<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">When the 76ers take to the court for this morning's shoot-around before their game against Allen Iverson and the Denver Nuggets, they will welcome back the NBA's traditional leather basketball. But don't expect Kyle Korver to be part of the welcoming committee. The league announced on Dec. 11 that, heeding complaints from players that a new basketball made of synthetic material was hard to grip and abrasive, it would revert to the old basketballs as of Jan. 1. The Sixers did not practice yesterday and will break out the leather balls at the shoot-around to get accustomed to them before tonight's game. But unlike most of his teammates and fellow NBA players, Korver said that he was disappointed, that he was comfortable with the new basketball and now has to change in midseason. "I didn't want to go back to the other ball, but we haven't had any say, it seems, no matter which way they go," Korver said Sunday before saying goodbye to the new ball with a season-high 29 points in the Sixers' 104-94 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers at the Staples Center. "So it's the same thing now. We're going back to the old one. But I guess as long as it's round, I guess it doesn't really matter a whole lot." The NBA sent each player a new basketball during the summer so the ball wouldn't feel so strange when training camp opened in October. Korver said he had played with the synthetic ball since June and was at ease with it. But many players complained that the ball got sticky and hard to grip when made wet because of perspiration. Some also grumbled that the rough cover on the basketball caused thin cuts on their fingers. The NBA, which did not seek player input before implementing the new basketballs, relented. League officials asked Spalding, their manufacturer for all basketballs, to start making leather balls again and sent them out to the 30 league teams in preparation for a Jan. 1 restart. Korver said the NBA had handled the basketball situation poorly from the beginning. "I would have liked to finish out the year with this ball and maybe try to do something different" in the off-season, he said. "But that's the way it happened, and there's no use in complaining about it. We all have to start getting used to it again, and that's just the way it's going to be." Sixers coach Maurice Cheeks said he felt his players had "mixed emotions" about the midseason switch. "I'm not playing with it, so I think you have to ask the guys," he said. "But it doesn't matter to me one way or the other. Everybody is playing with the same ball. It's not like one guy is playing with a different ball." But Cheeks, the former Sixers point guard who is known to take a couple of jump shots after almost every practice, added, "It works pretty good for me. I like it." </div> Link Well, I guess you can't please everyone. lol
<div class="quote_poster">AIFan Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Eh, that's Stern for ya</div> Can't really blame Stern for this one. What are you going to do? Keep the plastic fibber ball, which was being petitioned against by 80% of the leagues players, and was also causing injuries, or go back to the old ball and at least prevent the players from being hurt. Although, I feel this is a bad time for the change, ultimately I feel it is the best move for the league to make.
<div class="quote_poster">Blur Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Can't really blame Stern for this one. What are you going to do? Keep the plastic fibber ball, which was being petitioned against by 80% of the leagues players, and was also causing injuries, or go back to the old ball and at least prevent the players from being hurt. Although, I feel this is a bad time for the change, ultimately I feel it is the best move for the league to make.</div>Actually, I can blame him for it. He should have never changed the ball in the first place, there was no rhyme or reason to do so. Not only that, but he didn't even get the players input on it. I can understand if he wants to change the rules, even change the uniforms, without getting input from the players, but to put in a new ball for no particular reason is just baffling.
<div class="quote_poster">AIFan Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Actually, I can blame him for it. He should have never changed the ball in the first place, there was no rhyme or reason to do so. Not only that, but he didn't even get the players input on it. I can understand if he wants to change the rules, even change the uniforms, without getting input from the players, but to put in a new ball for no particular reason is just baffling.</div> The article was stating that Korver was complaining about switching back to the old ball, and you stated "eh thats Stern for you", well to be honest there was not much he could do. He made a mistake and he was correcting it. Can't blame him for doing that. As far as switching to the plastic fiber ball in the first place, each team actually got a rack of the new balls a couple of weeks after the end of the 2005-06 season. However, by that time much of the players had already cleared out their lockers for the summer, and gone there own way. So there was not enough time for teams/players to adjust to the new balls. Had there been that amount of time I doubt you would have heard as much complaining as you did. In international play they use the same type of ball, and considering the USA's recent struggles in international play perhaps having kept the new ball would not have been such a bad idea.
<div class="quote_poster">Blur Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">The article was stating that Korver was complaining about switching back to the old ball, and you stated "eh thats Stern for you", well to be honest there was not much he could do. He made a mistake and he was correcting it. Can't blame him for doing that. As far as switching to the plastic fiber ball in the first place, each team actually got a rack of the new balls a couple of weeks after the end of the 2005-06 season. However, by that time much of the players had already cleared out their lockers for the summer, and gone there own way. So there was not enough time for teams/players to adjust to the new balls. Had there been that amount of time I doubt you would have heard as much complaining as you did. In international play they use the same type of ball, and considering the USA's recent struggles in international play perhaps having kept the new ball would not have been such a bad idea.</div>It was also stated in the article that "Korver said the NBA had handled the basketball situation poorly from the beginning." Thus my response.
<div class="quote_poster">miss3pointer25 Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">he didnt look too unhappy with the basketball last night if you ask me.</div>pssssshh, no kidding
<div class="quote_poster">miss3pointer25 Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">he didnt look too unhappy with the basketball last night if you ask me.</div> Agreed. However, we really didn't get to see his outside shooting because he didn't have to. Dre Miller was setting him up beautifully down low for easy baskets.
"But I guess as long as it's round, I guess it doesn't really matter a whole lot." Uh, yeah, Kyle it's gonna still be "round". NO, Kyle, they've introduced a HEXAGONAL BALL, didn't you hear???? It's a good thing these NBA players stick to playing ball and not trying to be smart.
<div class="quote_poster">phunDamentalz Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">"But I guess as long as it's round, I guess it doesn't really matter a whole lot." Uh, yeah, Kyle it's gonna still be "round". NO, Kyle, they've introduced a HEXAGONAL BALL, didn't you hear???? It's a good thing these NBA players stick to playing ball and not trying to be smart.</div> Haha thats cute...sounds like something my little cousin would say. It also seems like Korver is getting more physical and the other teams fans don't appear to be liking it. Like last night, I can't tell you how many times he got booed.
<div class="quote_poster">phunDamentalz Wrote</div><div class="quote_post"> It's a good thing these NBA players stick to playing ball and not trying to be smart.</div>Yeah, some of these guys should stay away from interviews.
<div class="quote_poster">phunDamentalz Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">"But I guess as long as it's round, I guess it doesn't really matter a whole lot." Uh, yeah, Kyle it's gonna still be "round". NO, Kyle, they've introduced a HEXAGONAL BALL, didn't you hear???? It's a good thing these NBA players stick to playing ball and not trying to be smart.</div> I think he was being a smartass which makes you the dumbass for not recognizing.
