New NBA ball will be gone: Leather ball will return on Jan. 1

[allball]

http://www.insidehoops.com/leather-returns-121106.shtml

[adamcz]

Wow I didn't see this one coming. And to think that I was annoyed the Bucks brand new secondary logo features the old ball. I'm glad they ignored my request to change that.

[VCDrivesAPorscheToWork]

do you think it will take players a short time to readjust back to the NBA leather ball? especially the rookies?

[Jailblazers7]

it was dumb to do it in the first place

[Skywalker]

Good news.

[Real Men Wear Green]

I didn't know about the ball cutting hands. Guess the complaining was justified.

<---Apologizes to every player except for Paul Pierce, who probably boosted the ball up because Spaulding is paying him.

[statman32]

WOW...very surprising

Say goodbye to your stats kevin martin

[haterofhaters]

"a stunning move" is an understatement. i'm sure a lot of players are happy, but also, after playing 3 months (including the preseason) with the ball, they're gonna have to get used to regular bounces as opposed to those weird bounces that ball takes off the rim.

[niko]

good, my head hurts every time it takes one of those sticky bounces and falls in.

[305Baller]

I think the question is now:

Will the ball be leather but have the same design with the black lines or will it be the original?

[Jailblazers7]

I think the question is now:

Will the ball be leather but have the same design with the black lines or will it be the original?

hopefully the original

[wang4three]

It's ok, he operates in PST, so he's 3 hours slower than the real America.

[hotsizzle]

good. but stern is proving to be a lil scared b!tch after that suit the players' union raised. he pulled the "if the players dont like it" card to cover up:oldlol:

[Rab]

I didn't know about the ball cutting hands. Guess the complaining was justified.

<---Apologizes to every player except for Paul Pierce, who probably boosted the ball up because Spaulding is paying him.
I think the cuts were from players that handle the ball a lot, a la Steve Nash and Jason Kidd. Also, a lot of the assistant coaches were complaining about that because they pass the ball so much to players in practice. There was a lot of complaining about dryness, and cracking on their fingertips. Some even said that they have to put bandaids on their fingers before pratice to avoid that from happening. Steve Nash describes it as feeling like papercuts, and I noticed that he's had a couple of his fingers bandaged the last couple weeks.

[GOBB]

It's ok, he operates in PST, so he's 3 hours slower than the real America.

:roll:

[Younggrease]

i dont understand why they would switch mid season. Players worked all off season with this ball, now they have to adjust mid season.

I think it should have been done for next year.

[konex]

Will Kwame be able to catch the old ball? :cry:

[SoCalMike]

i dont understand why they would switch mid season. Players worked all off season with this ball, now they have to adjust mid season.

I think it should have been done for next year.

If you all remember, the players union went on the attack... Stern backed down.. which was the right thing to do and also means the players union's argument had merits.



:pimp:

[Rab]

i dont understand why they would switch mid season. Players worked all off season with this ball, now they have to adjust mid season.

I think it should have been done for next year.
I don't think it will be a problem, just like the new ball wasn't really a that big of a problem. I am surprised that they aren't going to wait, but they are NBA players, they should be fine.

[allball]

I finally got my hands on one of those new balls last week. I hated it immediately. good move for a change.

[vert48]

Bunch of overpaid crybabies.

[Younggrease]

Will Kwame be able to catch the old ball? :cry:

prob not.. the lakers are gonna go back to before. Luke wont be able to shoot and Kwame wont be able to catch the ball. Its a sad day in Lakerland

[Laker Logic]

Be interesting to see what happens to turnovers across the league.

[GOBB]

Stephen A Smith made a good point. Stern gives the players the ball. He now hs fans/players talkin about that and overlookin the fact he doesnt CARE about giving in to the ball issue. What he wont give in is the refs slapping players quickly for verbal harrassment during a game. THAT is what he cares about and he will fight tooth and nail to keep that rule in effect and enforced.

So while everyone screaming YIPPEE for the new ball, that is the least of the problems. Stern threw u a bone and you're happy but you ignore the crappy yard you play in.

Stern wins again.

[305Baller]

They pulled it quicker than New Coke.

