Every summer the NBA’s competition committee meets to discuss any potential rule changes for the upcoming season that could help improve the game.
This year there are apparently three items on the docket that are likely to be changed:
ESPN Sources: NBA's Competition Committee recommending rule changes for 2018-19 season that include: reset of shot clock to 14 seconds after offensive rebound; simplification of clear-path foul rule; expanding definition of "hostile act" for purposes of triggering replay.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) August 23, 2018
I am essentially on board with all three of these changes. Switching to a 14 second shot clock after an offensive rebound will be an adjustment for coaches and players but it speeds the flow of the game up which everybody wants and it will add a little excitement and more opportunities for teams that are behind in late game situations to come back.
According to Woj, here is the new language likely to pass for the clear path foul rule:
“A personal foul is committed on any offensive player during his team’s transition scoring opportunity.”
“When the foul occurs, the ball is ahead of the tip of the circle in the backcourt, no defensive player is ahead of the offensive player with the scoring opportunity and that offensive player is in control of the ball or a pass to him has been released.”
“The defensive foul deprives the offensive team of a transition scoring opportunity.”
The expansion as to what can be characterized as a “hostile act” gives referees more ability to go to replay altercations that are off-ball or not in the traditional sense of the game.
Now if we could just get rid of or at least alter the Hack-A-Shaq strategy…
