Stephen Curry and Damian Lillard are undoubtedly the two shooters with the deepest range in the league. The moment they step at the half-court line, they are a threat to the defending team. Rival teams regularly go beyond their way to guard these two sharpshooters from beyond the arc. In that process, the two maestros often draw fouls using an array of skills like pump fakes and drives. Or at least, they used to, until the NBA changed its rules at the beginning of this season.
The rule change in the NBA regarding the use of ‘Non-Basketball Moves’ to draw fouls has drawn bittersweet responses. Some players like Stephen Curry have appreciated the rule change, saying that he’s well-suited for it.
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However, Damian Lillard feels that this development has made way for some unacceptable decisions by the officials, giving them the authority to call fouls based on their discretion with minimal explanation. Atleast, that is what Dame thinks.
Damian Lillard’s brutal take on the NBA’s recent rule change
After a hard-fought loss against the Los Angeles Clippers, Damian Lillard spoke about the officiating rule change of the NBA. In the post game press conference, he said, “The way the game is being officiated is unacceptable. I don’t want to go too deep into it so they wouldn’t make a big deal out of it.”
Damian Lillard on the new foul rule changes.
(h/t @gifdsports)
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) November 10, 2021
The 6x All-Star further added, “I’m not even a player that… I felt like coming in the rule change wouldn’t affect me cause I don’t trick the referees, I don’t do the trick plays. And this is just unacceptable.”
Stephen Curry on NBA’s recent rule change
After a blowout victory over Oklahoma City Thunder without shooting a single free throw, Curry had some bold opinions on the NBA’s officiating rule change.
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Steph Curry was asked by @KerithBurke if it’s been easier for him to get rid of the impulse to draw a foul because he has so many tools in his toolbox:
“1000 percent.” pic.twitter.com/znU9mo16xf
— 95.7 The Game (@957thegame) October 31, 2021
He expressed, “The only one that’s tough is when you get a pump fake and you don’t know if they’re jumping into you. You can kind of be patient and wait for that contact. Or if it’s to the left or right, you kind of go out of your way to draw that foul, especially in the perimeter.”
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So while Steph is confident that he can adapt to the rule change, Damian Lillard is worried about this rule change.
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