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The Competition Committee Proposes Rules Changes For Next Year

Yes! The Committee is recommending four changes, and I think I can agree with all of the changes. These changes are noted on ESPNet Sportszone:

• Move the three point line back to 23'9", at the most. Maybe we'll be getting the people who should be taking 3-point shots (i.e., those who can make them) actually be the ones who take most of them.

  Unfortunately for the Wizards, this means that the Wizards cannot count on Cheaney or Strickland to provide the outside shooting, and makes Legler, Murray, and Webber all the more important behind the stripe. Yes, Webber. I think he can make it consistently from long range, even from the new distance. Now, why Cheaney can't extend his range out there is beyond me.

• No forearm checking when the player is facing the basket. This is also probably a good rule change. It will make it easier for swing players to move to the basket and get around defenders, who have been impeding offensive players with the forearm extension in recent seasons. A good rule change. Players like Cheaney and Strickland should like this rule.

• Modify the illegal defense rules to allow any defense on the strong side. This will be a difficult to understand, and it will be interesting to see if the referees follow it. Currently, the illegal defense rule divides the court into zones, no matter whether it's the strong (the side with the ball) or weak (the side without the ball) side of the court. The number of people on one side or the other (as in football) does not define the strong or weak side of the court.

  Apparently, they are going to allow defenders to float in no man's land on the strong side of the court, unlike current rules that require marking a defender in the proper zone. This rule seems to be aimed at reducing the attempts to force one-on-one post and wing play. This type of play tends to slow games down as a player either waits for a double-team to come or tries to get by one-on-one. This change is probably aimed at increasing ball and player movement, as an isolated player on the strong side can virtually guarantee another defender floating nearby if he doesn't make a quick move. I'd be interested to see if the owners go for this change, because it is so different.

• No timeouts if the player is going out of bounds. I LOVE this change, and have been wanting it for a long time. The player needs to be in control in-bounds, not over the line or off the floor out-of-bounds, before being allowed a time out. Amen to this change, please make it a reality.

I hope all of these rule changes are passed.

wtf 5 June 1997

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