We’re about an eighth of the way through the NBA season and there’s an interesting trend that’s popped up.
No, it’s not that the Lakers seem incapable of putting good performances together.
And it’s not that the Nets are an absolute mess, hiring a coach who was suspended for a year for improper sexual conduct shortly after they shrugged their collective shoulders when their star point guard supported anti-Semitism.
Well, the Nets stuff is certainly an issue, but it’s not what this email is about.
No, we’re talking about the league’s new stance on carrying.
Per the NBA’s own rulebook, “a player who is dribbling may not put any part of his hand under the ball and (1) carry it from one point to another or (2) bring it to a pause and then continue to dribble again.”
This is not a new rule. But this is the first time I can remember it being enforced.
Here’s Jordan Poole getting called for carrying three times in the same game:
Here are the three carry violations called on Jordan Poole tonight in Miami. Broadcast didn’t catch the second one in real time, only slow motion. pic.twitter.com/vjVX1aCluh
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) November 2, 2022
Chris Paul got whistled for a technical foul thanks to a delightful exchange shortly after he got called for carrying.
Chris Paul had 27 assists with no turnovers in two games before the referee called him for a carrying violation. 😩 pic.twitter.com/gkEgzjie5l
— theScore (@theScore) November 2, 2022
Warriors coach Steve Kerr made the point that Poole is, in fact, carrying the ball. But everyone else in the league does it, too.
And if EVERYONE is carrying, then NO ONE is carrying.
This is also kind of a hard habit to break. People learn to dribble at a young age and emulate other players who might slightly palm a ball or touch the side of it in a way that looks questionable.
When I officiated elementary school basketball, there was one parent who literally stood up and walked over to tell me I should be calling a carrying violation on the opposing team’s point guard.
This alleged violation was happening 60 feet from the basket. The player was perhaps slightly carrying the ball, but they were also six years old.
Now, if the player were carrying to get around a defender and the carry put them at a tremendous advantage, I might have made the call.
This was not happening, though. It was a matter of a small hand trying to corral a ball, and occasionally the dribble got slightly sloppy.
I told the parent that I didn’t think anyone in attendance came to watch me blow my whistle a bunch and to kindly sit down.
That mindset still remains true today. Sure, call the blatant carries all you want. But basketball games are clunky enough as it is. I don’t care(y) to see them slowed down even more. Let’s focus on the more important stuff out there.