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Originally Posted by M&M Guy
Why isn't being tall and just standing with your hand over the top of the basket allowed? Isn't blocking a shot one of those "pure basketball plays"? Or did the rulesmakers change the rules to allow for taller people to play without it being "easier" for them - they still have to dribble, pass, and shoot without being to just stand under the basket and swat shots away.
My guess is the committee is trying to keep defenders from taking the "easy" way out by just standing in a spot that just takes away layups, rather than playing defense. Sure, it's a fine line between the two. But, remember, that's why they made the distinction between someone standing in that spot on "north-south" drives vs. "east-west" drives along the baseline.
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Getting in a player's path under the basket such that is will cause them to alter their course is no more easy than getting in their path 5 feet in front of the basket for a similar effect. The shooter has every chance to pull up for a short jumper (unguarded) or even still take a layup if there is a defender waiting under the basket. No defender blocks that much area (unless they defender is an NFL offensive lineman).