<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">TREVISO, Italy - Steve Nash's play will no longer be finger-lickin' good. The leather ball that has been in the league longer than he has been alive is gone. It has been replaced with a microfiber composite version that will no longer require Nash to moisten his fingers for grip. The new Spalding ball - only the third version in league's 60-year history - is tacky, and the players mean that in more than one way. The Suns have been using the ball for about a month, since the start of informal workouts, and it seems that all of them want ol' reliable back. The league's two-time MVP - one who may handle the ball more often than any player - is not a fan. "It's very difficult for us," Nash said. "It's almost like you have to relearn how to make your plays because this ball sticks to your hand whereas the old ball slid in your hand nicely and it had a nice little touch off the floor and the backboard. This ball just grips the floor and grips the backboard so you have to change your game. "You make moves in traffic and the ball gets stuck in parts of your hands and your wrist where normally it slides and you get it back the way you want it. Now, even if it's in your hand, it sticks and you can't get rid of it sometimes. It's a really difficult ball to play with." When the ball is dry, the players say it is sticky. When sweat gets on the ball, it becomes slippery because the moisture seems to sit on the ball like a waterproof surface. "It sucks," Suns guard Raja Bell said. "This ball isn't even a cousin of the one we played with. In every way, the ball is totally different. It is round and we've got to put it out of our minds. It's proven to be a streaky ball." The Suns' other principal ball handler, Marcus Banks, is more indifferent about the ball and saw the good in the stronger hold when dry. But he'll miss how the other ball gripped on a sweaty hand. "This ball sticks all the time," Banks said. "We've got to learn to like it." Missed shots in training camp are usually the cause of an idle summer or legs that have yet to be conditioned. This year, it's always the ball. "Everybody hates that ball," Shawn Marion said. "It seems like it's more for an outdoor ball than indoor. It doesn't even feel like a NBA ball."</div> Source
Sounds like a resounding winner. If everybody hates the ball, maybe we can just go back, that would be nice.
It would suck to have players practice the whole offseason with the trashy ball, and then switch to the old ball. This whole idea was BS.
<div class="quote_poster">Pakman Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">It would suck to have players practice the whole offseason with the trashy ball, and then switch to the old ball. This whole idea was BS.</div> Well one way or the other, to hear the NBA say it, we're keeping this ball, and that's that. When the NBA makes a switch like this, you know it's far too proud an organization to admit it's wrong and move on, especially with Mein Commissioner running the show.
``It’s just a ball,’’ Bryant said. ``Growing up, I played with all kinds of balls. I rolled up tape and used tape as a basketball. I played with a sock. I think I can play with this one. We’ll be fine. I don’t even think it’s that big of a deal.’’ we should just accept it and play with it
<div class="quote_poster">kobe23 Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">``It?s just a ball,?? Bryant said. ``Growing up, I played with all kinds of balls. I rolled up tape and used tape as a basketball. I played with a sock. I think I can play with this one. We?ll be fine. I don?t even think it?s that big of a deal.?? we should just accept it and play with it</div> Well Kobe just wants to get on everybody's good side. That is why he says the things he says.
Maybe they should put up chain nets, and lets play on those playgrond rubbery courts, o and lets make one of those shiny balls with no grip, and then we could play "Makers" after a team hits 50 points, also we could give the refs flags like in football, maybe add six more timeouts for each team, require your star player to wear PF Flyers, Hey y not throw some of those trampoleens so Nash can dunk, play by 1's and 2's, add a ten point line........ If it aint broke dont fix it But hey y not trust David Stern his playoff ranking system turned out to be a great change last year
<div class="quote_poster">*Scotch Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Maybe they should put up chain nets, and lets play on those playgrond rubbery courts, o and lets make one of those shiny balls with no grip, and then we could play "Makers" after a team hits 50 points, also we could give the refs flags like in football, maybe add six more timeouts for each team, require your star player to wear PF Flyers, Hey y not throw some of those trampoleens so Nash can dunk, play by 1's and 2's, add a ten point line........ If it aint broke dont fix it But hey y not trust David Stern his playoff ranking system turned out to be a great change last year </div> LOL funny, funny, stuff
<div class="quote_poster">kobe23 Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">``It?s just a ball,?? Bryant said. ``Growing up, I played with all kinds of balls. I rolled up tape and used tape as a basketball. I played with a sock. I think I can play with this one. We?ll be fine. I don?t even think it?s that big of a deal.?? we should just accept it and play with it</div> Kobe knows what's up! If the comish wants that ball, it will be that ball. It's hard for me to say, but I agree with Kobe - I used to play with a ball that didn't even bounce and had ripped up leather and missing outer layers... Man I was money with that ball!
<div class="quote_poster">Apollo Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Man even when a true PG in Nash criticizes the new ball, you know something may have to change.</div> agreed