New Coke > Micro Fiber Ball

[Rab]

No more crazy shooters bounces.

I'm more excited because the nets will swoosh like they are supposed to now.

[vert48]

Stephen A Smith made a good point. Stern gives the players the ball. He now hs fans/players talkin about that and overlookin the fact he doesnt CARE about giving in to the ball issue. What he wont give in is the refs slapping players quickly for verbal harrassment during a game. THAT is what he cares about and he will fight tooth and nail to keep that rule in effect and enforced.

So while everyone screaming YIPPEE for the new ball, that is the least of the problems. Stern threw u a bone and you're happy but you ignore the crappy yard you play in.

Stern wins again.
That is the truth.

[305Baller]

"?So while everyone screaming YIPPEE for the new ball, that is the least of the problems. Stern threw u a bone and you're happy but you ignore the crappy yard you play in.

Stern wins again."

You WANT to see your players energy get pointlessely wasted in a no-win argument? ... let a coach work the refs...

[Rab]

"?So while everyone screaming YIPPEE for the new ball, that is the least of the problems. Stern threw u a bone and you're happy but you ignore the crappy yard you play in.

Stern wins again."

You WANT to see your players energy get pointlessely wasted in a no-win argument? ... let a coach work the refs...
Agreed....the quick T's are pretty much a thing of the past now anyway. Players don't complain as much, and when they do, they don't have a crybaby fit in the middle of court.

[eliteballer]

You can bet that the ONLY reason they are switching back is because of the cuts players are getting. In the end it's just a ball and any effect on gameplay itself is minimal at best. I wouldn't be surprised if Spalding addresses the cutting issue and the new ball(an improved version) is back as soon as next season.

[GOBB]

"?So while everyone screaming YIPPEE for the new ball, that is the least of the problems. Stern threw u a bone and you're happy but you ignore the crappy yard you play in.

Stern wins again."

You WANT to see your players energy get pointlessely wasted in a no-win argument? ... let a coach work the refs...

:confusedshrug:

Players have been barking at officials since the game first started. How is energy being wasted? Nonsense. This isnt Catholic school where the refs are the nuns and if you talk you get smacke with the ruler. Come on...the rule is pathetic and POINTLESS. And coaches workin the refs only extends so far before they draw a tech. Stop it. Just stop.

[Rab]

You can bet that the ONLY reason they are switching back is because of the cuts players are getting. In the end it's just a ball and any effect on gameplay itself is minimal at best. I wouldn't be surprised if Spalding addresses the cutting issue and the new ball(an improved version) is back as soon as next season.
That wouldn't surprise me either, but you can bet that when/if the new ball is ready, it will have gone through a lot more player testing than just a few old retired players. The faces of the league will have to unanimously back it up.

[Rab]

:confusedshrug:

Players have been barking at officials since the game first started. How is energy being wasted? Nonsense. This isnt Catholic school where the refs are the nuns and if you talk you get smacke with the ruler. Come on...the rule is pathetic and POINTLESS. And coaches workin the refs only extends so far before they draw a tech. Stop it. Just stop.
I don't have a problem with players and refs interacting. I have a problem with players arguing EVERY single damn call that there is. I think the big difference here is the way players plead their case. Throwing a fit like a two year old stomping your feet on the floor, and throwing your arms up in the air like you;ve never commmited a foul in your life is completely uneccassary. The quick t's were kind of like baptism by fire type deal to get the players to think about the way they talked and complained to the refs. Now, the quick t's aren't there as much anymore, and most players don't act like some kid stole their favorite toy.

[theinfamousmobb]

Sweet, now Wade will actually start making his bank shots like he was last season.

[Smokee]

Stephen A Smith made a good point. Stern gives the players the ball. He now hs fans/players talkin about that and overlookin the fact he doesnt CARE about giving in to the ball issue. What he wont give in is the refs slapping players quickly for verbal harrassment during a game. THAT is what he cares about and he will fight tooth and nail to keep that rule in effect and enforced.

So while everyone screaming YIPPEE for the new ball, that is the least of the problems. Stern threw u a bone and you're happy but you ignore the crappy yard you play in.

