A notable new change to officiating this season has been the emphasis on “non-basketball moves” from offensive players designed to draw contact from defenders. In the past, these plays were frequently called defensive fouls. This season, they’re supposed to be no-calls; in some instances, they’ve been called offensive fouls.
Hawks star Trae Young is on board with some of the new changes, but feels like the referees have swung too far in the opposite direction and haven’t been calling some legitimate fouls, per ESPN News Services.
“There’s a lot of missed calls,” Young said. “It’s basketball. It’s just, it feels that they’re learning, and they’re just — I don’t know. It’s frustrating.
“Veering back and jumping into guys — that’s different,” Young said. “There are certain things that, I agree with the rule changes, but then there’s things that are still fouls, and guys are going to get hurt. Especially a smaller guy like me who’s going up against bigger and stronger defenders, they’re using their body and they’re using their legs and their hands to stop me.”
Young made the comments following Atlanta’s 122-111 loss to the Wizards. He was subsequently fined $15K for making contact with a referee during the game.
Through five games this season, Young is averaging 4.4 free throw attempts per game. Last season, he averaged 8.7.
Another player known for drawing fouls is Nets star James Harden. Harden averaged 7.3 free throw attempts per game last season (8.7 career). Through five games this season, he’s averaging 3.0, a career low.
However, some players love the changes. Wizards forward Kyle Kuzma recently tweeted his support.
“The new rules changes to the sport are the best thing the league has done in recent history. Watching the game Is muuuuuch different,” Kuzma wrote.
Here’s some early foul call data that compares the start of this season to the start of last season, courtesy of Bobby Marks of ESPN (Twitter link).
This season, through 10 days: 13 teams are averaging less than 20 free throw attempts per game, and none are averaging more than 25 attempts per game.
Last season, through 10 days: Six teams averaged less than 20 free throw attempts per game, and eight teams averaged more than 25 attempts per game.
We want to know what you think. Have the changes resulted in a better viewing experience? Will the referees continue swallowing the whistle on “non-basketball moves”? Will free throw attempts stay down? Or is it too early to draw conclusions from the small sample size?
Head to the comment section to let us know your thoughts.
Lovelovelove it. But like many attempts in other leagues (notably the NHL) to clean up the game and get back to a more exciting brand of action, the proof will be if they can maintain it and make it the new normal. In hockey, the history is they call games differently for a month or two, then revert. NFL too.
Agreed. I’m hoping the 19 ftas for Harden/41 for the Nets last night isn’t an example of reverting already, like the NBA did with flopping.
I love it. Nobody is playing lawyer ball and going to the line way too much. Make them earn their points.
It will be fine eventually although I do feel they’re picking on those with a rep like Harden, Young, Mitchell and DeRozan.
All those guys deserved there free throw attempts per game to get slashed in half so the rule is great
Ehh, I have no problem with the unnatural movement clause. It’s just that I’ve watched every Jazz game and a couple games with the other players mentioned and there seems to be quite a few instances where the refs swallow their whistles when there actually was a foul.
Harden still got to the line 19 times tonight, even with the new rule.
All this talk about him not deserving free throws is a bunch of crap.
Lol, that game actually proves why the rule change is necessary. Too bad the refs ignored it for the 1st time this season.
Harden and DeRozan have talked about getting together in the offseason to watch film on thinking of new ways to trick the refs into calling fouls in their favor…which goes back to my long standing claim that James Harden is never trying to score; he is always just trying to trick the officials into letting him get free throws. Dont get me wrong, getting to the line is a skill, but not the way Harden does it, which arguably should be offensive fouls
Cry more, Trae. This is great for basketball.
Love it. Wish there was a way to eliminate the foul-fests in the waning moments of games. A friend had a pretty outrageous suggestion, but it would likely help. Last two minutes of a game – first foul is two shots, second is three and so on. Never happen, I know, but a fun thought to argue over!
The Hawks must he awesome. They have the same record as Bucks and Sixers. Wow OMG Look out. Must be their new great 6’8”, 235 lb beast of a Center. Shaq and Wilt are Trembling
Okongwu is a good player, or at least he will be someday.
Heard of Hakeem, Wes Unseld, Ben Wallace, Bill Russell?
Also, Shaq and Wilt aren’t playing anymore… Not sure you’ve noticed.
About time. Bunch of woozies who want every call.
I only hope this “emphasis” (finally enforcing the rules) continues. But I’m skeptical. The PTB in the NBA are accommodators, with little to no backbone to stand up to any constituency, and (certainly) no respect for the game of basketball. It wouldn’t be the first time that they made a point of enforcing of long ignored rule due to complaints; only to then tire of enforcing the rule when some high profile players complain about it, and let things slip back to the way they were. We’ll see.
It will be fine til LeBron doesnt get fouls called and starts whining.
I’ve noticed a slight overcompensation as Trae alludes to but that’s probably for the best. This IS a Better brand today
Would like to see the post whistle bickering curbed a tad, maybe 1 warning per game/per player (like a personal delay of game) then a tech for the second offence if it persists by repeated player (refs would have to feel game flow and eat whistle late on own accord but that could be wrinkled out in time )
Not very good to see the stars been hacked & allowed by the refs… personally I loved it how it was… love when a player can outsmart the defender, never understood why would you wanna give any advantage to a defender, defending is talentless & destructive, the talent & magic is with the offense!
Basically a bad rule, bad change, just hope they go back to normal!
Lol, “never understood why would you wanna give any advantage to a defender, defending is talentless & destructive…”
What a god-awful take this is
That’s El Don. Stick around, he’s good for a couple a week.
Watching free throws is BORING.
Really?!?!?
Most of what you say could be considered agreeable. Not too bad. But when you say “defending is talentless and destructive” then you lose a few of us. No big deal. You’re all good El Don. Keep your comments coming.., I enjoy reading them.
Love the changes. Proves what I’ve said all along about James Harden. No more throwing your arms into defenders and flailing and somehow getting 20 fts a game and shooting 3-17 woth 7 turnovers, and still somehow being efficient. James Harden has been officiated differently from everyone else in the history of sports, so I hope to see them continue to take that away. Makes him go from what people look at him as to a glorified Lou Williams
Trae Young isnt as egregious as Harden, but he got some really incredibly favorable calls, and there were times where it felt like half of them shouldn’t have been fouls, and now you see his attempts cut in half
El Don, you have no clue, again. Why would a guy jumping sideways into a Defender… who legitimately jumped into the air to LAND BESIDE THE SHOOTER, be called a foul on the defender?
The basket is in front of the shooter and he jump sideways…. that is a horrible call if on the defender. I don’t understand why you or anyone would prefer that brand of basketball. To me it’s not only a bad call on the defensive player, it’s an offensive foul in my mind.
Deliberate movement towards the defender and into the defender not even towards the basket or the direction of the basket. Those are the worst calls. I’m glad they’re addressing it and hope they can find a way to make this stick.