Hand checking

[Back In The Saddle]

It will be interesting to see how much actual change this POE affects. Allowing too much hands-on defense is, I think, a chronic problem in the game. But it's also become "part of the game" and it's often difficult to justify calling "minor" hand check fouls when the rest of the game is often more physical and more significant contact is routinely let pass because no advantage was gained.

I also agree that it's often very difficult to determine how much of an effect that hand on the offensive player is having. If it's allowed to remain on the dribbler, how can you tell with certainty when he's being redirected? Sure, sometimes it's obvious; quite often it's not.

That said, one of my mentors gave me this very pragmatic bit of advice: Call the handchecks on the dribbler early. You want to free up the point guard especially to run the offense. That will make you game go better.

Having tried it both ways, I have to say that freeing up the point guard does make the game better. Usually.