The title may be a joke, but the facts are not. Three seasons ago, NBA refs petitioned the league to begin calling picks a little more strictly. Union rep George Tolliver said that their request was refuted for "ridiculous" (I'll get you a source as soon as I find it again) reasons. Tolliver was furious, as were a few other veterans. TNT reported this story a couple seasons ago, and no more was made of it, because Stern brought his hand down on the refs. Reggie Miller retired at the end of last season, and now back come the picks. Anyone who has seen the way the preseason has been played could tell you that Reggie wouldn't score ten points all season with the way picks are being called. Reggie Miller is a future hall of famer, and looking at sales figures, his merchandise is among the top five biggest gainers in the NBA almost every year. Beyond that, during his era in Indiana, the Pacers enjoyed unparalled success at the gate. Since Miller has left, the league has embraced these new rules, and players in his mold have suffered for it. In particular (and mind you, it is still the preseason) Richard Hamilton has suffered this preseason. His game high was still amid the most offensive fouls called on the Pistons in single games in two preseasons. Obviously, I don't consider this a real conspiracy, just a discouraging phenomenon. What do people think about this rule change? Better for the league? Better for perimeter scoring? Or better for taking it to the hoop, like the days or yore? Better for defenses? Let's hear it.
I don't really agree or disagree with your hypothetical explanation of what's going on with calling the picks, but I really don't think there is any conspiracy of any kind involved in here. <div class="quote_poster">Quoting Crywalker:</div><div class="quote_post"> Reggie Miller is a future hall of famer </div> Hold up! Are you being sarcastic here or that's what you really think? Although the media might hype him to be a hall of fame material, Reggie Miller isn't one in my books. His career accomplishments and stats are not that of hall of famer, but he's one-dimensional; he has nothing but good shooting. In my pinion, he isn't that much different from Steve Smith. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">and looking at sales figures, his merchandise is among the top five biggest gainers in the NBA almost every year.</div> Seriously dude? Was Reggie a "top 5" marketable player at any time during his career? ... No he wasn't! <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Beyond that, during his era in Indiana, the Pacers enjoyed unparalled success at the gate</div> Define that "unparalled success" you speak of? A couple of trips to the conference finals? One lone trip to the NBA finals with a great Indiana team (coached by Bird, while Rose and Croshere played out of their mind)? That's unparalled? He was clutch, I'll give you that, but so was/is Robert Horry and few others that will never come close to being called hall of famers. 18 3 and 3 are not hall of fame numbers, specially he doesn't have achievments to back it up. Reggie never had the defence, the determination, and the overall talent to be great. Media made him great. They hyped him up, but if you followed his career since he entered the league in 87, you'd realize that he's an all star, not a hall of famer.
Well, it is no suprise that every Pacer sets moving screens. Numerous coaches have called them out for that and just rub it off as the league letting them get away with it because they've been playing good for so long. I'm glad that they're calling it more tightly cuz the Heat get screwed by moving picks so many times.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Purple Fever:</div><div class="quote_post">Media made him great. They hyped him up, </div> You're making my point for me here. You see, I am simple resigning myself to the fact that he will be a Hall of Famer, for just this reason. You see, the Hall of Fame voting process for basketball is entirely arbitrary. It is simple based on the marketability and Return on Investment the Hall can reap for whatever player it puts in the Hall. The only numbers a player's presence in the Hall requires are sales numbers. By the media members being his biggest endorsement, he is virtually guaranteed a spot in the Hall. And I was speaking of unparalled success for the Pacers at the gate. Was there ever a time in the history of the organization they were more popular publicly than when Reggie was on the team? No. Will that be untrue soon? Yes, because of his initial influence. He made that team what it is today, and that alone earns him his mark in the league. Yes, he has been a top 5 biggest seller in the league, for many years. I will find a link to prove this for you. Give me a little time. Let me assure you, I am no fan of Reggie's, but I do realize the inevitable, and am trying my best to explain it. As for the rules changes, they do smell of foul play, but not in any serious way, the conspiracy thing, as I said, was just a joke.
all that david stern is concerned about is the leagues image. i wish that the nba would go back to how it was in the late 80's early 90's. That is when the NBA was at its best.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting TheChosenOne23:</div><div class="quote_post">all that david stern is concerned about is the leagues image. i wish that the nba would go back to how it was in the late 80's early 90's. That is when the NBA was at its best.</div>that ain't gonna happen, it's a new day and age we live in. Back then, when you ran into some money, you dressed the part, now when you run into some money you "keep it real", not that that's a bad thing but that's the reality.