Stern wins again.


you cant win against a dictator with that much power. Anyone else would take some major heat for screwing up the ball issue like this or it even becoming an issue when it was never an issue before this season. Stern did it on his whim, just like all these other new rules. Almost anyone that ****ed up like that would get fired or some backlash but Stern doesnt really answer to anyone.

and Stern pretty much had to do it with the ball cutting some players fingers. They talked about it last night in the Suns game with Nash and how he had to bandage his fingers. one of the commentators said it looked pretty nasty.

its just stupid tho how they changed it in the first place because some owners wife whos into PETA reccomended they change it in passing to Stern. Dude is like Mousalini of the NBA :rollingeyes:

[305Baller]

"?Players have been barking at officials since the game first started. How is energy being wasted? Nonsense. This isnt Catholic school where the refs are the nuns and if you talk you get smacke with the ruler. Come on...the rule is pathetic and POINTLESS. And coaches workin the refs only extends so far before they draw a tech. Stop it. Just stop."?

Its always annoyed me, and it wasnt until the 90s that players really started becoming very whiny and recently it was just getting dumb. Why defend this behavior? I dont get it.

Watch classic NBA and notice how the players were cooler in the 70s and 80s... they didnt complain like *****es.

[lakers-city]

first good decision by stern since like...forever.

[Smokee]

I don't have a problem with players and refs interacting. I have a problem with players arguing EVERY single damn call that there is. I think the big difference here is the way players plead their case. Throwing a fit like a two year old stomping your feet on the floor, and throwing your arms up in the air like you;ve never commmited a foul in your life is completely uneccassary. The quick t's were kind of like baptism by fire type deal to get the players to think about the way they talked and complained to the refs. Now, the quick t's aren't there as much anymore, and most players don't act like some kid stole their favorite toy.


well its not like they can because they'll get a quick T. Theres a difference between tightening up on the players crying and this no tolerance that Stern put in. He's basically conditioning them to play like robots right now and there isnt **** they can do about it.

Personally i think the new carry rule is the dumbest thing they put in. I can understand calling some **** AI would do, but alot of the carry calls this year are rediculouosly stupid and definitely not consistent. Its nuts how one player gets called for a carry for half a crossover while another player who does the same exact thing doesnt. Refs got way too much power this year and i blame it all on that dictator Stern :(

[GOBB]

Its always annoyed me, and it wasnt until the 90s that players really started becoming very whiny and recently it was just getting dumb. Why defend this behavior? I dont get it.

I dont mind it...i agree with RAB tho when its constant complaining then that to me gets annoying. But giving them some feedback is cool. Often goes unnoticed to me. I do hate when a player cries at a ref and the team is at the other end trying to defend 4 on 5. So i wont say i'm completely for all barking. There are cases where I'm like "T his ass up!". But ehhh it annoys you and you like this rule. You're not alone, I'm sure others see it your way.

:cheers:

[gsxr1kryder]

they should've never changed in the first place.

deep down, i still think it was all a marketing strategy in hopes that people would buy the new ball. the NBA store and several sports catalogs I got had the new ball listed where you could purchase it. I don't remember ever seeing the old leather ball for sale in catalogs. I'm sure they weren't selling very many of the old leather ball, so they thought they would come up with a new concept. only thing was, the stupid thing was still like 100 bucks. and then all these high profile players badmouthing it, sales probably went flatline.

also, it'll be interesting to see what excuses players come up with if their field goal percentage doesn't go up, or the turnovers don't decrease, as they said the new ball caused problems in both of these areas.

[bagelred]

This has been bizarre from day one.

I never understood why it was changed in the first place, as it was never made clear.

I never believed Stern would go back to the old ball.

I am stunned.


This is David Stern's "New Coke" fiasco. For those too young to remember, google "New Coke"....

[StroShow4]

Bunch of overpaid crybabies.

i agree.. maybe they shouldnt have changed it in the first place, but they did, so just get over it and keep the damn ball atleast until next year.

[crisoner]

Maybe with the new ball the Jazz will start to suck again and the Heat will be good?

