Quick NBA Rules Lesson

by UofTOrange on Mar 18, 2008 11:00 AM CDT

NOT against the NBA Rules

Not sure who created that at Clutchfans (I stole it from Hornfans.com that stole it from Clutchfans) but nice work.

This is not, repeat, not, against the NBA rules. Face guarding in this manner is legal in every way. The only way to make it illegal is to face guard from behind a player without the ball. Stop saying it's illegal mainstream media and message boarders, please just stop.

Here is the rule straight from the NBA rulebook:

m. Eye guarding (placing a hand in front of the opponent's eyes when guard-ing from the rear) a player who does not have possession of the ball is illegal and an unsportsmanlike technical shall be assessed.

So there you have it, there is no reason to point out "from the rear" if it is also illegal to do it from the front. It is not illegal, end of story.

Rant over

As an add on, here is an example of journalistic integrity, Charley Rosen proving once and for all he doesn't actually read the rule books.

Relentlessly hounded by Battier, Kobe was 11-for-33 — although it must be noted that Battier face-guarded Bryant on virtually every jumper. The last time I looked at the rule book, face-guarding was illegal.

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Comments

Wait wait wait. Some people actually think putting a hand in someone's face is illegal?!

Wow.

by Ben Q. Rock on Mar 18, 2008 11:19 AM CDT reply actions

I have read that in no less than 3 mainstream media articles and countless times on message boards recently

by UofTOrange on Mar 18, 2008 11:40 AM CDT reply actions

*cries*

by Ben Q. Rock on Mar 18, 2008 11:59 AM CDT reply actions

Actually, it's legal to faceguard a shooter from behind. You just can't block someone's eyes from behind if they don't have the ball, i.e. the recipient of a pass.

by MDZ on Mar 18, 2008 12:29 PM CDT reply actions

Very true MDZ, my wording should include, "without the ball"

by UofTOrange on Mar 18, 2008 1:01 PM CDT reply actions

C'mon, make a play on the ball!

by Boutros Boutros on Mar 18, 2008 1:45 PM CDT reply actions

make a play? I'd rather just do whatever it takes to win the game.

by grungedave on Mar 18, 2008 1:47 PM CDT reply actions

From John Hollinger (Insider - free preview):
"Watching him in person three straight games has given me a new appreciation for just how effective Battier's technique is [....] The idea is to take away the high-efficiency chances -- layups, free throws and 3-pointers -- and then contest the long 2-pointers as hard as you can.

On that last item, he's perhaps as good as any player in the league, because he has a very clever move he uses to contest jump shots.

Nearly every other defensive player in the league reaches his hand up toward the ball's trajectory, hoping in vain to get a piece of the shot. Battier, in contrast, reaches his hand out -- right toward the opponent's head or preferably to a spot just above it. He has almost no chance of blocking the shot this way, because a man shooting over or behind his head will get it over Battier's hand every time. But it's very difficult for the opponent to focus on the rim when there's a big paw blocking his line of sight."

Dude does more than crunch numbers.

by Ben Q. Rock on Mar 18, 2008 2:04 PM CDT reply actions

Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU for posting this. I read Rosen's faceguarding B.S. and wanted to vomit.

by Basketbawful on Mar 18, 2008 10:06 PM CDT reply actions

http://community.foxsports.com/blogs/Tom7/2008/03/18/Face_Guarding_in_Basketball_What_Every_Sportscaster_Player_Blogger_and_Fan_Should_Know

by Anonymous on Mar 19, 2008 11:27 AM CDT reply actions

playing at a white high school whose only chance at success was to do the little things well, this was one of our staples on defense. punishment was doled as soon as one of an outside defenders hands dropped out of a static o-player's line of sight. needless to say, no fouls were ever called.

by bj on Mar 19, 2008 11:51 AM CDT reply actions

Now that it has received so much attention, players will just lean into their shots when Battier plays them to draw contact... Just wait until Manu fakes his eyes getting poked. I can imagine the whole act:
1. Rolling around on the hardwood clutching his eye.
2. Asking for a water bottle from the trainer to wash out his eye every dead ball.
3. Constantly winking and making funny faces like he clearing his vision.

by Anonymous on Mar 19, 2008 12:31 PM CDT reply actions