Lets Talk Handchecking

[picc]

Handchecking has turned into the NBA"s "we used to walk 30 miles to school in the blizzard!"

It still exists and never went away. Its just a way for older players to preserve some ego.

[bledredwine]

Handchecking has turned into the NBA"s "we used to walk 30 miles to school in the blizzard!"

It still exists and never went away. Its just a way for older players to preserve some ego.

Then link us to video, give the second marks and explain where there is any handchecking,

because so far? They've posted none.

How a bout the 3 second violation? Do you believe that doesn't impact the game as well or that this is fake?
Trying to get a gauge of where you're coming from.

[JRoy]

Maybe a nitpick, but from my memory Karl Malone was a face-up player. So I’m confused with that.

He became a jump shooter with age.
Sent from my iPhone using RealGM Forums

[og15]

Hand checking still happens, it's ebbed and flowed in how strict it is reffed, but it never truly went anywhere. There were moments where it got out of hand, but that wasn't the norm for any extended period. Many trainers for some years now teach all the off arm tricks to deal with hand checking.

This one old Lebron uses the rip through like mentioned earlier in the thread to shed it:

Watch on YouTube

;pp=ygUaSGFuZGNoZWNraW5nIGluIG1vZGVybiBuYmE%3D

Multiple examples here:

Watch on YouTube

;pp=ygUaSGFuZGNoZWNraW5nIGluIG1vZGVybiBuYmE%3D

The NBA ones:
0:29-0:39
2:02
2:14
2:20
3:17 (practice)
4:09
4:13
4:38
5:08
5:21-5:40
6:12
6:33-6:44
6:55
7:22
7:52
8:16 (the iconic one, but this would be before 04-05)

Like I mentioned earlier, don't complain if you get pushed off if you are hand checking in pick up, the push off is a great counter.

All that said, hand checking still goes on, blatant hand checking would still generally be called in the past for the vast majority of NBA history. There's also been a lot of counters to hand checking that has become common place for offensive guys.

If we see here:

Watch on YouTube

;pp=ygUUanJ1ZSBob2xpZGF5IGRlZmVuc2U%3D

A guy like Jrue Holiday who has a strong base, can beat guys to the spot, get chest stops, etc, he does the vast majority of his work with his feet, anticipation, strength, etc. He might quickly touch here and there, but you see how he will quickly bring that arm in and use his body.

Hand checking has an impact, but probably much less than some would suggest in terms of impact on team offensive output. Definitely not anywhere near as much as things like defensive 3 seconds with zoning allowed vs illegal defense with no zoning and not as much as how rosters are built to maximize spacing.

[picc]

Handchecking has turned into the NBA"s "we used to walk 30 miles to school in the blizzard!"

It still exists and never went away. Its just a way for older players to preserve some ego.

Then link us to video, give the second marks and explain where there is any handchecking,

because so far? They've posted none.

Nah. I've been on this board a long time. Here's how that goes:

Me: [video]
You: that's not real handchecking, like [video]
Me: yes it is
You: no it's not
Me: yes it is
You: no it's not

How a bout the 3 second violation? Do you believe that doesn't impact the game as well or that this is fake?
Trying to get a gauge of where you're coming from.

Yeah, 3 second violation is huge, we agree there.

Another thing that makes offense easier these days is the spacing. If you look at video from before the pace/space era, players are trying to drive and dribble through rush hour traffic in India compared to now.

Also, switch-hunting. Teams really started the aggressive switch-hunting after the '16 finals. Now, everyone just screens until they get a favorable matchup, whereas before, all the star players pretty much just played against whoever was assigned to them. Which was typically the opposing team's best defender.

There are for sure things that make offense easier nowadays. I just don't think the supposed abolishment of handchecking is one of them.

[ScrantonBulls]

I have no idea why anybody thinks hand checking isn't part of the game anymore. Legitimately boggles my mind. Watch any game for 5 minutes and you'll see hand checking on every drive to the basket, especially in the playoffs. And you'll see the ball handler either swipe the defender's hand away or just play through the contact. But the narrative will live on because people dislike thinking for themselves and coming to their own conclusions.

OP has no idea what he is talking about. Nobody really takes him seriously at this point. I've never seen a poster get beaten down in debates so regularly.

