It Appears The Next Stupid NBA Debate Is Around Changing The Rules When It Comes To Fouling Up 3 Points Late In A Game
I'm not exactly sure what's happened, but it feels like we've reached the point where people have completely lost their minds when it comes to discussing the NBA this season when it comes to playstyle/rule changes etc.
It started on opening night when the Celts went 29-61 from three in their blowout win over the Knicks. Almost immediately, the narrative coming out of that game was the idea that the NBA had to change the rules when it came to 3PT shooting, all because the Celts are better at it than everyone else
It's all you hear about at this point. Making 3s worth 2.5 points, making dunks worth 3 points, widening the court, moving the line back, it all just sounds like a skill issue to me. If you don't want teams lighting you up from 3, play defense. Run them off the line. Get better at shooting 3s yourself. There are a ton of things you can do other than cry about needing to change the rules.
For the most part, a lot of this discourse comes from those who have raging hate boners for the defending champs and are having a tough time coping with their success, but for some reason, there's this idea that the game and the product were better when teams were taking long 2s and scoring 90 points a night. I think people really forget about how ugly the basketball was in the early 2000s and really before the Warriors Dynasty changed basketball forever. Now guys are more skilled and the game has evolved. Oh no, the horror!
To be honest, I thought the obsession around 3PT volume and how it's the worst thing ever invented that is supposedly single-handedly ruining the sport of basketball was as silly as we were going to get when it came to these types of debates.
As it turns out, maybe we were just getting started.
The latest comes from last night's CLE/BOS game where the final 34 seconds took 17 minutes of real time to finish because both sides were having a foul-off with the score within 3 points down the stretch. The Cavs rightfully weren't going to allow the best three point shooting team on earth to have a chance at tying the game, and the Celts were going to do everything in their power to keep things within striking distance should CLE miss at the line.
Was it the most entertaining can't look away basketball we've ever seen? No, but the reaction to it in my opinion is getting way out of hand.
What the Cavs did to secure that win was smart. It was exactly what they (and every team) should be doing in that position. What the Celts did in response was also the right thing. Put pressure on the players to make their FTs. You know, an element of the game of basketball.
Yet everywhere you looked after the game and then again today, we've had everything ranging from eliminating it completely to changing the rules as to what should happen if the winning team fouls etc
I don't care if I'm alone on an island here, this all seems insane to me. You know how you can avoid these tough stretches of fouls? You don't need to change the rules around the end of game situations. It's simple, don't be in that position! Play better!
To those who say it's about the viewing product, I feel like this is a take to complain just to complain. Yesterday's game was awesome to watch, including the ending. A battle of strategy and pressure to execute in those moments, is that not why we like sports? Sure, fouling eliminated the possibility of a Celtic hitting a prayer 3 to tie the game, but it also required the Cavs to step up to the line and make their FTs, which they did. There have been plenty of times when a team is up by 1 point, gets fouled, and then misses a FT which leads to a game tying or game winning shot on the other end. That's sports! Executing under pressure doesn't need to be legislated out of the game just because it takes a little longer to finish or isn't flashy so there aren't viral moments.
I just have a hard time understanding why people get upset when a team does the smart thing to increase their chances of winning. Whether that be Mazzulla Ball and a high 3PA number through good ball movement, or the Cavs fouling up 3. I keep going back to those who say it's "ruining the product" simply don't like the product to begin with.
I'm willing to concede that perhaps this is just my old man yelling at the clouds moment, but I feel like I'm in the right here. Using a strategy that is within the rules and increases your chances of winning is the whole point. Coming through for your team in clutch high pressure moments from the FT line at the end of the game doesn't need to be removed from the sport. If you can't find the beauty in that, to me that sounds more like a YOU problem than an NBA problem.