NBA under fire: is it a show with no rules?
A viral video shows handball-style plays in the NBA. Is refereeing destroying basketball? A debate between purists and defenders of the spectacle, with a Knicks comeback as the backdrop.
English · Original discussion in Spanish · Published
Is the NBA really the best basketball in the world, or has it become a circus where the rules are optional? A debate that resurfaces every season is back in the spotlight thanks to a video showing plays more suited to handball than basketball, with referees a metre away looking the other way.
The video that changed everything
A clip spreading like wildfire shows NBA players travelling, double-dribbling and grabbing without being called. Critics argue that the level of permissiveness has degraded the sport, while defenders dismiss it as an anecdote in an unmatched spectacle. The scene includes a referee who was warned about the abusa and did not react, something that in football, for example, would be unthinkable.
Travelling or handball?
Purists point out that the FIBA rulebook, far stricter, forces a cleaner game. In the NBA, however, the priority is entertainment, and that means tolerating certain liberties. The question is whether fans want to watch basketball or an unlimited show of skills.
NBA vs FIBA: two different worlds
One of the most repeated arguments is that a EuroLeague team, playing under FIBA rules, would struggle against an NBA team, and vice versa. The US national team, packed with NBA stars, is finding it increasingly hard to reach finals, which suggests the gap is not as wide as it seems.
The Knicks case: epic or chaos
The recent NBA Finals produced a striking image: the New York Knicks came back from 29 points down to take a 3-1 lead. A antiestéticat that defenders of the current model cite as proof of its quality. Detractors, on the other hand, see it as a symptom that defence is a fiction.
The final irony: while the NBA sells itself as the elite, more and more voices point out that, under FIBA rules, more than one player would end up on the bench for travelling. But then again, that doesn't sell jerseys.
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The video that changed everything
A clip spreading like wildfire shows NBA players travelling, double-dribbling and grabbing without being called. Critics argue that the level of permissiveness has degraded the sport, while defenders dismiss it as an anecdote in an unmatched spectacle. The scene includes a referee who was warned about the abusa and did not react, something that in football, for example, would be unthinkable.
Travelling or handball?
Purists point out that the FIBA rulebook, far stricter, forces a cleaner game. In the NBA, however, the priority is entertainment, and that means tolerating certain liberties. The question is whether fans want to watch basketball or an unlimited show of skills.
NBA vs FIBA: two different worlds
One of the most repeated arguments is that a EuroLeague team, playing under FIBA rules, would struggle against an NBA team, and vice versa. The US national team, packed with NBA stars, is finding it increasingly hard to reach finals, which suggests the gap is not as wide as it seems.
The Knicks case: epic or chaos
The recent NBA Finals produced a striking image: the New York Knicks came back from 29 points down to take a 3-1 lead. A antiestéticat that defenders of the current model cite as proof of its quality. Detractors, on the other hand, see it as a symptom that defence is a fiction.
The final irony: while the NBA sells itself as the elite, more and more voices point out that, under FIBA rules, more than one player would end up on the bench for travelling. But then again, that doesn't sell jerseys.
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Summary of a discussion on Burbuja.info - Foro de economía, actualidad y política., translated from Spanish and reviewed before publication. Read the full discussion (14 replies).
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