The dignitaries included Jerry Colangelo, Jerry West, Bob Lanier, Jack Ramsay, Dick Motta and Wayne Embry. By the turn of this century, the NBA realized it had become a diminished product. The greatness and skill of the 1980s gave way to the brawn of the '90s. When Michael Jordan retired for a second time in 1999, it became clear that the league had turned into a boring, slow and physical contact sport instead of the athletic, beautiful and fast-paced entertainment it was meant to be.
“The league had basically slowed to a grinding halt,” said Stu Jackson, who was the NBA senior vice president of basketball operations back then. “Scoring was down, and the skill level and success of players was seemingly dependent on how much they could lift in the weight room. Something needed to be done quickly.”
Many creative and radical ideas were discussed, but the special committee ultimately decided upon four significant rule changes: the elimination of old illegal-defense guidelines, which would allow teams to play zone defenses; a new defensive three-second rule so that centers couldn’t turn into human basket lids; reducing to eight seconds the 10-second rule to bring the ball past midcourt; and redefining the way officials interpreted rules of contact to allow players more freedom of movement, especially on the perimeter.
There was intense debate over the proposed changes. Opponents accused Stern of fixing the committee and only appointing those who’d be open to radical change. Active coaches were upset that they weren’t represented. Pat Riley, then the Miami Heat head coach, warned that the rules would drop scores into the 70s.
The NBA board of governors approved the changes for the 2001-02 season. Three years later, the league made one more adjustment to allow freedom of movement, essentially abolishing hand-checking. Now, defenders cannot use their hands or bodies to push ball-handlers, or players moving without the ball, off their path.
The intent was to open up the game, increase scoring and take the league away from isolation basketball. Incidentally, it also unleashed this era of incredible point-guard play.
In NBA history, only five players under 6 feet 5 have won MVP: Cousy (1957), Allen Iverson (2001), Steve Nash (2005, 2006), Derrick Rose (2011), Stephen Curry (2015). That marked increase since Nash’s first is little coincidence.
In terms of the win shares statistic, seven of the top 20 players in the league this season (including four of the top eight) are point guards. Twelve years ago, there were only three point guards in the top 20, according to Basketball-Reference.com.
This season, 12 players average at least 15 points and six assists per game. Twelve years ago, only five players did so.
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