Approved Rules Changes for the 2006-07 NBA Season

[curiousspirit]

Although this came out in April, many of us were busy watching and writing about the playoffs. A couple of these changes are very interesting. I also don't know when any newer rules will come out.

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Approved Rules Changes for the 2006-07 NBA Season

link

NEW YORK, April 20 -- At Wednesday's NBA Board of Governors meeting, several rules changes were approved for the 2006-07 season. They are as follows:


Calling Timeouts
2005-06 Rule: The head coach may request a timeout (20-second or full) only if there is a suspension of play due to a player suffering an injury where bleeding occurs.

2006-07 Rule: The head coach may request a timeout (20-second or full) at any time during a game as long as his team has possession of the ball or there is a suspension of play.

Substitutions
2005-06 Rule: Free substitution is permitted only during 20-second timeouts called in the last two minutes of the fourth quarter and/or overtime period. During all other 20-second timeouts, the team calling the timeout may only substitute for one player, and if that team replaces a player, the opposing team may also replace one player.

2006-07 Rule: Free substitution is permitted during all 20-second timeouts.

Clear-Path-To-The-Basket Fouls
A clear-path-to-the-basket foul is called if a personal foul occurs (1) when the ball and an offensive player are positioned between the tip-of-circle extended in the backcourt and the basket in the frontcourt, with no defender between the ball and the basket, (2) the possession originates in the backcourt, including throw-ins, and (3) the foul deprives the offensive team of an opportunity to score.

2005-06 Rule: The team that is fouled is awarded one free throw attempt and the ball on the sideline.

2006-07 Rule: The team that is fouled is awarded two free throw attempt and the ball on the sideline,

Active List Violations
Prior to the start of the game, a member of the officiating crew checks the Active Lists maintained by the official scorer against the players who are in uniform.

2005-06 Rule: If a player not listed on a team’s Active List participates in game play, the officials, upon noticing or being made aware of the ineligible player, will disqualify the player at the first dead ball.

2006-07 Rule: If a player not listed on a team’s Active List participates in game play, the officials, upon noticing or being made aware of the ineligible player, will disqualify the player at the first dead ball and the player’s team will be assessed a technical foul.

Free-Throw Procedures
2005-06 Rule: Players occupying lane spaces during free-throw attempts are permitted to extend their bodies into adjoining lane spaces.

Players not occupying a lane space during a free- attempt must remain behind the three-point line until the ball is released by the free-throw shooter.

2006-07 Rule: Players occupying lane spaces during free-throw attempts are prohibited from extending any part of their bodies into the space in front of an opponent until the ball is released by the free-throw shooter.

Players not occupying a lane space during a free- attempt must remain behind the three-point line and above the free-throw line extended until the ball is released by the free-throw shooter.

Flagrant Fouls – Penalty 1
2005-06 Rule: If a flagrant foul/penalty 1 is called and the fouled player is unable due to injury to shoot his free-throws, the opposing team’s coach selects a replacement free-throw shooter from among the players on the fouled player’s bench, and the injured player is not permitted to return to the game.

2006-07 Rule: If a flagrant foul/penalty 1 is called and the fouled player is unable due to injury to shoot his free-throws, his team’s coach (not the opposing team’s coach) selects a replacement free-throw shooter from among players on the floor (not players on the bench) at the time of the foul, and the injured player is not permitted to return to the game.

Note: The rules for unsportsmanlike acts (elbow and punching fouls) and flagrant fouls/penalty 2 state the fouled player’s coach selects the replacement free-throw shooter from any eligible player on his team (whether on the playing floor or the bench) and the injured player is permitted to re-enter the game following the free-throw attempts. There is no change to this rule.

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2006-07 Rule: Players occupying lane spaces during free-throw attempts are prohibited from extending any part of their bodies into the space in front of an opponent until the ball is released by the free-throw shooter.

Players not occupying a lane space during a free- attempt must remain behind the three-point line and above the free-throw line extended until the ball is released by the free-throw shooter.

On the free throw rule change, does "any part of their bodies" include their arms as well? Most players extend their arms out in front of the opponent's body.

[skydawg]

doesn't matter if they are subjective to the whims of david stern's polls.

[bnwhuxley]

It sounds like, indeed, the arms aren't allowed, which means more offensive rebounds from the guys at the lane.

But they now take away the offensive rebounds coming from perimeter guys running in from the corner 3pt line (originated and perfected by the Spurs in 2004).

I didn't think there was any problem at all with free throw shooting.....with these rules, there are going to be even more lane violations and more free throw shooting.

[sharph20]

Dirk is going to continue to love these rules.

[curiousspirit]

Most of these changes are intended to increase scoring. Thanks again, Coangelo.

[Hairyhandedgent]

Any word on the proposed rule stating that billionaire owners who whine about anything being unfair will receive electroshock to the gon@ds?

[zipper-boy]

Heres an idea... make your darn free throws!

[spUrpenguin3000]

lets hope cuban learns of this so he doesnt b!t*h the whole game...

[SpursErie]

It looks like Josh Howard will lose his timeout calling job.

