Odd NBA Decision

Chidoro · Post by **Chidoro** » October 6, 2006, 11:36 am

while I rarely watch the NBA any longer and have little interest in the league as a whole, this decision seems to be pretty strange. How the ball reacts to anything from player's hands to the backboard and rim seem to be in question. But, I guess things have to progress over time…

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=a ... &type=lgns

Deward · Post by **Deward** » October 6, 2006, 12:10 pm

I coach football and we have both leather and composite balls of the material the new NBA ball is made out of. In almost all aspects the leather balls are superior. The composite balls are good for about two games because they are nice and sticky and not as hard on the tips. After that though they lose their stickiness and are fairly worthless. Leather balls are much more durable and last longer and my kids prefer them over the composite. It is very easy to over inflate the composites and then you are almost playing with a rugby ball. The leather ones keep their shape easier. In this case I am guessing Spaulding donated a large some of money to get the new balls accepted.

Post by **Sylvus** » October 6, 2006, 12:18 pm

When I first read about the proposed changes a few months ago, it sounded like a reasonable change as pretty much every new player coming into the league has to adjust to the leather ball, as high school and college haven't used leather balls in some time.

How can a ball slip out of Shaq's hands? They're so big that when he's shooting free throws it looks like he's holding an apple.

Boogahz · Post by **Boogahz** » October 6, 2006, 2:08 pm

You get more resistance from the fibers in the bumps on a leather ball which helps with palming it. I used to lose composite balls when dunking becase the "bumps" on the ball had no resistance. They were just too slick.

*~*stragi*~* · Post by ***~*stragi*~*** » October 6, 2006, 2:33 pm

masteen · Post by **masteen** » October 6, 2006, 6:11 pm

Stragi's hard drive is full of pics of black men holding balls.

Boogahz · Post by **Boogahz** » December 1, 2006, 8:51 pm

It looks like the NBA Player's Association is finally getting more involved in the decision to change the ball used as well as the zero-tolerance policy.

From SI.com

NEW YORK (AP) -- The players' association filed two unfair labor practice charges Friday against the NBA over issues with the new ball and the league's crackdown on player complaints.

A number of players publicly have complained about the change in the ball from leather to microfiber composite. But the crackdown on complaints after the whistle, often referred to as a "zero-tolerance policy," might be the bigger problem.

With players fined for each technical they receive, union director Billy Hunter told The Associated Press last month that a lawsuit could be the next step if NBA commissioner David Stern didn't tell the referees to "back off."

NBA spokesman Brian McIntyre said the league was "reviewing what they have filed."

"Our obligation to represent our membership dictates the filing of these actions," Hunter said in a statement. "There is virtual unanimity amongst the players about their concerns and intense dislike for the new synthetic ball and the 'zero tolerance' policy.

"After extensive consultation with our membership and player leadership we determined that this was the appropriate course of action."

The union feels it was entitled to have input on both changes before they were put into play. The section of the collective bargaining agreement titled On-Court Conduct, states, in part:

"Prior to the date on which any new rule promulgated by the NBA becomes effective, the NBA shall provide notice of such new rule to the Players Association and consult with the Players Association with respect thereto."

Winnow · Post by **Winnow** » December 1, 2006, 9:22 pm

Steve Nash's stats have improved this year over the past two years he was MVP. Mark Cuban commented that he thought Nash was struggling with handling the ball when they played Dallas so I don't know if Nash is just some superfreak that keeps improving no matter what or if he would be even better with the old ball this year.

I think is just comes down to how well a player can adjust as Nash has shown that in his case, it hasn't been too much of an issue.

I don't care either way. If the majority of the players want the old ball, let them have it. What could hold things up is if the NBA has signed some sort of contract out of greed that would prevent returning to an old ball.

Chidoro · Post by **Chidoro** » December 12, 2006, 2:36 pm

well that didn't take too long

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=a ... &type=lgns