20 years ago, there was NBA criticism about the opposite of now: lack of offense and unbalanced in favor of defense

[C to the K]

https://vault.si.com/vault/2004/02/16/score-bored-rule-changes-have-failed-to-return-the-nba-to-fast-breaking-free-wheeling-hoops-but-fear-not-fans-the-author-has-solutions-radical-but-real

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/wbna5088484

The famous Derek Fisher 0.4 game had a final score of 74-73!

It’s funny how the NBA for all the criticisms about traveling once had a time when basically buckets were so scarce they couldn’t even travel across court to the opposing bucket

[Hair Jordan]

The league has gone the opposite direction and not in a good way. No hand checking, the defensive three second rule, no calls on obvious traveling/carrying/palming violations, changing the rules to allow players to change their pivot foot on a “step through” etc. I understand it’s basically entertainment but prostituting the rule book to increase scoring is a big disservice in my opinion for true fans of the game and it also skews the stats favorably for modern players. Guys scoring 70+ like it’s nothing, 60 point triple doubles, 40+ players averaging 20+ points, guys in their late 30’s putting up better stat lines then they did in their late 20’s etc. It’s all a bit much.

[Homer38]

In 2004,the pistons won a series in the ECF with only 75 points per game....They won the game 6 69-65!

[wade44]

You mean a time where scoring points was meaningful?

[CBS7]

Its a catch 22, because even though you want buckets to be more meaningful, and a lot of people say the game is unwatchable with all the travelling/carrying/3PT shooting going on, but the iso/post/ball pounding/defense fests weren't exactly watchable either. I know there will be contrarians who say that they LIKE seeing games end 69-65, but they are the minority.

Obviously the sweet spot is somewhere in the middle. Personally I think its from the late 2000s (2008 or so) to the early 3pt explosion (Warriors first championship was beautiful basketball)

[C to the K]

You mean a time where scoring points was meaningful?

A time when basically defensive stats were inflated and basically games were a chore to watch

The 04 Pistons were a product of handchecking

[C to the K]

The league has gone the opposite direction and not in a good way. No hand checking, the defensive three second rule, no calls on obvious traveling/carrying/palming violations, changing the rules to allow players to change their pivot foot on a “step through” etc. I understand it’s basically entertainment but prostituting the rule book to increase scoring is a big disservice in my opinion for true fans of the game and it also skews the stats favorably for modern players. Guys scoring 70+ like it’s nothing, 60 point triple doubles, 40+ players averaging 20+ points, guys in their late 30’s putting up better stat lines then they did in their late 20’s etc. It’s all a bit much.

So apparently it’s OK to prostitute the rule book to decrease scoring? No illegal defenses, zone defenses and hand checking basically basically unbalanced the gane in favor of defense.

Night after night games were a chore to watch, all defense and zero offense, for “True fans of the game” when the NBA literally turned into WWE

[Sedale Threatt]

If the NBA were a video game I'd definitely turn down the offensive sliders a bit. But the game was getting to be virtually unwatchable. The 2005 Finals was probably the worst display of basketball I've ever seen. Something had to be done.

[Sedale Threatt]

In 2004,the pistons won a series in the ECF with only 75 points per game....They won the game 6 69-65!

And then went on to lose a championship series in 05 in which they held their opponent to 85 ppg on 43 FG% over seven games.

Anti-basketball.

[JRoy]

You mean a time where scoring points was meaningful?

A time when basically defensive stats were inflated and basically games were a chore to watch

The 04 Pistons were a product of handchecking

That was a great finals.

[C to the K]

You mean a time where scoring points was meaningful?

A time when basically defensive stats were inflated and basically games were a chore to watch

The 04 Pistons were a product of handchecking

That was a great finals.

It was so great the NBA had no choice but to change rules

[JRoy]

A time when basically defensive stats were inflated and basically games were a chore to watch

The 04 Pistons were a product of handchecking

That was a great finals.

It was so great the NBA had no choice but to change rules

Casuals love teh threezors

[C to the K]

That was a great finals.

It was so great the NBA had no choice but to change rules

Casuals love teh threezors

I am by no means a casual fan but after the 05 Finals I stopped watching basketball until 2011

[JRoy]

It was so great the NBA had no choice but to change rules

Casuals love teh threezors

I am by no means a casual fan but after the 05 Finals I stopped watching basketball until 2011

What brought you back?

[alebaba]

changing the rules to allow players to change their pivot foot on a “step through” .

I remember playing pick up ball back in the days and this would be a travel, now its a legit move. It's almost impossible to guard anybody even if they pick up their dribble.....

I was taught the moment you change your pivot foot its a travel..

[Nate505]

This 3 point chucking era is just as horrible and unwatchable as the grind it out for every point era was.

I'm not against 3s, but the line needs to be moved back. It needs to be a shot that's somewhat special, not a 35 attempts a game shot.

[og15]

changing the rules to allow players to change their pivot foot on a “step through” .

I remember playing pick up ball back in the days and this would be a travel, now its a legit move. It's almost impossible to guard anybody even if they pick up their dribble.....

I was taught the moment you change your pivot foot its a travel..

So first of all, just remember that people playing pick up basketball, high school coaches, many highschool refs (differences in level of quality) are NOT a good source for rules.

Here is Hubie Brown in 1995 saying the step through is not a travel:
https://youtu.be/preCDhxzd74?si=5x1aQW6js-R8eR7b

That is because it wasn't, and you see the ref does not call a travel. Hubie also explains that people wanted a travel. Why? Because most people just know the rules based on who they have played with in the past, not from the actual rule book or professional refs.

A step through is not changing your pivot foot, a step through is picking up your pivot foot, but you have to release the ball by shooting or passing before the foot comes down. If the foot comes down and you start pivoting on it, then that would be switching your pivot foot.

The step through has been used for a long time in the WNBA for example because that's what the rules have always said, you can lift your pivot foot in order to shoot or pass.

Euroleague had also allowed players to use the step through. The NBA has been unclear about it from what I've gathered. NBA refs also tended to interpret some rules based on if something felt like or looked like a travel. What has change is interpretation and clarification of these the rule in this case.

[GameOver25]

This 3 point chucking era is just as horrible and unwatchable as the grind it out for every point era was.

I'm not against 3s, but the line needs to be moved back. It needs to be a shot that's somewhat special, not a 35 attempts a game shot.

Unfortunately Silver will not change anything that will affect scoring in a negative way.

[C to the K]

Casuals love teh threezors

I am by no means a casual fan but after the 05 Finals I stopped watching basketball until 2011

What brought you back?

Dirk’s playoff run

[tsherkin]

I am by no means a casual fan but after the 05 Finals I stopped watching basketball until 2011

What brought you back?

Dirk’s playoff run

That was a wonderful postseason.