NBA New Balls

[Eegoog]

I don't understand why they are changing what the material in the new balls will be made of. Did PETA have something to do with this?

What are your thoughts on this change?

NBA says new ball is better (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=ap-newball-shaqscomplaint&prov=ap&type=lgns)

The NBA's old leather balls are being replaced this season by a microfiber composite model, the league's first change in 35 years. O'Neal blasted the ball Monday, criticizing not only the product, but whoever was involved in the decision to use it.

Shaquille O'Neal seems to be the most outspoken about the new ball. This I don't understand. However, since he isn't a dribbler and he doesn't have as good a feel on basketballs as most other non-centers, especially the fact that he still can't sink free-throws.

[Lloyd Christmas]

Fuck the new ball, I hate when leagues pull changing bullshit like this.

[jn_powell]

You would think they would get the players input before doing something like this. You know there is a problem when Steve Nash and Dwayne Wade are complaining.

[DontBottaMe13]

does any1 have a pic of it? i couldnt find any in the article i wana see wat it looks like

[jn_powell]

does any1 have a pic of it? i couldnt find any in the article i wana see wat it looks like
http://www.nba.com/news/blackbox_060628.html
There you go.

[AsHopeDies]

it's a goddamn basketball, fucking babies. Leave it to NBA players to bitch about using a new material on the balls. Buncha rich, thug, cry babies. God I hate the NBA. :wah:

[jn_powell]

it's a goddamn basketball, fucking babies. Leave it to NBA players to bitch about using a new material on the balls. Buncha rich, thug, cry babies. God I hate the NBA. :wah:
These men get paid to perform up to the best of their abilities. If they think this new ball is going to take away from the quality of the game, maybe we should listen to them. They are professionals and I think they know a little better than you or I what type of affect this may have on their game and the sport as a whole. By the way, I would hardly call Steve Nash, Dwayne Wade, or Shaq thugs, as they are about the farthest from it in comparison to the rest of the NBA.

[navid]

okay, its players only. fuck the coaches. players shud have max input.

[AsHopeDies]

These men get paid to perform up to the best of their abilities. If they think this new ball is going to take away from the quality of the game, maybe we should listen to them. They are professionals and I think they know a little better than you or I what type of affect this may have on their game and the sport as a whole. By the way, I would hardly call Steve Nash, Dwayne Wade, or Shaq thugs, as they are about the farthest from it in comparison to the rest of the NBA.

These men get paid a shitload to play a playground game. I'm sure they do more then I do about how this is going to effect the game, that doesn't mean I give a shit, and it damn sure doesn't make up for the fact that it's millionaires whining about what material the basketball is made out of.

[Eegoog]

Let's put this in perspective, Let's say you are a professional in the field of Plumbing. You have been in the profession most of your life and are used to using a screw feed tubing cutter. Then the boss's son took over the company you work for that doesn't have as many years in the field as you do and said you must change to quick-acting tubing cutters because "I think they are better." -- In this circumstance I would think you would be pissed off because for years you have been used to using your trusty screw feed tubing cutter.

[Joey Orion]

yeah or if you've been used to banging a nice broad for a while and the sex is great and then suddenly she disappears and a new broad appears, and the sex is crappy. Yeah, i'd be pissed. Steve Nash said the new basketballs suck so they suck, end of story.

[Jay-Z]

Pretty much every league besides the NBA uses these balls. Its time to get with the times. And who cares what shaq says, all he has to do is grab it like an orange.

[Joey Orion]

the NBA is the NBA, not world league or bubba's sunday co-ed league. Why fix something that didn't need to be fixed in the first place? Steve Nash, assist-master, says the balls are shit. When the best passer in the league says there's something wrong with the new basketballs, there's something wrong.

[Jay-Z]

the NBA is the NBA, not world league or bubba's sunday co-ed league. Why fix something that didn't need to be fixed in the first place? Steve Nash, assist-master, says the balls are shit. When the best passer in the league says there's something wrong with the new basketballs, there's something wrong.
He never said it was shit..

[Joey Orion]

He said they're sticky, they feel different, and that they affect ballhandling and shooting for many players. That says SHIT to me. Next they'll require rollerskates or something lol

[AsHopeDies]

Let's put this in perspective, Let's say you are a professional in the field of Plumbing. You have been in the profession most of your life and are used to using a screw feed tubing cutter. Then the boss's son took over the company you work for that doesn't have as many years in the field as you do and said you must change to quick-acting tubing cutters because "I think they are better." -- In this circumstance I would think you would be pissed off because for years you have been used to using your trusty screw feed tubing cutter.

