Champ
05-20-2022, 02:04 PM
Somewhat of a follow-up to Kblaze's excellent post on the evolution of traveling calls.
Check this clip from the '82-'83 season - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hoiim8fnv-s
Fast forward to the 1:05 mark to see Andrew Toney - a marquee player on the best team in the league that year - called for a "palm" for what today would be considered a simple hesitation dribble.
Not only is Toney whistled for the violation, but both announcers also call it out (one being Bob Cousy) AND the crowd responds like it knows the player just did something wrong.
These days you wouldn't see any of these reactions - not from the refs, not from the announcers, and especially not from the fans.
IMO, ball handling rules have altered the game more than anything else, including the three. The increased freedom afforded to ball handlers has allowed players and offenses to operate in ways previously unimaginable, changing the game in myriad ways. Ball handling is now arguably considered the most premium skill a player can have - greater than size, rebounding, passing, defense, and perhaps even shooting, simply because it's the most frequently utilized skill in today's game that allows players to break down defenses and create offense.
Today, we see Toney's move at least a few hundred times per game. It is considered a foundational dribbling technique that's actively taught to younger players to increase separation between yourself and your defender.
But believe or not, there was a time when this simple move was flat-out illegal. And it was being consistently enforced during what we consider the modern game.
Check this clip from the '82-'83 season - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hoiim8fnv-s
Fast forward to the 1:05 mark to see Andrew Toney - a marquee player on the best team in the league that year - called for a "palm" for what today would be considered a simple hesitation dribble.
Not only is Toney whistled for the violation, but both announcers also call it out (one being Bob Cousy) AND the crowd responds like it knows the player just did something wrong.
These days you wouldn't see any of these reactions - not from the refs, not from the announcers, and especially not from the fans.
IMO, ball handling rules have altered the game more than anything else, including the three. The increased freedom afforded to ball handlers has allowed players and offenses to operate in ways previously unimaginable, changing the game in myriad ways. Ball handling is now arguably considered the most premium skill a player can have - greater than size, rebounding, passing, defense, and perhaps even shooting, simply because it's the most frequently utilized skill in today's game that allows players to break down defenses and create offense.
Today, we see Toney's move at least a few hundred times per game. It is considered a foundational dribbling technique that's actively taught to younger players to increase separation between yourself and your defender.
But believe or not, there was a time when this simple move was flat-out illegal. And it was being consistently enforced during what we consider the modern game.