revision

_posts/2012-05-03-nba.md

@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ title: 3 rule changes for the NBA
 NBA playoff season is here, one of my favorite times of the year. As always, I'll be rooting for my Lakers to win #17, and Kobe to win #6. I will be hating on Lebron and the Miami Heat. I seriously loathe that team, even more than the Celtics. Anyway, as much as I love NBA basketball, there are a few rules that really bug me, and could easily be changed to improve the game. 
 
 ###1. No more jump balls
-Two of my three rule changes take a cue from college basketball. The jump ball is such a silly mess. I don't know why they even bother with it. First of all, it's too hard to toss the ball perfectly straight and at the right height. Most of the time, the toss is horrible, and they either have to redo it, or whoever happened to be closer to the lopsided toss gets it. Other times, people will be jostling for position, and the ref has to stop and make sure there are no violations. And then even if someone controls the tip, there's often a lot of contact among the other players, and it ends up going to the other team. The solution to this problem is simple. Just alternate possessions like they do in college. It's much simpler and more fair than a jump ball. The height and jumping ability of players involved in a held ball shouldn't dictate who gets it. Neither should a bad toss. In college, they still have a jump ball to start the game. I would be ok with keeping this for tradition's sake, but I think it would be easier to just give first possession to the road team (a la baseball) and then alternate on any held ball, stuck ball, and start of quarters.
+Two of my three rule changes take a cue from college basketball. The jump ball is such a silly mess. I don't know why they even bother with it. First of all, it's too hard to toss the ball perfectly straight and at the right height. Most of the time, the toss is horrible, and they either have to redo it, or whoever happened to be closer to the lopsided toss gets it. Other times, people will be jostling for position, and the ref has to stop and make sure there are no violations. And then even if someone controls the tip, there's often a lot of contact among the other players, and it ends up going to the other team. The solution to this problem is simple. Just alternate possessions like they do in college. It's much simpler and more fair than a jump ball. The height and jumping ability of players involved in a held ball shouldn't dictate who gets it. Neither should a bad toss. 
 
 <!--break-->