Actually your analogy is WAY off. To be more accurate, you'd have to say. Imagine your are a plumber and used to using a screw feed tubing cutter, and they change the material that the grip of the cutter is made of. That's it, that's all that fucking happened. It's not like the ball is square now, get the fuck over it.

He said they're sticky, they feel different, and that they affect ballhandling and shooting for many players. That says SHIT to me. Next they'll require rollerskates or something lol

Sticky is bad now? You would think they wouldn't want the ball to be slick and full of sweat. But hey, they're professionals, what do I know? Oh yeah, you are totally right though. Changing the material that a basketball is made of is exactly like making them were skates, what a brilliant analogy...I'm sold. :squint:

[Joey Orion]

it wasn't an analogy, it was poking fun at all the changes the NBA has made in the past few years. Maybe you should research the whole basketball fiasco before you start typing bullshit. The new balls are MORE slippery when they get wet. A ball shouldn't be sticky for no reason, especially on a polished wood surface. Doesn't matter anyway, looks like they're going back to the old basketballs

[AsHopeDies]

It completely baffles me that you would want to hear a bunch of insanely rich grown men whine about a ball. Much less that you would defend them when someone comes out and says it's the last thing they care about.

[Joey Orion]

I love basketball. If the game suffers because of some shitty ball, then yeah, i'll defend players who don't like it. You've already made it known about 4 times that you don't care, so wtf are you still doing here?

[D4MVP]

Shaq was hilarious in bagging on it.

I dunno. I dont think they should've changed it. There are shits that need to remain the same and the ball that determines who wins should've never changed.

[AsHopeDies]

I love basketball. If the game suffers because of some shitty ball, then yeah, i'll defend players who don't like it. You've already made it known about 4 times that you don't care, so wtf are you still doing here?

uhhh, are you serious? You answered your own question. By asking me a question, don't you think it's possible that I'll post an answer, and let me guess, after I post this answer you are going to say something like "we know how you feel why are you still here?" Every post I've made has been met with argument. I'm not going to have people challenge my points and not retort, isn't that the structure of conversation, discussion, and debate? Am I missing something here? Or are you just sick of disagreeing on a topic so you want me to leave?

I think there is something we call all agree on here, something we can all stand behind.

And that, of course, is the hotness of your avatar. Seriously, I've asked you about 948709875.5 times now, who the hell is that chick?

[USB]

Any change to the ball has got to be for the good or whats the point in changing it?
The balls can't be that bad if they are all ready being used elsewhere, the player should just stfu and play the game

[jn_powell]

Any change to the ball has got to be for the good or whats the point in changing it?
The balls can't be that bad if they are all ready being used elsewhere, the player should just stfu and play the game
Yes, how dare those whiny players give their opinion on something. Particularly something that could affect their sport so heavily. I mean seriously, who asked them? Oh that's right, no one bothered to get their input. Oh, by the way, when did change become synonymous with good or better? I must have missed that memo.

[Owned]

It is because of spaldings' decision to stop producing leather balls, they didn't want to switch to a new product (company), so they switched to spaldings' new ball.

[garnett4mvp]

These men get paid to perform up to the best of their abilities. If they think this new ball is going to take away from the quality of the game, maybe we should listen to them. They are professionals and I think they know a little better than you or I what type of affect this may have on their game and the sport as a whole. By the way, I would hardly call Steve Nash, Dwayne Wade, or Shaq thugs, as they are about the farthest from it in comparison to the rest of the NBA.
Fuck them. I am in complete agreeance with the guy you quoted. NBA players these days are fucking pussy babies. It's all little ticky tack foul this, gay offensive foul that. Come on, players in the 90's woulda lived with out no matter what. I just don't see Ewing, or Rodman, or Jordan complaining about how they can't palm it as well.

Punks these days.

[cmacdon]

The ball looks cool in my opinion.

Shaq did have 4 turnovers last night in limited time in the Heat's preseason loss to the Pistons. Was it the ball?

