You're way off here sir. How about if they switched from PC to MAC, then said you can continue using your mouse, but we're reversing the buttons (right click now = left click),so you asked why (thinking there was some kind of money saving issue behind the switch), then they said, "no reason at all, we're just switching". This is the closest analogy in this thread to what's been done, except the "manager" in question didn't say "no reason", he said, "we think it's a better computer". And speaking as an experienced computer professional who doesn't have Mac experience -- if my company handed down that directive, I would have about two week's worth of training/adjustment/practice before I became productive again. Not "power user" productive, but I could do my job with a semblance of the same efficiency. Some of the details are different, but fundamentally, it's the same equipment. These are professional basketball players, people who have been on the court for most of their lives. No one's told them to play with a cube or hit the ball with their head. Minor equipment variance, same game. Stern has said the players will adjust, and so far, empirical evidence suggests they have. Comparing this year's numbers (through about 18 games) to last year's shows: individual FG% slightly up, TO's/G right around the same, Assists/TO slightly better, team scoring slightly down, but team FG% slightly up. Yes it's early in the year, but from what I see, the ball is just different, not worse. The players may not like it yet, but they've adapted like true professionals, and at the end of the year, the stats may even show slightly improved play.
The "Zero-Tolerance" policy thing reminds me of when a school tries to get control of extremely poor behavior after it's gotten out of hand; they have to overcorrect and target everything initially to make a harsh statement. It seems the NBA is doing the same thing. If they're going to crack down on all bitching in the refs faces, or about every call, they can't be picky and choosy to start with. That only causes more confusion. I assume they'll consequence everything for a year or so, then possibly pull back from some of the less-offensive stuff. That type of behavior by NBA players has gotten WAY carried away, though, and it needs to be stopped. It's funny, though, how these guys act almost like it's their god-given right to mouth off and cuss-out refs. Ridiculous.
mikemora, were you high when you wrote that
The NBA does have an image problem, but it's certainly not marijuana that comes to mind.
My final knock on the NBA is the players are generally pot heads. I know not all of them are high 24/7 but everyone knows the NBA and pot are an issue. I don't really care if a person drowns himself in smoke every night but I will not point my kids to games played by people that use it. Whoa!! That was outta nowhere! I can remember maybe a handful of incidents with Mary Jane and NBA players. It seems like MJ is just the drug of choice among all athletes. One potential reason is the fact that athletes are often exposed to "alternative" healing, living, eating methods. Also, it's a lot easier to recover after smoking a bunch of pot than it is after getting piss drunk. If you find a sport in which no players have been busted for posessing/using marijuana for your kid to play, you'll be lucky. I guess your kid will be the next curling gold medalist!!
to change the ball could possible be one of the worst decisions ever made. end of story