[bledredwine]

Hand checking still happens, it's ebbed and flowed in how strict it is reffed, but it never truly went anywhere. There were moments where it got out of hand, but that wasn't the norm for any extended period. Many trainers for some years now teach all the off arm tricks to deal with hand checking.

This one old Lebron uses the rip through like mentioned earlier in the thread to shed it:

Watch on YouTube

;pp=ygUaSGFuZGNoZWNraW5nIGluIG1vZGVybiBuYmE%3D

Multiple examples here:

Watch on YouTube

;pp=ygUaSGFuZGNoZWNraW5nIGluIG1vZGVybiBuYmE%3D

The NBA ones:
0:29-0:39
2:02
2:14
2:20
3:17 (practice)
4:09
4:13
4:38
5:08
5:21-5:40
6:12
6:33-6:44
6:55
7:22
7:52
8:16 (the iconic one, but this would be before 04-05)

Like I mentioned earlier, don't complain if you get pushed off if you are hand checking in pick up, the push off is a great counter.

All that said, hand checking still goes on, blatant hand checking would still generally be called in the past for the vast majority of NBA history. There's also been a lot of counters to hand checking that has become common place for offensive guys.

If we see here:

Watch on YouTube

;pp=ygUUanJ1ZSBob2xpZGF5IGRlZmVuc2U%3D

A guy like Jrue Holiday who has a strong base, can beat guys to the spot, get chest stops, etc, he does the vast majority of his work with his feet, anticipation, strength, etc. He might quickly touch here and there, but you see how he will quickly bring that arm in and use his body.

Hand checking has an impact, but probably much less than some would suggest in terms of impact on team offensive output. Definitely not anywhere near as much as things like defensive 3 seconds with zoning allowed vs illegal defense with no zoning and not as much as how rosters are built to maximize spacing.

Nice, finally a video with actual hand checking and I appreciate it. It was handchecking against Lebron at the top of the key and I'd love to see more of it if they'd allow it- Notice how Lebron had to turn to keep the ball safe- this was constant when handchecking was allowed. They allowed it in the All star game when he was guarded by Kobe, which was fun to see.

But these are highlights and obviously, there aren't any modern videos where handchecking happens throughout the game (until someone shows me otherwise). It hasn't been allowed in decades. Otherwise, it'd be common sense and fundamental defense to use the right arm and provide resistance, sometimes even push back as shown in my videos.

For the majority of plays, there really is none, as shown in the Brunson video posted earlier.

I still have yet to see one video where it consistently happens in a game. So far, people have posted videos with none, or in your case, actual hand checking but rare examples with nothing continuous/consistent.

So you may say that it exists, but not really. You just don't see it much at all and you often see defenders try to avoid fouls instead.
If anything, it made me that much more impressed with the Celtics' defense last year. If they could hand check and keep their guy in front of them, it'd be a big advantage.

Long story short- it's annoying to see the league try to strip the players of defense and calling fouls/not allowing handchecking does just that. It's a fundamental defensive tool and has allowed consistent face-to-basket play. You never see bigs apply resistance in the post either.

[bledredwine]

So many players, including cross era players like Nash have discussed the ease after the rule changes. Nash even attributed his success to it in an interview.

How anyone can insist that it's part of the game is beyond me.

Watch on YouTube

Watch on YouTube

Watch on YouTube

It's no coincidence that at the turn of the century, it went from a bigs to perimeter dominated league.

[Maxthirty]

I have no idea why anybody thinks hand checking isn't part of the game anymore. Legitimately boggles my mind. Watch any game for 5 minutes and you'll see hand checking on every drive to the basket, especially in the playoffs. And you'll see the ball handler either swipe the defender's hand away or just play through the contact. But the narrative will live on because people dislike thinking for themselves and coming to their own conclusions.

OP has no idea what he is talking about. Nobody really takes him seriously at this point. I've never seen a poster get beaten down in debates so regularly.

He used to post on the ESPN boards and then migrated to a smaller board we created after ESPN shutdown their forums. I’ve seen him beat like a drum for the last 15 years.

[ScrantonBulls]

I have no idea why anybody thinks hand checking isn't part of the game anymore. Legitimately boggles my mind. Watch any game for 5 minutes and you'll see hand checking on every drive to the basket, especially in the playoffs. And you'll see the ball handler either swipe the defender's hand away or just play through the contact. But the narrative will live on because people dislike thinking for themselves and coming to their own conclusions.

