RealGM

NBA Changes Verticality rule :

http://www.nba.com/media/Verticality_Pl ... 1_2014.pdf


National Basketball Association
TO: NBA OWNERS / GENERAL MANAGERS / HEAD COACHES /
OFFICIALS

FROM: MIKE BANTOM

DATE: MARCH 31, 2014

RE: PLAYERS TURNING SIDEWAYS ON VERTICALITY PLAYS
__________________________________________________ ____________________

We want to make sure you are aware of the following topic we will be alerting referees
to today.

We have noticed that defenders have been turning sideways when jumping to defend
an oncoming offensive player on drives to the basket. This is illegal and referees are
being instructed to call this a blocking foul. While we commonly discuss verticality in the
context of secondary defenders inside the restricted area (see restricted area and
verticality reminder further below), this change will apply to defenders turning sideways
while in the air whether inside or outside the restricted area on drives.

Here are several examples of players turning sideways that will be deemed blocking
fouls going forward.

http://dmmx2.nba.com/videourlredirec...Verticality_ME
MO

http://dmmx2.nba.com/videourlredirec...as_Verticality
_MEMO

http://dmmx2.nba.com/videourlredirec...Verticality_ME
MO

http://dmmx2.nba.com/videourlredirec..._Verticality_P
lay_MEMO


Here is a player making a slight turn when absorbing impact. This is considered vertical
and legal.

http://dmmx2.nba.com/videourlredirec...erticality_MEM
0

The Restricted Area and Verticality:

On a block-charge type play, a secondary defensive player cannot be in a legal
guarding position, even if stationary, inside the "Restricted Area" if the offensive player
receives the ball outside the lower defensive box -- unless he jumps vertically in an
attempt to defend the shot. Therefore, even if positioned inside the Restricted Area, a
secondary defender does not commit a blocking foul if contact is made while he is
jumping vertically in an attempt to defend. The defender must, however, establish legal
guarding position prior to the start of the offensive player's upward motion.

To be considered vertical, a defender must:

1. Be in the air to defend the shot when contact occurs. If the player is on the
ground inside the restricted area, with his arms “vertical” when contact occurs, he
will be assessed a blocking foul.

2. Maintain a vertical trajectory by jumping straight up. If the player jumps toward or
to the side of an oncoming player, he will be assessed a blocking foul. A player
may, however, angle his jump backwards slightly in such a way as to absorb the
impact of the oncoming player, and of course, he may land behind where he
leapt from because of the force of the contact.

3. Maintain vertical alignment, with his body (arms, hands, torso, legs
and feet) in a nearly straight line that is perpendicular to the floor. If
a player leans his arms forward or “jack-knifes” his legs toward the
oncoming offensive player, he will be assessed a blocking foul.

4. A player may not turn sideways (as discussed above). If he does,
he will be assessed a blocking foul.

I'm a fan of this memo as was discussed yesterday, having said that.

I think the title is a bit too disrespectful. I know this is the Heat forum, but it makes us look bad. We don't need to stoop to the level of our competitors.

Keep it classy.

I am editing the title, it is baiting.

Well even this title is wrong and misleading. It's not a rule change, it's a reminder and enforcement of an established rule.

good

Vertical Limit wrote:Well even this title is wrong and misleading. It's not a rule change, it's a reminder and enforcement of an established rule.

Exactly, it's basically a "Vertical(ity) Limit"

















see what I did there...

rip hibbert carreer

And really when you think about it, 95% of the time Hibbert is the tallest and strongest guy on the court. The fact that he's not an elite rebounder is really pathetic to me, he should be an elite rebounder but sometimes he rebounds like Bosh.

And he shouldn't need that verticality advantage he's always had to be an elite post defender. But oh well, the less he uses his potential the better for us.

That is because HIbbert is slow to move, jump etc. He rebounds because he is 7'2 with 7'4 wingspan and 9'4 standing reach. But he also carries 290 lbs of weight and slow feet. This is why his stats for a guy his size are pedestrian.

He has definitely benefited in the era of basketball that we are in with not many guys his size.

http://i.imgur.com/YuB2NZb.png

Hibbert posted this today on instagram

walk with me wrote:

Assuming he would never adjust to playing fundamental defense, that guy should not have that big an impact if the game was officiated right.