04/24/24
October 27, 2006
Ball vs ball.: Mark Cuban gets the University of Texas at Arlington Physics department to drop some science on the differences between the NBA's new synthetic balls and their old leather balls.
posted by gspm to basketball at 11:24 AM - 9 comments
It would be cool to work on that project.
posted by Amateur at 11:54 AM on October 27, 2006
30% deviation in the bounce? Wow, I'd complain too.
posted by sfts2 at 02:50 PM on October 27, 2006
Somehow, Tom Cruise should be involved in this.
posted by wfrazerjr at 03:19 PM on October 27, 2006
Why didn't the NBA think to do this testing before going all-out to change the basketball? Money! The NBA and Spaulding stand to control the entire basketball market, at least the game worthy ball market. Why not let players test the new basketball before making the change? Money! see previous reasoning.
posted by jaygolf at 03:26 PM on October 27, 2006
our measurements indicate that the grip of the leather ball improves after similar moistening Something that Steve (Finger Licker) Nash has known for years.
posted by graymatters at 04:32 PM on October 27, 2006
I used to respect David Stern.now that he has gone and changed something that not only didn't need to be changed,but many of the players disagree with it,I think he is a borderline schmuck.not only do the players not like the new ball,it costs more money than the old one.so exactly what is the benefit?
posted by mars1 at 06:41 PM on October 27, 2006
mars1, this was what put you over the edge about David Stern? No North American major league is a democracy, but Stern is the capo di tutti capi of his sport. The other commissioners all envy how strong his pimp hand is. If David Stern wanted to use armadillos instead of basketballs, swap out the referees for crazed midgets with sledgehammers and give them standing orders to break as many toes as possible, and make all the players wear underpants on the outside of their jerseys, he can make that happen.
posted by chicobangs at 04:50 PM on October 30, 2006
The AP story has the league's response. They don't say much unexpected, but it is interesting to hear their response to the findings.
posted by SummersEve at 09:52 AM on October 31, 2006
I'd heard a few people judging the new ball, but it's great to see someone dropping science (like Galileo dropped a orange) and come up with measurable data on how different the balls actually are. The players will adapt to whatever the ball actually does, of course, but the level of geekery in this piece is really cool unto itself.