[ColoradoSpur]

Speaking of rule changes... I was pretty ticked off to see the new NBA rules and it's affect on officiating screw defense oriented teams like the Spurs in this year's playoffs. I wrote this satire after they lost to the Mavs. Though some of you might get a kick out of it:

Wire Reports
Miami, FL
Friday, June 2, 2006

- Stern Announces Sweeping NBA Rules Changes for Next Season -

In a surprise press conference this morning before today's Eastern Conference Finals match-up between the Miami Heat and Detroit Pistons, NBA Commissioner David Stern today announced several changes in NBA game-play and officiating rules, to take effect in the 2006-2007 NBA season.

"We're in a new millennium, a time where our fan base becomes comprised more and more of a new
generation with a shorter attention span. The NBA must adapt or risk losing its share of the sports
market's dollars... uh... I mean... risk not producing a product that will keep the interest of its fans. The world wants to see scoring in the game of basketball, and that's what we're going to give them."

Among basketball purists, the most controversial of the rule changes include:

- Only one defensive player is allowed in the paint for 5 seconds total for each of the opposing team's offensive possessions. Said Stern of this rule change, "The NBA is reasonable, and considering that we're now only allowing one defensive player in the paint per possession, we're extending the 3-second-rule to 5 seconds."

- Reduction of the shot clock for each offensive possession to 12 seconds. "This will really speed the game up and give teams an impetus to get down the court and score quickly," Stern commented about the shot clock duration reduction.

- The "space cushion" rule, which prohibits defensive players from getting closer than 6-inches
of a player driving to the basket to score. "It's fine for defensive players to distract an offensive
player driving to the basket, but in no way will the defense be allowed to make any physical contact that might impede the offensive player's progress," explained Stern.

- The elimination of offensive fouls, alternatively called "charging". This "phantom call" rule allows each referee one call per game that will "increase the offensive flow" or work to provide the "desired
outcome" of the game. Stern said of the "phantom call rule", "For years, the NBA has instructed
referees to do this behind closed doors. Rather than continuing to let the referees take the heat
for this, we've decided to bring it out in the open. The NBA stands behind its officials!" Stern
said in a rare emotional display.

- Playoff seeding changes, with the top 8 teams continuing to make the playoffs based on
regular season record, with seedings of the top 8 teams based on regular season "scoring power
rankings" instead of regular season record. The scoring power ranking is based on a formula
resulting from: a team's (regular season per game scoring average) - (regular season scoring average - average points allowed per game)/2)]. For example, if the Cleveland Cavaliers score 101 average points per game, and their points allowed per game is 99, the resulting scoring power ranking is 100. However, if the Cavs were to score 101 points per game, and their points allowed per game were 90, their scoring power ranking would be 96.5. "This will make games more exciting in the 4th quarter and should eliminate blowouts, as this rule gives teams an incentive to score as many points as possible while allowing their opponents to score as many points as possible while still winning the game," Stern noted.

- The regular season MVP trophy being automatically awarded to the regular season scoring champion. Considering the direction the NBA is headed with these rule changes, this one is a no-brainer," explained Stern.

Reaction around the league was varied. In Miami, Ben Wallace became the first player in NBA history to receive a double technical and be ejected from a press conference. Back in Phoenix, Steve Nash spontaneously combusted from excitement, leaving the Suns without their best player. Said Suns' coach Mike D'antoni, "This is an unfortunate loss for the organization, but with Amare Stoudamire back next season [and the rule changes], we expect he'll be able to score 100+ points per game on his own, which we're confident will lead us to the NBA finals in 2007."

Eight year old Jonathon Stein from Cleveland seemed to summarize younger fan's reactions to the rule changes with a simple question: "Does this mean LeBron James will dunk more? Cool!"

Stern's closing statement brought all of the rule changes together with one common theme: "In this
new millennium, we are marketing a product with entertainment value rather than a promoting a
sport. In spending their hard earned dollar fans want to see excitement in games, and fast-paced
scoring is the best way to provide that excitement. These changes might alarm certain fans and sports pundits in the near-term, but 5 years from now when fans get the excitement of watching teams score an average of 150 points + per game, the `old NBA' will be long forgotten."

[curiousspirit]

[SRJ]

Clear-Path-To-The-Basket Fouls
A clear-path-to-the-basket foul is called if a personal foul occurs (1) when the ball and an offensive player are positioned between the tip-of-circle extended in the backcourt and the basket in the frontcourt, with no defender between the ball and the basket, (2) the possession originates in the backcourt, including throw-ins, and (3) the foul deprives the offensive team of an opportunity to score.

2005-06 Rule: The team that is fouled is awarded one free throw attempt and the ball on the sideline.

2006-07 Rule: The team that is fouled is awarded two free throw attempt and the ball on the sideline,

What good is clarifying and changing this rule if it is never, ever called?

[bcl11oc]

The NBA better call in their refs and give them the lowdown right now on any rule changes! Haha. Before the 2007 NBA playoffs begin, they also need to be taught what a backcourt violation is. Man I love being an ass.

[Dark Deity]

None of these rules are significant except the free throw rountine one which I think is really stupid. I mean if I didn't read this list I don't think I woud've noticed anything.