Quote:
Originally Posted by Back In The Saddle
Isn't this fun?  |
No, of course not. There's no yelling and name-calling.
I'll have to admit I've never considered these ideas when thinking about closely-guarded. Perhaps it's because my focus is in NCAA-W, where the closely-guarded count is only on a held ball, and there is no "path" to consider.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Back In The Saddle
This is one of the extra protections afforded the guard by obtaining LGP. What "position" is it that the guard is moving to maintain? It is a position in the opponents path. That is the fundamental basis for guarding.
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So the
only time you would have a count is when the guard is in front of (or trying to stay in front of) the direction the opponent is moving? So how do you justify a count in the case where B1 is in between A1 and the basket, while A1 dribbling "east/west"? A1's "path", if taken literally, is the direction they're moving, and B1 was never in front of that direction. (Or are you going to add another term not mentioned or defined in the rules: "assumed path"?
)
Fwiw, I think the mention of the word path in the guarding definition was meant to dissuade the very action mentioned in the OP - simply following or shadowing a dribbler without trying to hinder their direction for the sole purpose of getting a 5-sec. violation. For example, to obtain LGP there is no mention of being in the path. We all know LGP can be obtained by the defender setting up behind the offensive player, such as in the post. What if that post player dribbles away from the basket to create space, but the defender moves with them - the defender is obviously not in the path, but yet we would continue the count when the defender stays within 6 feet. Or are you going to use that undefined term of "assumed path", since you would "assume" A1 was going to move towards the basket and B1 was in that "assumed" path, not the "actual" path? And what rules basis do you use to determine "intent" of a path?
Also, there is a specific mention in the rules that the count stops once the dribbler gets head and shoulders past the defender
on a drive to the basket. Why isn't the count stopped if the same thing happens in all other dribbling and guarding situations?
I understand the phrase "in the path" is used in the definition of guarding, but I'm not sure we should get too literal in it's use without additional case plays or guidance.