Calling Timeouts
2005-06 Rule:
The head coach may request a timeout (20-second or full) only if there
is a suspension of play due to a player suffering an injury where
bleeding occurs.
2006-07 Rule:
The head coach may request a timeout (20-second or full) at any time
during a game as long as his team has possession of the ball or there
is a suspension of play.
The change - This makes the NBA
more like FIBA, in giving more authority to the coach in calling a
timeout at his (or her, eventually) discretion.
Substitutions
2005-06 Rule:Free substitution is permitted only during
20-second timeouts called in the last two minutes of the fourth quarter
and/or overtime period. During all other 20-second timeouts, the team
calling the timeout may only substitute for one player, and if that
team replaces a player, the opposing team may also replace one player.
2006-07 Rule:
Free substitution is permitted during all 20-second timeouts.
The change - This simplifies
matters as to when and how you can substitute players.
Clear-Path-To-The-Basket Fouls
A
clear-path-to-the-basket foul is called if a personal foul occurs (1)
when the ball and an offensive player are positioned between the
tip-of-circle extended in the backcourt and the basket in the
frontcourt, with no defender between the ball and the basket, (2) the
possession originates in the backcourt, including throw-ins, and (3)
the foul deprives the offensive team of an opportunity to score.
2005-06 Rule: The team that is fouled is awarded one free throw attempt and the ball on the sideline.
2006-07 Rule:
The team that is fouled is awarded two free throw attempt and the ball
on the sideline,
The Change - The change from
one free throw to two free throws make it more of a real penalty to
commit a clear-path foul, and more of a benefit to the team that had
possession.
Active List Violations
Prior to the start of the game,
a member of the officiating crew checks the Active Lists maintained by
the official scorer against the players who are in uniform.
2005-06 Rule:If a player not listed on a team’s Active List participates in game play, the officials, upon noticing or being made aware of the ineligible player, will disqualify the player at the first dead ball.
2006-07 Rule:If a player not listed on a team’s Active List
participates in game play, the officials, upon noticing or being made
aware of the ineligible player, will disqualify the player at the first
dead ball and the player’s team will be assessed a technical foul.
The change - This gives some
teeth to the rule, by not only ejecting the player, but adding the
technical foul as well. Not a real biggie, as I can't remember
having seen this happen.
Free-Throw Procedures
2005-06 Rule:
Players occupying lane spaces during free-throw attempts are permitted
to extend their bodies into adjoining lane spaces.
Players not occupying a lane space during a free- attempt must remain behind the three-point line until the ball is released by the free-throw shooter.
2006-07 Rule: Players occupying lane spaces during free-throw attempts are prohibited from extending any part of their bodies into the space in front of an opponent until the ball is released by the free-throw shooter.
Players not occupying a lane space during a free- attempt must
remain behind the three-point line and above the free-throw line
extended until the ball is released by the free-throw shooter.
The change - part 1 - This
means that if you're on the side of the free throw lane, you can't
stuck your arm or upper body (or any other body part) in front of the
guy next to you.
The change - part 2 - If you're one of
the players waiting outside the three point line, you can't stand any
closer to the basket than the free throw line until the ball leaves the
shooter's hands. It used to be you could zip in along the
baseline, but not anymore.
Flagrant Fouls – Penalty 1
2005-06 Rule:If a flagrant foul/penalty 1 is called and the
fouled player is unable due to injury to shoot his free-throws, the
opposing team’s coach selects a replacement free-throw shooter from
among the players on the fouled player’s bench, and the injured player
is not permitted to return to the game.
2006-07 Rule:If a flagrant foul/penalty 1 is called and the fouled player is unable due to injury to shoot his free-throws, his team’s coach (not the opposing team’s coach) selects a replacement free-throw shooter from among players on the floor (not players on the bench) at the time of the foul, and the injured player is not permitted to return to the game.
Note: The rules for unsportsmanlike acts (elbow and punching fouls) and flagrant fouls/penalty 2 state the fouled player’s coach selects the replacement free-throw shooter from any eligible player on his team (whether on the playing floor or the bench) and the injured player is permitted to re-enter the game following the free-throw attempts. There is no change to this rule.
The change - If someone on the other team commits a flagrant 1 foul, and your guy can't shoot, YOUR coach gets to pick who shoots the free throw, NOT the OPPOSING coach, which was idiotic anyway.