Cheating in the NBA?

[bishibashiboy]

I'm reading "The Jordan Rules" right now and I came upon an interesting topic that Phil Jackson talks about. He mentioned that several teams use what he calls gamesmanship to get the upperhand.
For instance:
Balls are usually inflated to about 7.5-8 pounds for an NBA game. Against the Magic Johnson led Lakers at the Forum before, often times the balls were inflated to 15-16 pounds to facilitate a higher dribble for Magic and to allow for longer rebounds to allow them to start their fast breaks at home.

Another example is Miami which used to deflate their balls more to slow the dribbling and slow the game down since the balls were softer; thus allowing Miami to prevent the running game.

He also noted that in the days of the "Bad Boy" Pistons, they used to have pieces of it's rim missing on visitor's hoops, and when the teams switched baskets after halftime, the Piston's players would all crash the offensive boards intentionally as if to expect more misses.

You guys think there's any truth to this back then or even today in the NBA?

[Andrew]

I remember reading that in the Jordan Rules. I have no trouble believing such things are going on, or have been done in the past. I've also read that back when Phil played for the Knicks, they would also carry pins in their shorts which they would use to deflate the ball.

[Stevan]

A lot of it certainly makes sense. I remember reading somewhere (may have been the Jordan rules) that MJ was shooting around and putting up really loopy shots in a particular stadium (can't remember which) before the game to loosen up the rim which he felt was too tight.

I remember reading somewhere that a team shortened the nets on the rings so that when a ball went through it would drop quickly and they could push the ball the other way!

I think it was Jayson Williams who in his book spoke about the differences between Arenas in terms of tight/loose rims, loose floor boards (Boston Garden) and that sort of stuff.

There have to be certain things that are done on purpose to get an advantage. Some coaches will take every little thing they can get!

[Andrew]

A lot of it certainly makes sense. I remember reading somewhere (may have been the Jordan rules) that MJ was shooting around and putting up really loopy shots in a particular stadium (can't remember which) before the game to loosen up the rim which he felt was too tight.

I'm not sure if this is the same book you were reading, but I first read that particular anecdote in Rebound: The Oddyssey of Michael Jordan by Bob Greene.

[Alcoholic]

Didn't the Nuggets have a floor on ice or something? For hockey or whatever? Because I remember Gary Payton slipping and they mentioned something about it..

[Colin]

almost every basketball court is above a hockey rink, but usually enough time for the ice to melt is given, sometimes they get rushed and the ice doesn't completely melt. I remember one game being delayed because there were puddles on the floor.