OP has no idea what he is talking about. Nobody really takes him seriously at this point. I've never seen a poster get beaten down in debates so regularly.

He used to post on the ESPN boards and then migrated to a smaller board we created after ESPN shutdown their forums. I’ve seen him beat like a drum for the last 15 years.

Lmao that's hilarious. The guy is resilient, I'll give him that.

[Sixerscan]

Isn't this kind of an outdated complaint at this point since they relaxed the foul calling during the middle of this past season? It was definitely getting out of hand but the shift made it fall back to a level people were happier with.

Interested to see if that remains the case this season.

[HotelVitale]

I went ahead and watched all these, simple thing I think you're missing is that almost all of this is back-to-basket and a) post-ups are still 100% defended with arm bars and b) with the rise of pn'r and DHO perimeter players very rarely play back-to-basket now so it's not very relevant.

:47, right away resistance, hand checking followed by what would be an easy call by today's standards

You can always handcheck with back-to-the-basket stuff, it's not actually handchecking but arm-barring but same rules. This happens on more or less every back-to-basket play now.

1:05, right afterwards, right forearm of Kemp, AS they were taught to defend back then (this is hand checking btw) would be a foul today

Kemp just runs into MJ as he makes a move, the contact isn't on the hands. I agree that they allowed more of that contact on the drive then than now (and they allow it more in most euro games too), but this play has nothing to do with handchecking enforcement. MJ's already fully made his mvoe before there are any hands near him.

1:20, right afterwards, once again

Also back-to-the-basket, so same thing as the top one. Unless you mean the little incidental contact while MJ's turning, that's inconsequential and wouldn't be a foul today. If you think it would, watch any PO game now and you'll see that same amount of handchecking.

:14 bumped, obviously a foul today.

Maybe, I think we've all seen plays in any PO game where this doesn't get called.

:22 right after, nudged with a hand check out of bounds, no foul

He probably doesn't touch him at all here, and we would all be pissed as hell if they called this as a result in an important game. But either way you're really really straining the idea of a 'handcheck' if this counts.

:50 hand on back the entire time

Once again, fully and 100% allowed to do this on post-ups, and it still happens on nearly every post up that happens today. (Not sure how you think a defense could defend it otherwise)

Meanwhile, that Brunson video had 0 resistance.

Yeah because Brunson never goes back to the basket.

Also people have said several times that handchecking was a thing, especially on MJ you started seeing more of it some games and some teams. What you keep failing to make any argument for is that it a) was a big deal for more than a few years (and focused heavily on MJ at his prime) and b) was a significant part of the games changes from the late 80s to the early 2000s, and then from the 2000s to now.

[HotelVitale]

So many players, including cross era players like Nash have discussed the ease after the rule changes. Nash even attributed his success to it in an interview.

How anyone can insist that it's part of the game is beyond me.

It's no coincidence that at the turn of the century, it went from a bigs to perimeter dominated league.

I really don't want to make this an argument where we're both deciding we stand on one side and fighting for it at all costs, doesn't do any of us any good. I'm gonna take a breath here and not continue the back and forth and just say a few bigger picture things to maybe re-center where I (and I think other posters) are coming from.

By far, by far, by far the biggest change from the 1990s to the 2020s is that offensive strategy became 100% propagated on running pick and rolls or DHOs in the middle of the floor around a spread offense with 2-4 3pt shooter on the court. In the 80s and 90s teams sometimes ran picks (not super often) but their predominant offensive sets were post-ups and midrange sets that involved curl jumpers or back-to-basket stuff. The game slowed down a ton into the 2000s (I think because of teams hyper-emphasizing cutting down on fast breaks), and things then changed course from about 2004-2014--when every team started to develop both aspects of the newer strategy. They very consciously tried to space the floor much more than in the 80s or 90s, and they all started to integrate much more pn'r ball-handling into their sets. This was uneven across teams and happened in fits and spurts, but it definitely happened and was steadily unfolding throughout that time period.

