<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">It's obvious that the majority of players aren't fond of the NBA's new ball. Is it also leading to an annoying minor injury? Dirk Nowitzki seems to think so. The Mavs' leading scorer has developed a gash on the top of his left middle finger the size of a paper cut. It's happened twice this season, and his finger was bleeding before Monday night's game against Washington. The only explanation he has is the ball. "It's weird," said Nowitzki, who played with the finger bandaged. "I saw it one morning and thought maybe I got a paper cut, but it's happened twice now. I don't know what else it could be. You should see Brad Davis' hands." Davis, a Mavs development assistant, has cuts and calluses on both hands as a result of the countless passes he makes during drills. One assistant said some coaches from other teams have begun using gloves in practice. The ball's harder surface is being blamed for the problems. It also stays dirty longer, according to another assistant, further irritating hand abrasions. It doesn't end there. Play-by-play voice Chuck Cooperstein, Davis' radio partner on ESPN/103.3 FM, claims a cut on his middle finger was caused by spinning the ball on his hand last week. Just don't expect to see Cooperstein on the injury report anytime soon.</div> Source
How long do you think this ball will last? If players need to start wearing gloves to play with it, it has to be changed. Btw, has anyone here used the new ball?
I've played with a synthetic indoor ball (a FIBA one, the one they use in Euroleague), and I think it's great. Much better grip, much better feel.
