NBA

brandan89 · #1 (**permalink**) Sat Dec 25, 2004, 03:40pm

In the NBA do you get to shoot when you have 3-seconds in the lane?

ChuckElias · #2 (**permalink**) Sat Dec 25, 2004, 04:14pm

There is a "Defensive 3-second" violation in the NBA. No defensive player is allowed to remain in the lane for 3 seconds without "actively guarding" an offensive player. (I forget what the exact definition of "actively guarding" is.) This rule is in effect when the offensive team has team control in its frontcourt.

The penalty is a non-unsportsmanlike technical foul against the defensive team. (It doesn't count toward the player's six fouls or toward the bonus.) The offensive team is awarded one FT. The offensive team then retains possession with the unexpired time on the 24-second clock or with 14 seconds on the 24-second clock, whichever is greater.

JugglingReferee · #3 (**permalink**) Sat Dec 25, 2004, 04:23pm

Do they get one "warning" for a defensive 3-second call?

brandan89 · #4 (**permalink**) Sat Dec 25, 2004, 04:24pm

Doesent look like it?

ChuckElias · #5 (**permalink**) Sat Dec 25, 2004, 04:31pm

No warning. It's different from the old "illegal defense" technical.

TriggerMN · #6 (**permalink**) Sat Dec 25, 2004, 04:45pm

It's the NBA's way of instituting a zone defense, without it actually BEING a zone defense. Leave it to the NBA to come up with oxymoronic rules.

ChuckElias · #7 (**permalink**) Sat Dec 25, 2004, 07:26pm

Quote:

Originally posted by TriggerMN
Leave it to the NBA to come up with oxymoronic rules.

Trigger, instead of trying to make fun of it, why don't you try to understand the rule? The old illegal defense rules were designed to prevent a defense from double-teaming a man without the ball. Each defender had to either (a) defend his "own" man or (b) give help defense on the man with the ball. The defender was never allowed to defend nobody. He couldn't find a spot on the floor and just take up that space.

The new defense rules are not designed to allow zone defenses. Rather, they are designed to allow a defender to double-team a player without the ball. But it is still the case that the defender is never allowed to defend nobody, while standing in the lane.

The point of the illegal defense rule is still to prohibit a player from simply taking up space in the lane.

ref18 · #8 (**permalink**) Sat Dec 25, 2004, 08:53pm

Quote:

Originally posted by ChuckElias
No warning. It's different from the old "illegal defense" technical.

Does anyone have any more info on this "illegal defense" technical?? It sparked my interest, because one of the leagues I officiate has this rule, and I'm just wondering how the NBA dealt with it. Any info on this would be appreciated.

Merry Christmas

BktBallRef · #9 (**permalink**) Sat Dec 25, 2004, 11:04pm

Just go to NBA.com and read the rules.

ref18 · #10 (**permalink**) Sat Dec 25, 2004, 11:11pm

Thanks for the info, I didn't know that the NBA posted their rules on-line.

Merry Christmas

BktBallRef · #11 (**permalink**) Sat Dec 25, 2004, 11:50pm

Yep. I had the link but can't find it at the moment. If I find it, I'll post it for ya.

ChuckElias · #12 (**permalink**) Sun Dec 26, 2004, 11:33am

ref18, are you interested in the new Defensive 3-Second rule or the old illegal defense rules? If you were asking about the new rule. . .

Here's the link: http://www.nba.com/analysis/rules_10...av=ArticleList

You're interested in Section VIII

If you're interested in the old rule, let me know, either here or via email.

TriggerMN · #13 (**permalink**) Sun Dec 26, 2004, 05:22pm

I understand the rule, I just have a problem with the NBA announcing they were going to allow the implementation of zone defenses, yet then they penalize it. The whole point of a "zone defense" is to defend a zone, not a player. If you're going to allow zone defense, let the defense decide which zone to cover. That's just dumb to me.

BktBallRef · #14 (**permalink**) Sun Dec 26, 2004, 05:39pm

They've haven't announced that they're allowing zone defenses, at least not in the same way that we see them in NF and NCAA play. Completely allowing for zone defenses would take away from a great percentage of the one on one play in the hafl court sets. They've changed the rules to allow freer movement of defensive players within the FT lane area.

ChuckElias · #15 (**permalink**) Sun Dec 26, 2004, 06:32pm

Quote:

Originally posted by TriggerMN
I just have a problem with the NBA announcing they were going to allow the implementation of zone defenses, yet then they penalize it.

As with so much else regarding the general public's understanding of basketball, this "problem" you have is a result of "announcer-speak". The NBA never announced that straight zone defenses were legal. They made the rule change and then the bobbleheads on TNT and NBC interpreted it for the TV audience -- and, of course, oversimplified it.

Let go of your pre-conceived notions or your disgust with the NBA's style of play and you'll see that the rule change makes a lot of sense (for use in the NBA). You don't have to play your own man, but you can't just clog the lane. That's all it boils down to.