That means that the two main things that handchecking impacted--post ups and back-to-basket perimeter moves--went from very common to occasional, while things for which handchecking is pretty irrelevant--pn'r and DHO driving--went from pretty rare to happening nearly every play. So that already means that handchecking rules would matter far less by the later 2000s than they would have in the 80s-90s. That's the first reason to be skeptical about stories about how it was such a major driver of offensive revolutions. (Like I mentioned above, if you want to see the difference just watch literally 2 minutes of any Steve Nash Suns game from like 2004-2006 vs a Steve Nash Mavs game from a few years before--every play begins with a pick after almost no plays begin with them.)

The second thing is that foul calling and foul emphases have come and gone a lot, it's always sort of shifting. From year to year and sometimes month to month or series to series, the way fouls are called and what constitutes violations is being updated, both officially and unofficially (in terms of what the refs let you get away with). There's a history to that, and games this last RS for example were far more quick-whistled and touch-foul prone than they were in like 1998; but that doesn't mean that 'handchecking' is responsible for that, or that really any single rule or change in enforcement over time was. It's a big thing that includes dozens of violations and rules changes, especially around things that were part of the new styles of play.

What people who grandstand about handchecking (like Kenny Smith) want to do is reduce this long and complex shift in strategy, as well as a complicated history of how the game is reffed, into one simple thing: they stopped handchecking in 2004, and the game went from hyper-physical and tough to this 'oh I guess we can't graze a guy's forearm' thing. Both of those things are exaggerated (the game was not hyper-physical in the 90s nor is it all touch-fouls all days now, esp in the PO). The big thing most of us are arguing or pushing for is to keep a long and complex history in mind, and if you really want to stick with the topic, to be careful and thoughtful about how handchecking fits into those two things. Most of us have already done that and put in our time thinking about it and watching tape, and that's why we're making the points we're making. Not because we have some irrational bone to pick with Kenny Smith or some odd hatred of handchecking as a technique.

[bledredwine]

So many players, including cross era players like Nash have discussed the ease after the rule changes. Nash even attributed his success to it in an interview.

How anyone can insist that it's part of the game is beyond me.

It's no coincidence that at the turn of the century, it went from a bigs to perimeter dominated league.

I really don't want to make this an argument where we're both deciding we stand on one side and fighting for it at all costs, doesn't do any of us any good. I'm gonna take a breath here and not continue the back and forth and just say a few bigger picture things to maybe re-center where I (and I think other posters) are coming from.

By far, by far, by far the biggest change from the 1990s to the 2020s is that offensive strategy became 100% propagated on running pick and rolls or DHOs in the middle of the floor around a spread offense with 2-4 3pt shooter on the court. In the 80s and 90s teams sometimes ran picks (not super often) but their predominant offensive sets were post-ups and midrange sets that involved curl jumpers or back-to-basket stuff. The game slowed down a ton into the 2000s (I think because of teams hyper-emphasizing cutting down on fast breaks), and things then changed course from about 2004-2014--when every team started to develop both aspects of the newer strategy. They very consciously tried to space the floor much more than in the 80s or 90s, and they all started to integrate much more pn'r ball-handling into their sets. This was uneven across teams and happened in fits and spurts, but it definitely happened and was steadily unfolding throughout that time period.

That means that the two main things that handchecking impacted--post ups and back-to-basket perimeter moves--went from very common to occasional, while things for which handchecking is pretty irrelevant--pn'r and DHO driving--went from pretty rare to happening nearly every play. So that already means that handchecking rules would matter far less by the later 2000s than they would have in the 80s-90s. That's the first reason to be skeptical about stories about how it was such a major driver of offensive revolutions. (Like I mentioned above, if you want to see the difference just watch literally 2 minutes of any Steve Nash Suns game from like 2004-2006 vs a Steve Nash Mavs game from a few years before--every play begins with a pick after almost no plays begin with them.)

The second thing is that foul calling and foul emphases have come and gone a lot, it's always sort of shifting. From year to year and sometimes month to month or series to series, the way fouls are called and what constitutes violations is being updated, both officially and unofficially (in terms of what the refs let you get away with). There's a history to that, and games this last RS for example were far more quick-whistled and touch-foul prone than they were in like 1998; but that doesn't mean that 'handchecking' is responsible for that, or that really any single rule or change in enforcement over time was. It's a big thing that includes dozens of violations and rules changes, especially around things that were part of the new styles of play.

