According to ESPN - an opening sentence used more than, and sometimes in lieu of "Once upon a time" - the NBA have considered the idea of a 4-point line.
It is an idea that has been bandied about by fans for the past few years, but has been (up to now anyway) ignored by the head honchos at the top of the NBA hierarchy.
A reporter asked Rod Thorn, head of NBA basketball operations (not sure exactly what that role entails) about the idea of a 4-point shot line. He replied saying he was "intrigued" by the idea and that it had "come up" in league discussions.
When the three-point line was introduced for the 1979-80 season, many people thought that it was a gimmick, and that it wouldn't add to the game to anyway. Of course, some people still feel this, and want to return to a time when the mid-range jumper was popular and when "proper" basketball was played.
But I think the 3-point line has massively added to the game.It's added a whole new dimension to the game we all know and love. It rewards players for venturing out, away from the "easier" shots and trying something new, in the hope of bringing their team that little extra bit of glory.
So, why am I against the 4-point shot ?
Well, I just wonder where it will stop. Are we going to have 10 point shots if you make it from your own half, or an automatic win if you score directly from a sideline ball ?
Also, the four-point shot was rumoured to be only about 28 feet away. Some players, not naming any names in case I flare up a whole new argument, would nail this consistently, thus reducing the game to who can shoot the ball from the furthest away from the hoop. Less emphasis would be put on post play and defence then there already is.
It must be stated though, that it was said that this idea was only "brought up" in NBA meetings. They have probably talked about, and discarded, hundreds, if not thousands, of proposals over the years. It doesn't mean that the 4-point line will be painted on courts around the world any time soon.
Phew.
No comments:
Post a Comment