[Sketcher]

I don't see a problem with the change. At first, I thought it was an unnecessary change, but since I've read about the new ball, I see the change as a good thing. Just because they aren't used to the ball doesn't mean that the ball is bad. Alot of NFL players were mad when they first put face masks on their helmets, but that was a change for the better. They simply just had to get used to it.

[USB]

Yes, how dare those whiny players give their opinion on something. Particularly something that could affect their sport so heavily. I mean seriously, who asked them? Oh that's right, no one bothered to get their input. Oh, by the way, when did change become synonymous with good or better? I must have missed that memo.

Oh im sorry, i must have hit a nerve there.
The players a making too much of a fuss about it
They wouldnt change the ball if is is gonna be crap. Think about it

[jn_powell]

Oh im sorry, i must have hit a nerve there.
The players a making too much of a fuss about it
They wouldnt change the ball if is is gonna be crap. Think about it
Wouldn't be the first time. Also I just heard on the radio that they are considering going back to the old ball already.

[YankeesSuck]

He said they're sticky, they feel different, and that they affect ballhandling and shooting for many players. That says SHIT to me. Next they'll require rollerskates or something lol
Yeah he said they are sticky when dry and slippery when wet. Well if they are using them in preseason they can't be that bad. Suns scored 100 points last night, Celtics did too.

[jn_powell]

Yeah he said they are sticky when dry and slippery when wet. Well if they are using them in preseason they can't be that bad. Suns scored 100 points last night, Celtics did too.
Lol, I think the Suns could play with a bowling ball and still put up 100. :)

[Live_Wire]

That ball looks fine to me . I might go buy one myself .

[jn_powell]

That ball looks fine to me . I might go buy one myself .
The look of the new ball is not the issue.

[garnett4mvp]

The look of the new ball is not the issue.
The issue is that the NBA is a bunch of pussies these days.

Why should shaq be complaining? All he does is grab the ball low in the post and dunk it or get fouled.

[jn_powell]

Why should shaq be complaining? All he does is grab the ball low in the post and dunk it or get fouled.

Now that one I can agree with. Sufficed to say that Wade and Nash do significantly more than that.

[imtoonasty]

Why would they change the ball there is no reason.

[Owned]

Who's the only person who likes it?

Tony Parker


Yeah, and he's french. So..............................

[garnett4mvp]

They kill over 2 billion cows a year.

[bobtheflob]

Looks like it's been scientifically proven that the new balls will affect the game. It's no surprise that Cuban requested the study.

Physicists at the University of Texas-Arlington released results of preliminary tests they say proves the microfiber composite ball doesn't behave like the old leather ball... According to the results released Sunday, the ball bounces 5 to 8 percent lower than typical leather balls when dropped from 4 feet. It also found that the new ball bounces 30 percent more erratically.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2644019

[bluesheep]

I honestly don't see why they would change the balls. If this new ball is recieving this many complaints, especially from NBA players, they should just bring back the old ones.

[Owned]

ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION:

SPALDING HAS STOPPED MAKING BALLS (OR ARE SOON GOING TO) WITH LEATHER... THEY WANT TO MAKE THE SWITCH TO keep their sponser, rather than switching to another so they could continue to have leather balls. This is still a trial, if you ask me, I don't like the balls, but they'll get used to it and won't change back. $5 on it.

[C EVIL KILL IT]

Some experiments in pro sports backfired. :eek:

In the 50's the NFL tried a white ball, easier to see at night, but the players hated it. Dumped.

The NHL had that microchip puck in 1998 so it would be eaiser to see on TV, but it was dumped as well.

Both those were visual only.

In the 1930's the basketball had laces. In 37' they got rid of them and some players liked it, (better bounce). Some players hated it, (affected shooting feel) Well we all know they stuck with it for a long time and the players adjusted.

The NBA players should have an input, they play the game they have to use it. At the same time I don't think the league changed the ball just for kicks.

If so many of the top players are complaining, the ball itself should be looked at closely, that is why Cuban asked for it to be done. Still David Stern says they will stick with the new ball, so like in 1937 players will have to adjust.......unless during the season there are major problems with the ball and it gets dumped (doubt it).

My guess is some guys will have problems with the ball, some will get psyched out by it, others may do better with it . Should be interesting!

[esruC]

The ball looks cool in my opinion.

Shaq did have 4 turnovers last night in limited time in the Heat's preseason loss to the Pistons. Was it the ball?

No.
Shaq just sucks.