Quote:
Originally Posted by JRutledge
The Center position is to watch off ball primarily. The Trail has the ball on their side and needs to stay with the ball. If the Center starts watching the ball in the middle of the court, you will have two officials potentially watching the ball unnecessarily. Splitting the court in half would not necessarily make it "easier" when the Center would be wondering when the ball is in their area. And when the ball crosses the FT line extended on the Center's side, it is usually when the Lead should have a rotation or a potential rotation.
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This is a good answer. I'll add a further example to it. The far/near lane line split of the PCAs between C & T allows the C to focus on the rough play in the lane, which the NFHS and NCAA constantly state to clean up. Specifically, the C is looking at the screens, the post match-ups, the rebounding position battles, etc. on his side of the court, while the T is able to observe the ball up top. The Lead is doing exactly what the C is doing, but on his side of the court.
The above quote also makes the excellent point that we don't want an instant rotation as the ball crosses the vertical middle of the court. That would make the Lead bounce around like a pinball! We need to allow the ball to penetrate into the C's area and using the far lane line (from the Lead) makes it clear when the rotation should occur.