<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">The NBA Board of Governors widened the lane in 1951 to stop George Mikan. They did it again in 1968 to stop Wilt Chamberlain. Now, don't be surprised if it happens a third time in an attempt to slow the Lakers center Shaquille O'Neal. The Minneapolis Lakers were dominating the NBA, winning titles in 1948-49 and 1949-50 with Mikan being just as dominant a big man as O'Neal is today. So the owners, unhappy with Mikan's dominance, voted before the 1951-52 season to change the size of the lane from 6 feet wide to 12 feet to try to keep Mikan away from the basket. In 1968 with the 7-foot Chamberlain dominating the game, the lane was widened to 16 feet. With the 7-1, 340-pound O'Neal dominating the game, some NBA officials would like to see the lane changed to the international rules. That lane is wider, 19-8 1/2 at the base. "We have talked many times about putting in the international lane," said Kevin McHale, the Timberwolves' vice president of basketball operations. "It will come up again. Maybe that's a way to slow down O'Neal." Teams sick of losing to the Lakers are going to have to do something. When O'Neal decides to play like he has in the past two games against the Wolves, there really isn't any way to defend him.</div> Link
I dont like this. Just because a player is dominant and was blessed with freakish size and athleticism doenst give people the right to change the lane to slow him down. Ohh and BTW, changing the lane wont slow him down at all.
you're Kobe 8 ball. If you wanna stop Shaq find a legit way to stop him. Its not fair to change the lane to stop him. Its not his fault they cant stop him. He is too good for most other C.
What the hell? I thought the NBA was in favour for the Lakers. Now they despise how O'Neal dominates in the key?
The 3 second rule has had a huge impact on him playing in the post. Now you see him running in and out of the paint, and he's being called for it atleast 2 times a game. If you widen the key it will only cause kaos down there, a wider area to only be able to be in for 3 seconds? Not only will Shaq be called for the 3 second a million times a game, so will all the other centers in this league.
I agree with everyone else on this one. IMO, Shaq is one of, if not the best dominant center in the NBA; changing the size of the lane probably won't do much to affect how well he plays.
It doesn't need to be done, because Shaq's past his prime and so is his motivation to dominate on a consistent basis.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Chungster:</div><div class="quote_post">What the hell? I thought the NBA was in favour for the Lakers. Now they despise how O'Neal dominates in the key?</div> The NBA is in love with the Lakers (Stern), but the other owners aren't.
Yes i disagree right along with everyone else. It's not Shaqs' fault that he is so big and strong. There is really no reason to change the size of the lane i think fans would be mad becuase they won't see the dominat O'neal of before.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting ANiMuS:</div><div class="quote_post">It doesn't need to be done, because Shaq's past his prime and so is his motivation to dominate on a consistent basis.</div> Yep, exactly.
If they change the lane because of one player, that's really sad. I think you need a legit reason to do anything, and quite frankly, just because Shaq is dominant in the paint, isn't a legit reason to change it. It's total crap in my opinion.
I think this is an awful idea, but it has happened before so I wouldn't be too surprised if it did again.
Well I suppose it's not a cool thing to do to change the size of the lane just to stop one guy.. but hey it happened before... twice.. and nobody seems to remember anyways the lane was smaller before. Nobody has a problem with it today so I think it's not that big of a deal to widen the lane. People will forget in a decade or so. Besides, if the rest of the world plays with one real official lane size, I don't see what's so bad about us being actually in-tune with the rest of the world.
Because this is America. America is better than the rest of the world. They're always wrong, we're always right. How dare you question such a fundamental tenet.
Lol dumb idiots, it gives him just more room to dominate. Come on bigger space for him, hell he will dunk it on you
