The NBA's New Potential Rule Change Around "Heaves" Is Extremely Soft And Very Embarrassing

Boston Globe. Getty Images.

When it comes to sports, I'm all for trying new things and seeing what sticks. While there will always be some people who are stuck in the past or who hate change just because it's not how things were always done, I say innovation isn't always a bad idea. If the idea sticks, great! If it sucks, change it back! In the NBA, we're seeing this play out with things like the Play In (a hit), and the NBA Cup (TBD), and every year we learn about different rule changes or points of emphasis that hopefully make the game even better as a viewing experience.

This upcoming season is no different. We already heard about how the rules around challenges are being expanded

which is something that definitely had to happen. We saw a play like this impact playoff games this year (Kyrie vs MIN, Jrue Holiday vs DAL) and to me, it's an easy adjustment. If a player was fouled and that's what caused the ball to go out of bounds, that play should be allowed to be factored into the review. 

But not all potential rule changes make this much sense. For example, the G-League is going to be testing how end-of-quarter "heaves" are counted, and it might be the softest shit the league has ever (potentially) done

End of Period “Heaves”: Certain unsuccessful end-of-period “heaves” will be adjusted from an individual player’s missed field goal attempt to a team field goal attempt when the following criteria are met: 1) the missed field goal attempt takes place within the final three seconds of the first three periods of the game, 2) the missed field goal attempt must take place from beyond the outer edge of the center circle extended (i.e., approximately 36 feet from the basket) as shown here, 3) the play must originate in the backcourt.

If a field goal attempt meets the above criteria, and the shot is made, then the player will be credited with a standard made field goal attempt. The team field goal attempts will not be tied to the individual player on the final box score. If a field goal attempt meets the above criteria, but the shot is blocked by a defender, the attempt will count as a team field goal attempt, and the defender will be credited with a blocked shot.  Any associated rebounds after such blocked shot will still be credited to an individual player, as needed.

I'm sorry….what? I suppose the idea here is to encourage more players to throw up these prayers and not give a shit about their FG%, something we see all the time currently in the NBA. How many times does a player have a clear path to launch it from half court only they wait juuuuuuuuuust enough and instead choose to release the ball right after the buzzer? Cowards if you ask me.

So to combat that, the NBA is suggesting that if a player makes the basket it counts towards his stats, but if he misses it it goes as a team stat? If he gets blocked, that's a team stat for the offensive player but an individual stat for the defensive player?

Maybe this is just me being an old, but that is some of the softest shit I've ever heard. Is this where we are as a society? We're now coddling these players so much that the NBA is even willing to pretend like a player's FGA doesn't count as long as it misses? Guess what? Not all NBA players are pussies when it comes to heaves. Not all NBA players are so protective about their FG% that they willingly pass up an opportunity to help their team because it might hurt their percentages.

Some players out there have balls. Some players out there look at that "heave" as a skill and an opportunity to bury their opponent, regardless of when it happens. Regular season, playoffs, NBA Finals, they aren't scared 

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I get why the NBA is entertaining this idea, the hope is that more players might be open to letting it fly if they no longer have to worry about the negatives and the hit to their FG%. I guess that makes sense, but that doesn't make it any less embarrassing. 

Is this all that big of a deal and something even worthy of thought? Maybe not to normal people, but I've never suggested that I am normal. There's just something that doesn't sit right with me when it comes to this proposed change. Shooting the ball, no matter when and where it happens, should count. Make or miss. You shouldn't get to decide which shots count and which don't, they all count. 

Personally I thought that was Day 1 stuff, but maybe that's just me.