NBA to vote for 2018-19 season rule changes

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The NBA's board of governors are expected to vote on three rule changes for the coming 2018-19 season, reported ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski on Friday.

The changes include:

1. Reducing the shot clock after an offensive rebound from 24 seconds to 14 seconds

2. A simplifying judgment of clear-path fouls

3. Expanding the definition of “hostile act” to increase instant replay of such cases

According to Woj, the league on Thursday sent a memo about the proposals to the general managers and coaches of the 30 teams. Voting will happen at the meetings on Sept. 20 and 21. Each proposal will require two-thirds of the total votes to pass.

Reducing shot clock after an offensive rebound will make the games faster in the NBA. /VCG Photo

In today’s NBA, every time a team takes an offensive rebound after the missed shot touches the basket, the shot clock for this team will be reset to 24 seconds. If this time is decreased to 14 seconds, the league believes it will lead to more shooting attempts, especially when close games are coming to an end.

The NBA has come up with this proposal after studying the implementation of such rule by FIBA in 2014 and its application in games of G League, WNBA and NBA summer league, said Woj.

As for clear-path foul, there are three conditions to be met before referees can make the judgment, according to an ESPN report.

1. "A personal foul is committed on any offensive player during his team's transition scoring opportunity."

2. "When the foul occurs, the ball is ahead of the tip of the circle in the backcourt, no defensive player is ahead of the offensive player with the scoring opportunity and that offensive player is in control of the ball or a pass to him has been released."

3. "The defensive foul deprives the offensive team of a transition scoring opportunity."

If a clear-path foul is called, the offensive team will shoot two free throws and take a ball position on the sideline closest to the location of the foul.

Making judgment of clear-path foul simpler will further quicken the games in the NBA. /VCG Photo

If the rule change proposal for clear-path fouls passes, the play will not have to start in the backcourt. Moreover, referees will not have to judge if the defender is between the offensive player and the basket, or if the defender is ahead of the fouled player but not between the offensive player and the basket, or if the defender can appear between the ball and the basket.

Simply speaking, it will take referees less time to decide whether to call a clear-path foul or not, making the games even faster and more fluent.

The NBA has been cracking down on "hostile acts" for a long time, especially after the notorious "Malice at the Palace" in 2004. /VCG Photo

To expand the definition of “hostile act” is another move by the NBA to tackle improper behaviors in the court. In 2014, the league started to allow referees to watch the instant replay if they are not certain whether a play should be seen as flagrant foul or not. The proposal took another step by including hostile interactions with referees, coaches and fans into the category of “hostile act”.

(Cover: Referees of NBA /VCG Photo)