What people who grandstand about handchecking (like Kenny Smith) want to do is reduce this long and complex shift in strategy, as well as a complicated history of how the game is reffed, into one simple thing: they stopped handchecking in 2004, and the game went from hyper-physical and tough to this 'oh I guess we can't graze a guy's forearm' thing. Both of those things are exaggerated (the game was not hyper-physical in the 90s nor is it all touch-fouls all days now, esp in the PO). The big thing most of us are arguing or pushing for is to keep a long and complex history in mind, and if you really want to stick with the topic, to be careful and thoughtful about how handchecking fits into those two things. Most of us have already done that and put in our time thinking about it and watching tape, and that's why we're making the points we're making. Not because we have some irrational bone to pick with Kenny Smith or some odd hatred of handchecking as a technique.

First, quality and thoughtful post.

I actually agree with some of what you said. However, I can't stand by Kenny simply hating when all of these coaches and players have noticed the same difference in the game and how every single one of them (coaches included) states the same thing about the disappearance of hand checking.

While you're absolutely right that some of the greatest differences were through styles of the game, it's not quite a chicken and egg situation. The rules were created to allow more space (commissioner's own words), and I noticed an immediate difference at the turn of the century, as did said players/coaches. You also had Draymond, Lebron and Popovich criticize the league in the same season, stating that it's "not basketball" (pop) and "impossible to defend" (Dray/Lebron), alluding to the fouls being called.

I also did an analysis back then on perimeter players and how the higher scoring perimeter players all had spikes of 5-7 ppg during the same 2 years. I'll have to find it but it may be lost.

What I don't understand is posters denying the impact of hand checking. Anyone who's played street ball and has experienced that resistance knows its impact, just like Hubie, coach K and the players have stated in interviews. So I can't get by the game just making stylistic changes - the rules absolutely facilitated that.

When you have classy, smart and cross era players like Grant Hill/Steve Nash/Kobe stating this, it must be true.

Of course, the league adjusted and found a new style, but it took some time. But from the get go, it was a noticeable difference in spacing and ease to the rim in particular.

[Djoker]

The impact of perimeter handchecking might be overstated by some but it definitely is a thing that makes defense easier. Even in the modern NBA especially in the playoffs, some handchecking is allowed (not completely black and white) but back then putting your hand on the offensive player or using one arm to defend them in the post was not a foul. Today it almost always is. bledredwine is absolutely correct about that point.

Another rule difference that also made defenses tougher back then though was the lack of defensive 3 seconds. Defensive bigs could camp under the rim so they would rarely if ever be forced outside making rim baskets way tougher.

And then there's stylistic differences like lack of spacing, lower pace etc. that also made scoring tougher.

[manlisten]

So to summarize, OP doesn't actually know what hand checking is?

[bledredwine]

The impact of perimeter handchecking might be overstated by some but it definitely is a thing that makes defense easier. Even in the modern NBA especially in the playoffs, some handchecking is allowed (not completely black and white) but back then putting your hand on the offensive player or using one arm to defend them in the post was not a foul. Today it almost always is. bledredwine is absolutely correct about that point.

Another rule difference that also made defenses tougher back then though was the lack of defensive 3 seconds. Defensive bigs could camp under the rim so they would rarely if ever be forced outside making rim baskets way tougher.

And then there's stylistic differences like lack of spacing, lower pace etc. that also made scoring tougher.

100% It's not as exaggerated or impactful as some make it seem in interviews, but makes a difference. I also agree that the 3 second vio is significantly more impactful.

I also have seen it in the current league, but rarely and without resistance allowed.

But then there are cross era players who talk and make me wondder about it

Watch on YouTube

KG and Sheed talking about it, for example.

[FrodoBaggins]

A few things:

1) 3 seconds in the key wasn't a new rule. It was the only aspect that was left over. The removal of the rest of the Illegal Defense Guidelines starting in 2001-02 changed how defensive three seconds functioned.

1966-67:

The following language was added to the Zone Defense Rule: "After the offensive team has advanced the ball to its front court, a defensive player may not station himself in the key area longer than three seconds if it is apparent he is making no effort to play an opponent. The three second count starts when the offensive team is in clear control in the front court."

A 1978 NYT article discussing the NBA's zone defense guidelines:

The zone defense has no future in the National Basketball Association, according to the league's supervisor of officials. Teams that try to play or camouflage zones in the future are likely to be subjected to harsher penalties than before.

