Hoops

Cairns v New Zealand Jan 21

"Either play legal defence, or get out of the way so that the guy who just beat you can score like he deserves to. Fans like seeing points put on the board. If a team has the ball and a numerical advantage and look like generating a score out of it, then plenty of people would like to see them have a chance to rather than a "professional foul" killing the play with minimal penalty to the lazy team."

Agree here, but to me this is more relevant to the "clear path" category of USF on a break or break opportunity, which I didn't mention in my post but I also agree with this call and I think it's a positive change because the break is generally the highlight-reel maker of the sport.

I'm specifically talking about a guy fouling in a must-foul situation late in a game - not on a break, but on, say, an offensive rebound to the other team. I just disagree that wrapping a guy up (softly) should be considered "unsportsmanlike", because he didn't pretend like he was making a legitimate attempt at the ball without fouling.

And there are so many jersey/shorts grabs during most games that go unwhistled, yet in any other situation than late game when they DO get called it is usually as a regular foul rather than USF also. Not consistent.

I still don't understand why we want to penalise guys for extending the game in those situations. Yeah, don't karate chop a guy in the neck, but everybody in the arena (or at home) knows a foul is coming - as long as excessive force isn't used, I really don't get what the league is trying to stamp out.

To me it's really simple. Basketball is trying to create a cleaner, more free-flowing game by eliminating actions that - while accepted for years - really are nothing to do with basketball. Grabbing a guy, purposely bumping a guy, .. that type of thing is not basketball. Either play legal defence, or get out of the way so that the guy who just beat you can score like he deserves to. Fans like seeing points put on the board. If a team has the ball and a numerical advantage and look like generating a score out of it, then plenty of people would like to see them have a chance to rather than a "professional foul" killing the play with minimal penalty to the lazy team.

To me it's as simple as that, and I am on board with it as a philosophy.
Just because something has been some way for years doesn't mean it's the best way and should be beyond questioning.

"Everybody in the arena knows a foul is coming" - yes, because that's what people are used to. That is what has happened in the past.
Now there's been an adjustment.
Teams can still foul, but now they're required to at least be slightly "basketball" about it.

I honestly don't get what is problematic about this. Yes there's an adjustment to be made, just like with any change of rule/interpretation, but after that we've got a better product. It's a way of tipping the balance more in favour of the offence while still being totally fair about it. It's not stopping anyone from playing defence.

The off-the-ball 'hack-a-Shaq' type of fouls I'm a lot more open to being called as USF, but fouling the ball handler in the dying seconds of a close game... I just don't get it.

Again, pretty simple to me. It's just taking a modification to the game and being consistent with it. What I "just don't get" is why people have such a problem with eliminating things like lazy grabs of the body/shirt from behind. What is so good about that happening? How does that make the game more skilful or watchable?

In all my years of playing and watching never once did I think it was something that needed addressing.

It's not something I really considered either. I pretty much accepted the way things were. So props from me to FIBA for being thorough enough to come up with this, because I think it's an improvement even if a player or two takes a while to adjust.

I'll flog with you, Angus

*eyes emoji*

Agree 100%. To flog a dead horse, I still don't understand why we want to penalise guys for extending the game in those situations. Yeah, don't karate chop a guy in the neck, but everybody in the arena (or at home) knows a foul is coming - as long as excessive force isn't used, I really don't get what the league is trying to stamp out. The off-the-ball 'hack-a-Shaq' type of fouls I'm a lot more open to being called as USF, but fouling the ball handler in the dying seconds of a close game... I just don't get it. In all my years of playing and watching never once did I think it was something that needed addressing.

So , two intentional fouls by NZ , to stop the clock , nearing end of game .
I prefer deliberate foul rule rather than usf rule .
Although I'm old ........ and , it is nearly time for my tablet...

Enjoyed the game, good on mike Kelly for keeping at it, would have been easy to get shits with the team but he’s stayed positive.
NZ a wasted season, there imports other than Long haven’t done well consistently, even Long gets into foul trouble to easy, one off the first things you teach in D is stay on the ground, Long is forever jumping and reaching.

I didn't see it. Wish I'd stuck with the game considering it went to OT, but I tuned out in the 2nd Q when the Breakers pushed the lead out.

Not surprised though, I'll check it out on NBL.tv tonight,

Did anyone else see the Jarrad Weeks foul?

Even with loughton getting less and less minutes he still has the worst + - most weeks for cairns. Retire buddy

Sydney take note, a coach actually knowing what they're doing.

NZ giving 1.5 start is stealing money,GET ON!

You got robbed son.

Congrats Mike Kelly, you just out coached another NBL head coach....

Breakers culture may need a change. Can't do that without heads rolling.

Webster would be the worst contract in the league, dude doesn't even finish games

Yeah it was Weeks on Newbill with about 12 seconds left. But again, totally fine

I noticed one of them hug a Taipan from behind. But there was probably a random uppercut swipe at the ball so hey that's okay

Which NZ player was completely out of any sort of defensive position when fouling?

Richard with one of the least clutch performances I've seen this season

Looks like the snakes have got this one.
… and that their baseline LED signage has a similar issue to that at Optus Stadium with being sharp/abrasive

OT.....in Cairns...

Lol at the game clock being out of sync again on TV, was wondering why the fk did Trimble throw it up from half court with 4.5sec left

^ things dried up pretty badly down the stretch, but you got there.

And now we got ourselves some OT

Screens are the death knell for Trimble. Dies every possession a screen is set on him

I'd be inclined to start the game , rather than go over to the time out huddle and get ignored ... if i was the ref that is ...
.... looks like players have to always put the ball on the floor before they shoot.... caint shoot without putting the ball on the floor first.... especially the big centers in close , are getting the ball knocked away when they put it on the floor, rather than just taking the shot..

Why has Long barely played? Combo of fouls and bench playing well?

Did you go for it, Dione?
Past performance is no guarantee of future results, but looking good so far.

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Before Sat night I would of said it could go either way.
NZ giving 1.5 start is stealing money,GET ON!

Has NZ's bubble burst? & will Cairns having their backsides whacked give them a bounce back factor?

Dare I say it.... I think Cairns may fire up & get this one with the ex breakers to have big games!