/sports/basketball/bulls/cs-070907smith,1,7489801.column?coll=cs-bulls-headlines </p> <font>A call for change</font> <font>In Hall induction speech, Jackson says it's time for sport to evolve</font> Sam Smith On Pro Basketball September 8, 2007 SPRINGFIELD, Mass. -- Phil Jackson, in his comments on his induction into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame here Friday, called on the keepers of the game of basketball to consider radical changes in the size of the court and the height of the basket to keep pace with the evolution of the game and the individual. "The game has evolved so much in the 45 years I've been a part of it," Jackson said. "Seeing the Texas-El Paso team (also enshrined for its societal-changing 1966 NCAA tournament championship) to seeing the athletes evolve to the spaces they are at, domination physically of the game. I think the game's always evolved. "I think sometimes we sometimes put our players on too short a court with too short a basket for the way the game is now. I think the game has to evolve. You in the Hall and the people who are here are capable of keeping that game evolving as we go forward to make it an even better game. I think we always must remember to respect the game. It's a competitive game, not a contact game. It's based on speed and skill. It's a great game to coach." Jackson was the highlight speaker of the enshrinement ceremonies, appearing at the end of the 2 1/2 -hour program. Also inducted were University of North Carolina coach Roy Williams, WNBA coach Van Chancellor, late referee Mendy Rudolph and international coaches Pedro Ferrandiz and Mirko Novosel. Former Bulls Bill Cartwright, B.J. Armstrong, Craig Hodges and Steve Kerr attended the ceremonies along with Jackson assistants Tex Winter, Jimmy Rodgers, Frank Hamblen and Jim Cleamons and Jackson's CBA assistant Charlie Rosen. Former New York Knicks' teammates Walt Frazier, Earl Monroe and Bill Bradley also were on hand and Bradley, as Jackson's presenter, had a little fun with him. The two now walk with canes from hip surgeries and agreed to walk up on stage together with their canes, but Bradley left his, something of a play on getting the rookie to run out first. It also was a reminder of how only time can stop the great athletes as Monroe also walked with a cane. Jackson, the first member of the Bulls organization to be enshrined in the Hall of Fame, devoted his speech to recounting his life and career and thanking those responsible. "Who could have been more fortunate than I was to have stumbled into this kind of success?" Jackson wondered about coaching Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant. None appeared, but Bryant sent in a filmed message conceding he and Jackson "had our moments," but insisting Jackson was the best coach in history and the one who taught him and helped him the most. Jackson also thanked "companion" Jeanie Buss, who persuaded him to return to coach the Lakers, and ended saying, "I want to let you know we're still going for the gold." Jackson had joked earlier in the day at a news conference that he always viewed the Massachusetts-based Hall of Fame as "the Boston Celtics alumni club." But Jackson seemed truly humbled by the honor, having his children and grandchildren stand to be introduced during his remarks. He also thanked Bulls chairman Jerry Reinsdorf and former general manager Jerry Krause "for trusting a person inexperienced to take over their Chicago Bulls team," his education with the Bulls under Winter and assistant John Bach and the "insight of Michael Jordan to incorporate his teammates—those lesser angels—into his realm, and with Scottie Pippen, who was the dynamic duo alongside Michael Jordan."
Awesome! I've been posting for a while now that the court should be widened, the lane widened, and the rim raised a foot. The game was designed for smaller and less athletic players. The guys simply are too big for the court, and dunks should be the exception. Point inflation makes most baskets less meaningful.</p> </p>
They could get scoring in check if they just went back to the peach baskets and let the clock run while they fished out the balls.
Raising the rim, widening the court, and widening the lane would be horrible rule changes in my opinion. We wouldn't be able to compare any present day stats or performances with the stats and performances that took place before the changes were made. People don't like change and it would be an extremely big mistake.
