change will take time for both, the officials and players alike to grasp.
Monday night, during the Warriors’ first preseason game of the season, Stephen Curry performed his lethal step-back three-point move and shot, but instead of shooting it immediately after his step-back, he hit his defender with a pump-fake, said defender(obviously) bit, and Curry leaned in, drawing contact on the play. Only this time there was no whistle to be heard.
During the next time-out, Curry was spotted alongside Warriors assistant coach, Kenny Atkinson, debating with one of the game officials about the no-call.
Upon looking at the play and reading the rules again, you can tell that this won’t be the only debate an NBA player will have on this subject with an official this season.
Before the game, Curry admitted that there will be a learning curve. “There’s gonna be some confusion, let’s say that, to start, for sure…”, Curry said.
Both referees and players will have to adjust to this rule change, and that will likely happen over the course of the next two to three years.
Until then, get ready to see some really upset players and some technical fouls called against them.
(Photo credit: Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)