[bagelred]

i agree.. maybe they shouldnt have changed it in the first place, but they did, so just get over it and keep the damn ball atleast until next year.

Unless they find there is an actual, real problem with the ball....e.g. it doesn't bounce right, too slippery, etc., i agree. They should just finish this season with new ball and then go back.

But I guess maybe they DID find real problems and legitimate grievances, and said "let's just switch".

But if you think about it, what's the difference if they switch? We all have played hoops on the playground and each time you play it's a different type of ball. So you adjust...not a big deal.

It'll take players 2 games to adjust and it'll be no big deal. It's just the whole situation looks ridiculous.

[MaxFly]

This is certainly surprising; I didn't expect Stern to cave on this. I wonder how he'll approach the tech situation. My guess is that he'll choose to fight that one.

[Rab]

well its not like they can because they'll get a quick T. Theres a difference between tightening up on the players crying and this no tolerance that Stern put in. He's basically conditioning them to play like robots right now and there isnt **** they can do about it.

Personally i think the new carry rule is the dumbest thing they put in. I can understand calling some **** AI would do, but alot of the carry calls this year are rediculouosly stupid and definitely not consistent. Its nuts how one player gets called for a carry for half a crossover while another player who does the same exact thing doesnt. Refs got way too much power this year and i blame it all on that dictator Stern :(
Sure they can.

Let's think about this for a minute. Who is a ref going to listen to more? Someone who has a Rasheed hissy fit and barks and swears, and gets up in the refs face, or someone who they can have a civil, semi-respectable debate with over a call. I'm telling you, the quick t's aren't a factor anymore. What is a Rasheed reaction going to get you? Do you think the refs are going to back down and be scared because a player got in their face? I understand the game of basketball is all about emotion. It should be. But, emotion should not overcome temper tantrums. It's that simple. A player CAN control how they react to a call. The league has adjusted, as they should've. Now, we don't see those stupid outburts, and the game is better.

And the carrying and traveling calls should be called. Players were beginning to get away with too much with the ball. Moving their feet before dribbling, carrying on a crossover...it got out of hand.

[leasky24]

NBA to Go Back to Old Ball
Monday, December 11, 2006 5:14 PM EST
The Associated Press
By BRIAN MAHONEY

NEW YORK (AP)

[leasky24]

YEWW what you guys think the new nba ball is gone

[thenextgreatbigman]

i hope they start selling the "new" ones for cheap since nobody's using them

[bigboi_baller]

WOW...very surprising

Say goodbye to your stats kevin martin
I doubt it. Kevin Martin swishes in a lot of his buckets. Swishes work the same way with the old ball. It has a greater effect on shots that roll around the rim.

Nevertheless, I will be watching how much of an effect it has on him.

[geeWiz15]

I think if the league is going to do this they have to change the results of the Nets vs. Wizards game earlier this year. VC hit a game tying 3 at the buzzer to send it to OT, but the old ball it would have been a brick. new ball thudded on the back of the rim and calmly rolled in. total BS. carter bricked that shot, period.

[MaxFly]

I wonder how players will re-adjust to the new ball.


Mark Cuban is somewhere just :roll: :roll: :roll:

I can't wait to hear his comments.

[Mathius]

I think part of the problems with Stern's rule changes is exactly what someone said. He's becoming a dictator. I think the players association decided to take a step, albeit a baby step towards pushing back. I don't see where the commissioner should or needs to be a dictator.

My biggest issue with the new T'ing policy is not so much the behavior issue, but the fact that the referees have become untouchable. You can't talk about calls outside a game, or you're fined. You can't complain inside the game because you're called for a technical. So where are the checks and balances on the refs?

And personally I can't stand Stephen A. Smith and I wish he'd get throat cancer so I don't have to hear him (ok, I didn't mean that literally).

But concerning his comment about Stern giving back the little play but holding back on the matters that really mean something to him... I don't think that's entirely accurate.

It's no secret that Spaulding was really pushing for the new ball. I don't know if the new ball is less expensive to make, costs more or what the deal is, but I think this isn't so small an issue as it sounds. I think it causes Stern some issues with one of the biggest sponsors in the league.

