pete's post: block vs charge

[Billy]

"I would argue that it is the offensive player who has the advantage."

I agree to an extent: basketball is one of the few sports where you never see shutouts ;-). But from a practical and physical standpoint screens and charges (taken by seconday defenders) are VERY similar. You are setting up in a stationary position to stop a moving player. In both cases
the focus of that moving player is elsewhere. For whatever reason this call has evolved over time and the defender is given more leeway these days to slide after the shooter has commited. There are more flops. You even see players flopping in unofficiated pickup games!

"DO NOT look for the rule on screens to be equivalent to the rule for a ball handler."

I'm not saying they are "equivalent", but they are, from a
physics standpoint, similar. The rules should also be more similar. Question: how would Dr. J do these days? The evolution is clear: Labron's and Artest's bang 'em first wider bodies are needed for the way the game is called these days.

Originally posted by Hawks Coach
Billy
DO NOT look for the rule on screens to be equivalent to the rule for a ball handler. This is a huge mistake. So take the rule for an offensive player with the ball by itself (not in comparison to another unrelated rule), and see who gets the advantage most of the time. I would argue that it is the offensive player who has the advantage.

The defensive player has all sorts of criteria they must meet to draw a foul. Offensive players with the ball are given almost free license to initate contact with a defender who hasn't established legal guarding position.

And the airborn rule doesn't even have to exist, as rainmaker points out. the rule could be that you have to be sure you will have a landing spot when you take off, and are responsible for contact if the defender is moving to the spot and will clearly get there before you launch. You see it all the time at the highest levels where the defender is clearly trying to take the charge and the offensive player launches at him knowing he will get a block. I agree with juulie, this favors the offense by far.