NBA to follow PBA’s lead?

The recent NBA incident involving Golden State center Zaza Pachulia’s extension of a foot to invade San Antonio forward Kawhi Leonard’s landing space off a jump shot may trigger the introduction of a new rule to penalize players who engage in dangerous contact.

In the PBA, the so-called “landing spot” rule was introduced at the start of the 35th season in 2009. Then-PBA commissioner Sonny Barrios cracked down on hooligans who step into an airborne player’s landing space to create potentially dangerous contact. Before the 2015-16 season, PBA commissioner Chito Narvasa reinforced the application of the rule by penalizing offenders with a flagrant foul penalty one without contact and a flagrant foul penalty two with contact. Then, Narvasa tweaked the rule last year to call a flagrant foul penalty one on contact with no dire consequence and a flagrant foul penalty two on contact with dire consequence.

Early this year, Narvasa relaxed the “landing spot” rule a bit after deliberations with PBA coaches. The call is now a regular foul if there is contact without dire consequence and a challenge to stop the shot. If there is dire consequence, the call may be either a flagrant foul penalty one or two. If there is no challenge, the call will be either a flagrant foul penalty one or two with contact.

But in light of widespread concern over Pachulia’s foul on Leonard in Game 1 of the Golden State-San Antonio playoff series, Narvasa said he may consider to bring back the previous “landing spot” rule where the penalty will either be a flagrant foul penalty one or two. Whatever Narvasa decides, the NBA might want to look into the PBA’s history of dealing with “landing spot” contact. It wouldn’t be the first time for the NBA to follow a Philippine league’s lead, if ever. In 1998, the defunct MBA introduced the eight-second backcourt violation to speed up the game. The NBA eventually adopted the rule in 2001-02 and the PBA in 2004.

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The NBA and PBA introduced the three-point shot months away from each other. The NBA adopted it in 1979-80 while the PBA put up the arc starting the 1980 season.

Pachulia was assessed a regular foul after extending his left foot into Leonard’s landing space at the 7:55 mark of the third quarter of their playoff game. Leonard had scored 26 points in 23 minutes before the contact that left him with a severe left ankle sprain. At the half, the Spurs were on top, 62-42. Leonard limped off the court never to come back not only in the game but the rest of the playoff series. With Leonard gone, the Spurs lost momentum and the Warriors went on a rampage to win, 113-111. Golden State proceeded to sweep the series.

Spurs coach Gregg Popovich called Pachulia’s “two-step, lead-with-your-foot” closeout “not appropriate, dangerous (and) unsportsmanlike.” Pachulia turned his back on Leonard after extending his foot then ran towards the other side of the floor as the referee blew his whistle to call the foul. Pachulia said he was surprised by the call and had no idea that Leonard landed on his foot. It’s difficult to believe that Pachulia didn’t feel Leonard’s foot land on his. Even as his back was turned on Leonard, surely, Pachulia realized the Spurs star had gone down after landing on his foot. Popovich said he was “very, very angry” at Pachulia for resorting to what hoopsters describe as “stepping under” a shooter.

Pachulia said he didn’t mean to hurt Leonard and had no intention to take him out of the game or the series. Popovich insisted the contact was intentional. If it wasn’t intentional, Pachulia must be censured for at least developing a habit or the instinct of creating a dangerous play. Pachulia should’ve been thrown out of the game and slapped a flagrant foul penalty two. He shouldn’t have gotten away with only a regular foul. In the PBA, he would’ve been ejected.

As it turned out, Pachulia hurt his right heel in Game 2 of the San Antonio series and played in only seven minutes. He missed Games 3 and 4 which the Warriors won to formalize the Spurs’ exit from the playoffs. Pachulia is threatening to be back in uniform when Golden State hosts Cleveland in Game 1 of the NBA Finals at 9 a.m. on Friday (Manila time).

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Meanwhile, SBP 3x3 project head Mark Solano has confirmed that the ongoing FIBA Asia U18 3x3 Championships in Cyberjaya, Malaysia, is a qualifier for the FIBA World U18 3x3 Cup set in Chengou, China, on June 28-July 2. He erased doubts that the Malaysia tournament is only for prestige just like the coming FIBA Asia Cup in Lebanon which isn’t a qualifier for either the World Cup or the Olympics.

Solano said he met with FIBA 3x3 officials in Malaysia last Friday to clarify the issue. Now, it’s clear that the FIBA Asia U18 3x3 champion will advance to the World Cup along with host China. If China wins the title, then the runner-up gains a free ride to Chengou. Aside from the two qualifiers, the three next best finishers in the FIBA Asia conclave with the highest 3x3 world ranking points will join the World Cup.