“The majority of general managers and coaches I have spoken with are against zones,” said Norm Drucker, the supervisor of N.B.A. officials, yesterday. “I'm currently working on new language for the rules and attached penalties that will make things so severe teams won't want to play them.” He said the new language would be presented to the Competition and Rules Committee for approval at its next meeting.

Drucker would not disclose his recommendations. The N.B.A. rule, rewritten a couple of years ago, gives these guidelines for zones:

¶Any type of pressing defense is legal, whether it is a frontcourt press or a backcourt press, and by any number of players.

¶After the offensive team has advanced the ball into its front court, a defensive player may not station himself inside the 16‐foot key area longer than three seconds, if it is apparent he is making no effort to play an opponent. “Playing an opponent is defined as being six to eight feet from any opposing player. The three‐second count starts when the offensive team is in clear control of the ball in its front court.

¶When the ball has passed center court, no defensive player can guard an area of the court instead of guarding an opponent.

The furor over the use of the zone defenses began last week when Richie Powers, the senior N.B.A. official, said he would permit the Atlanta Hawks and the Nets to use zone defenses in violation of the rule. His apparent objective was to force a showdown on the viability of the rule.

Powers Fined $2,500

Powers had said, “I've been fighting against this rule over the years because of its difficulty in enforcement and the fact that it's easily circumvented by coaches when they choose.”

Larry O'Brien, the N.B.A. commissioner, reacted by fining Powers $2,500 and suspending him without pay for three games.

Powers met with O'Brien and Simon Gourdine, the deputy commissioner, yesterday. After the meeting, the N.B.A. issued this statement:

“Powers’ restated his admission that he had exceeded his authority in his failure to enforce league procedure with regard to zone defenses. In addition, he assured them there would be no repetition of this conduct in the future.

“Powers said he fully accepted the three‐game suspension without pay, but asked for a review of the $2,500 fine. O'Brien will take his request under advisement.”

Powers is scheduled to resume work on Saturday.

2) Hand-checking was outlawed in a bid to curtail violence prior to the 1978-79 NBA season. This led to one of the highest single-season increases in league-average offensive rating in NBA history:

1977-78: 100.9 ORtg
1978-79: 103.8 ORtg

1978-79: Clarification added to prohibit hand-checking through "rigid enforcement" of rule allowing a defensive player to retain contact with his opponent so long as he does not impede his opponent's progress.

“A defensive player is permitted to • retain contact with his opponent so long as he does not impede his progress. However, hand‐checking will be eliminated by rigid enforcement of this rule by all three officials. The illegal use of hands will not be permitted.”

There was initial backlash from the players:

The National Basketball Players Association says it will work toward the removal of the rule. Most of the players feel the rule is not working for them and is making the game dull for the fans.

Larry Fleisher, the general counsel of the players’ association, said:

“People want to see players work harder to get their 2 points. The thrill of seeing a guy take a 20‐foot jump shot, glide to the basket or stuff a ball is over. What the fan cries out for is hardnosed defense and team play. It's clear the ban on hand‐checking makes it more difficult and you have to go through a whole new learning process to play defense.”

Some players liked the change:

Abdul‐Jabbar agrees with the ban. The change has freed the 7‐foot‐2‐inch Abdul‐Jabbar to unleash his total offensive arsensal.

“For the first time in years,” said Abdul‐Jabbar “we're back to playing basketball. Last season Artis Gilmore would push me out of the way to post up. Now he's reluctant to do that, because they're calling fouls on the contact, which is the way it should be.

“Admittedly, it makes the game tougher for everybody. You have to play defense the way it should be played, instead of relying on pushing, shoving and elbowing. When a player does that now, he can expect to hear whistle and have a foul called on him.”

Jerry West, the Laker coach, echoes his star center's words.

“The ban on hand‐checking would have been great when I was .playing,” said West. “That's one thing I despised more than anything, was the ‐pushing and shoving. The ban has helped the finesse players. I was taught that to play defense, you had to learn to handcheck. But I never liked playing that way. I've always believed that the best way to play defense was to move your feet, not your hands.”

While others didn't:

Most players, feel the ban cramps their style.

Tom Henderson, the Washington Bullets’ backcourt man, has complained:

“They're ruining the game, calling all this hand‐checking. “We have been hand‐checking since we've been in the league and it isn't an easy habit to break.”