I think it's silly to say that a guy like Rip Hamilton has suffered in the preseason because of these rules. Last year the Pistons didn't even take the regular season seriously. So why would they take the preseason seriously?
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Jurassic:</div><div class="quote_post">I think it's silly to say that a guy like Rip Hamilton has suffered in the preseason because of these rules. Last year the Pistons didn't even take the regular season seriously. So why would they take the preseason seriously?</div> Fair point, I guess suffer was a strong word. And honestly, I don't see this as being all that huge a deal. I was just throwing it out there. It was really intended to shed light on the new way of calling picks in this league. I did too much research for something that was entirely silly in the first place. <div class="quote_poster">Quoting AIFan:</div><div class="quote_post">calling picks as they have been will improve the league's image</div> How? I can see calling picks changing defenses a little bit, but the league's image is a stretch. As for running into money, I don't necessarily think that's why the league is so different now than it was 10 and 20 years ago. There are some solid arguments to be made about the lack of a true galvanizing superstar influence, a lack of ingenuity among the coaching elite, or just stagnant offense, but all in all, I don't see player salaries being the reason the league has departed from its heyday.
Should be interesting to see how the over all field goal percentage is effected by these rule changes. The mid-range game is a lost art in the league, and shooters will have even less time to get a clean shot off. Teams who can play solid zone defense will have an advantage this year.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting TheChosenOne23:</div><div class="quote_post">all that david stern is concerned about is the leagues image. i wish that the nba would go back to how it was in the late 80's early 90's. That is when the NBA was at its best.</div> Not happenin. League's too watered down nowadays..
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting shapecity:</div><div class="quote_post">Should be interesting to see how the over all field goal percentage is effected by these rule changes. The mid-range game is a lost art in the league, and shooters will have even less time to get a clean shot off. Teams who can play solid zone defense will have an advantage this year.</div>It can be effective but most teams stray from it because Zone is only when you're getting beat on man-to-man defense. A lot of teams also find it embarassing to have to go to a Zone defense.
I think reggie is a hall of famer. He may had lived and died by the long ball but his respect he received by the fans and the players make him a hall of famer. His accomplishments in the NBA are pretty good as well. How many people do you know that are in the TOP 20 scoring list in the NBA? No many eh? Maybe 20? <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Passed Charles Barkley for 14th place on the NBA's all-time career scoring list, finishing the 2003-04 season with 24,305 points. Has played 1,323 games in his career, seventh on the NBA's all-time list Has played more games with the same team than all but two players in NBA history, John Stockton and Karl Malone of the Utah Jazz Went over 100 3-pt FGM for the 15th consecutive season, a NBA record The all-time NBA leader in 3-pt FGM ended the season with 2,464 3-pt FGM Won the NBA's J. Walter Kennedy Community Service Award for 2003-04 In second round against Miami, scored 19 points in 18 minutes in Game 2 to move past Bill Russell into 22nd place on the NBA's all-time playoff career scoring list Recorded a double-double for the first time in two years, he had 14 points and a season-high 10 rebounds vs. Boston, 2/1/03. It came two years and a day after his last one, which also came against the Celtics, 1/31/01. Represented the U.S. in the 2002 World Basketball Championship in Indianapolis. Averaged 24.3 points against the Lakers in the 2000 NBA Finals. Five-time All-Star (1990, '95, '96, 98 and 2000). Named to the All-NBA Third Team in 1997-98 for the third time, following 1994-95 and 1995-96 Named to the 1997-98 NBA All-Interview Second Team Competed in 3-point contest on All-Star Weekend five times, finishing as high as 2nd in 1990 and 1995 Became the first Pacer ever to start in an NBA All-Star Game in 1995. Member of the gold medal-winning U.S. Olmpic Basketball Team at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta Leading scorer (17.1 ppg) and a tri-captain on the gold medal-winning U.S. Basketball Team at the 1994 World Basketball Championship in Toronto. Named to the 1987-88 NBA All-Rookie Second Team after averaging 10.0 ppg and 2.3 rpg </div>
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting LiQz:</div><div class="quote_post">I don't really buy your theory, Rip just had a huge game today.</div> To be honest, I'm glad the theory is full of holes. I would much rather actual shooters get cut some slack. Oh well, that's the league for you.
