When you prepare certain foods they should have a particular texture and taste to them and when you go to a concert featuring a certain artist you know what songs to expect.
Basketball is the same way.
In my opinion basketball should have a flow to it and I see that missing many times these days.
A beautiful basketball play is one in which the ball is never dribbled, but instead passed from teammate to teammate resulting in an open shot, be it a jumper or a layup.
What I see so many times now in both boys’ and girls’ high school basketball, college basketball, and the final minutes of many NBA games more closely resembles a street fight than a basketball game.
I believe officials, and I am not naming individuals here because it is too widespread, allow there to be too much scratching and clawing and that interrupts the flow of the game. Yes, I believe that a team should be able to use their athleticism, but there is a certain line that shouldn’t be crossed and that line has been crossed long ago.
I understand phrases like “let the players decide outcome,” but there must be certain things that constitute a foul has been committed. Speaking of clichés, you remember, of course, “No blood, no foul” right?
Well, in a recent game I watched in person a player bit another player – that’s right, bit another player – for no call. Come on!!
I heard someone, a former official a matter of fact, say “I am not going to call a foul unless a clear advantage has been gained.”
When I am dribbling the ball and you cut me off at a 90 degree angle, reaching in and creating contact, isn’t that a foul? Aren’t you getting an unfair advantage? You would think.
When teams are shooting less than 10 free throws in a game that seems like it is almost impossible to imagine in a game that features full court, pressing defense.
Organizations, whether it be the NCAA or the OHSAA, are always saying they want to do something to reduce the physical play in basketball. That was the original reason for including a third official for games, so they can see more things happening, especially close the basket.Well, I am here to tell you that isn’t happening.
I say just follow the rules of the game and things would be less physical.
I think officials are being told to let the kids play, I agree with that to a certain degree, but I think we have lost that balance.
Also, a note to coaches, we as fans would much rather see a game in the 70’s than one in the 40’s. It is much more exciting. I also understand that teams with lesser talent sometimes try to reduce the number of possessions by slowing the pace. That’s a good strategy, but why do athletic teams slow the pace?
Come on everybody, let’s get with it and create some flow to this game we love.
After years of toil and sweat behind radio station microphones, longtime broadcaster, Jeff Swank joined the new generation of sports followers on the web.
Swank launched his internet radio station with nothing more than some wire, a box with some knobs and switches, and an itch to do much more than just scratch the surface of everything sports.
Richland Source is proud to introduce Jeff as a writer focused on high school sports. He will contribute a weekly column and analysis of a featured game of the week from one of our area high schools.
In addition to his work at Richland Source, Jeff provides complete high school sports coverage for over 70 Ohio schools at his web site, http://www.swankonsports.net76.net/.