Bob Lanier, the Detroit Piston center, said: “I didn't hand‐check much anyway so it didn't make much difference to me on defense. But when you've got to play Kareem, Walton and Gilmore, you've got to rely on hands. How else are you going to stop them?”

M.L. Carr of the Pistons said that the ban benefits the offensive player and it shouldn't be that way. He added: “I don't think the fights were directly attributed to hand‐checking anyway. Mostly they are caused by frustration. A player is upset with himself and he swings out at the nearest guy because he's frustrated.”

Paul Silas, the Seattle SuperSonics’ forward and president of the players’ group, said, “ It is a non‐contact rule in a contact sport.”

The NBA also continually modified and made additions to the Illegal Defense rule during this period of time. Zone had been outlawed since January 11, 1947, but these expanded guidelines significantly clarified what constituted prohibited tactics on defense.

1978-79: Technical foul imposed on team instead of warning for first illegal defense and two technical fouls imposed for second and all subsequent violations. Illegal defense rules modified.

1981-82: Zone defense rules clarified substantially with new rules for Illegal Defensive Alignments.

a. Weak side defenders may come in the pro lane (16’), but not in the college lane (12’) for more than three seconds.
b. Defender on post player is allowed in defensive three-second area (A post player is any player adjacent to paint area).
c. Player without ball may not be double-teamed from weak side.
d. Offensive player above foul line and inside circle must be played by defender inside dotted line.
e. If offensive player is above the top of the circle, defender must come to a position above foul line.
f. Defender on cutter must follow the cutter, switch, or double-team the ball.
• After the first illegal defense violation, the clock is reset to 24 seconds. All subsequent violations result in one free throw and possession of the ball. If any violation occurs during the last 24 seconds of each quarter or overtime period, the offended team receives one free throw.

1983-84: If a shot is taken simultaneously with a whistle for an illegal defense, and is successful, the basket shall count and no penalty shall be imposed.

Other changes were made, like the removal of the "three-to-make-two" and "two-to-make-one" free-throw rules, as well as the addition of the clear-path foul. Along with some alterations to the positioning of throw-ins and jump-balls. But after 1985, aside from flagrant foul modifications to combat Detroit/New York goon ball, almost no major rule changes were made until the 1994-95 NBA season. That's when the three-point line was shortened and hand-checking from baseline to the opposite free-throw line was "banned" again.

3) Whether something was a "new" rule or a re-emphasis/re-interpretation isn't that important. The 2004-05 hand-checking and blocking/charge foul points of emphasis had an obvious and immediate impact on empowering offense and perimeter players.

4) Dribble hand-offs and pick-and-rolls weren't new plays. They were straight out of the '40s, '50s, and '60s, with roots even earlier than that. The addition of the three-point line and the general progression of loosening to dribbling, carrying, and traveling rules has made them more effective in modern times. As well as more illegal screening and less hand-checking/forearm-checking.

The point? Rules and their interpretations heavily influence the meta/most effective/most optimal strategy and therefore the style of play within an era. The '80s and '90s were all about exploiting the Illegal Defense Guidelines which enforced a degree of spacing regardless of offensive ability and handicapped help defense.

These issues were exposed once the pace of play slowed down in the early '90s. It led to isolation-heavy play, whether from the perimeter or the post, two-man play on one side of the court, and defensively-slanted personnel/lineups.

The rule changes, additions, modifications, re-interpretations, and points of emphasis introduced in the late '70s and early '80s changed how NBA teams played on both ends of the court. It had wildly grand short-term success, leading to the NBA's cultural and commercial peak. But it laid the foundation for the ugly Deadball era of the mid-to-late '90s and early '00s.

[LockoutSeason]

It was banned in 1979. Another player from the ‘80s and ‘90s claiming they played in the handchecking era is lying.

End of discussion.

[SpreeS]

Kenny, when you dont have good handles or fast first step, you play with your butt to save the ball. Look at Tim Hardaway/ Isiah Thomas/ Kevin Johnson/ Iverson who had both and play in handcheking era... they played every day and night face up game.

I would like to see how you use handchecking against prime Curry/Morant/Paul/Irving/Lillard/Fox/Westbrook/Rose. You need to have prime Payton on every team that handchecking would work on these guys. Avg point guard who is to close on defence to these players would be left in the dust even with handchecking. The level of athleticism and skills packages are on different level.