NBA D-League Implements New Rules For 2014-2015 Season
The NBA D-League announced on Wednesday that they are implementing three new rules for the 2014-2015 season.
In the final two minutes of a game, teams will now be able to advance the ball into the halfcourt without using a timeout. Teams will also be penalised for committing away-from-the-play fouls (hack-a-big-man-who-can’t-shoot-free-throws, basically), and the foul limit for team free throws will be five instead of four. Coaches can now challenge foul calls, too.
Here are the new rules in detail, via the press release:
"The coach’s challenge enables NBA D-League coaches to initiate instant replay review of referee calls of personal or shooting fouls, including offensive fouls, as well as those plays that have been identified as triggers for instant replay. Violations such as traveling and palming may not be challenged, nor can continuations or act-of-shooting determinations. “Advance” RuleAllows the team with possession to stop play, substitute and advance the ball to the 28-foot mark in the frontcourt without using a timeout.Each team will be granted one “advance” that can be used only in the last two minutes of the fourth period and one to be used in the last two minutes of each overtime period. Away-From-The-Play Foul RuleAn away-from-the-play foul is defined as any illegal contact by the defense which occurs either deliberately away from the immediate area of offensive action, prior to the ball being released on a throw-in, or both.If an away-from-the-play foul is committed at any point in the game, personal and team fouls will be assessed and one free throw attempt will be awarded to any player in the game at the time the personal foul was committed. Team Penalty Foul Limit IncreaseTeam foul limits will be increased from four per period to five per period before free throws are rewarded."
According to Fred Katz, D-League officials will also use headsets in games so they can communicate with each other.
D-league will also test headsets for its officials. That way, they can communicate throughout games on how to rotate. Tried already in LVSL.
— Fred Katz (@FredKatz) November 5, 2014
Heading into the 2010-2011 season, the D-League implemented the goaltending rule, which is used in international competition, and made overtime periods shorter. At the time, president Dan Reed said that the D-League is as much as a “Research and Development” department for the NBA as it is about developing players, coaches and referees.
These three new rules are just another example of the D-League being a testing grounds for innovative ideas.