Mathius

[jbot]

what a waste of $ to make/introduce that new ball. stern obviously didn't do enough r&d. what a dork.

[Targus]

maybe bibby's shot will finally start dropping..sheesh..

[bigkingsfan]

I guess the new ball will be in the clearance section at Wal-Mart for $4.99.

[XxNeXuSxX]

I guess the new ball will be in the clearance section at Wal-Mart for $4.99.
I actually think the price will skyrocket. I said this before before the season when I said if it gets discontinued, it would become a "special edition collectors rare item."

[lawlerslaw100]

Good to see the Stern dictatorship cave in on this on. The new
ball does some weird *****. It sticks to the hands of the players
and is causing cuts on the hands of PGs. It gets stuck between
the rim and backboard. It clanks off of the rim and goes in and
out robbing many a shot. The ball dribbles weird and causes
more unforced TOs than the good old one.

The new ball isnt as cheap as I thought. I saw one advertised
at Sportschalet (sportschalet.com) for $100 yesterday.:cry:

[JSub]

I actually think the price will skyrocket. I said this before before the season when I said if it gets discontinued, it would become a "special edition collectors rare item."

Why would people pay extra for a rubber playground ball that everyone hates? I would hardly consider this cheap composite P-O-S to be a collector's item.

[XxNeXuSxX]

Why would people pay extra for a rubber playground ball that everyone hates? I would hardly consider this cheap composite P-O-S to be a collector's item.
In 5 years it will be valuable, I'm talking $500 a piece.

[bence23]

part of me doesnt want it to come back teh way the suns are playin:oldlol:

[305Baller]

I think your right, it could be a collectors item...

[Shepseskaf]

They pulled it quicker than New Coke.

New Coke > Micro Fiber Ball
I actually thought New Coke was better.

Smart move by Stern. This was a no-brainer, but he could have turned stubborn and kept the new ball for the whole year. A lesson for the Godfather that he needs to consult with players before making a decision affecting the integrity of the game.

I don't think he'll cave on the tech situation, which will resolve itself in the end. With less player histrionics, the need to give out more techs will disappear.

[picc84]

part of me doesnt want it to come back teh way the suns are playin:oldlol:

You will when Steve Nash's hands are fishnets by march.

[icemanfan]

i am pumped, great news!

[ClutchCityReturns]

Stephen A Smith made a good point.

It'd be the first time.

As for the ball, I think they should have switched it back last year so there's no problem with adjusting mid-season, but in theory I love that they are reverting.

[asd]

"After more than two months of complaining by some of its biggest superstars and scores of other players, the NBA is giving the boot to its new microfiber composite basketball and bringing back the old leather ball that had been in use for 36 years."

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/basketball/story/479404p-403276c.html

[MaxFly]

Stern admitted that he was wrong. I wonder what else he's been wrong about.

[asd]

i work a blocks away from the nba store...gonna pick up the ball *collector's item* during lunch

[Jasper]

reliving the thread that the NBA decided that a leather ball was to costly to use :facepalm

The historic times of the NBA

[Im Still Ballin]

This is why scoring was up in 2005-2006.

[egokiller]

There was a time when many high schools switched to this ball:

http://shop.wilson.com/media/catalog/product/cache/38/image/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/w/t/wtb0600r-1.jpg

I've used it and the grip is so much better.

[ArbitraryWater]

This is why scoring was up in 2005-2006.

I forgot this was a big part of it

[aj1987]

I forgot this was a big part of it
You didn't forget. You were still in diapers.

[Suguru101]

You didn't forget. You were still in diapers.

God damn :biggums:

Murder.

[egokiller]

Savage

[!@#$%Vectors!@#]

You didn't forget. You were still in diapers.

http://cdn.rsvlts.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/qKSn2LB-Imgur.gif


http://67.media.tumblr.com/4589887e105f7ae491ea7aff7d766c08/tumblr_mt7zdsIpUM1rqfhi2o1_500.gif

[dunksby]

You didn't forget. You were still in diapers.
To get owned in a thread from a decade ago :oldlol:

[ZMonkey11]

You didn't forget. You were still in diapers.
:roll: :roll: :roll: