From HOF basketball writer Sam Smith:
Quietly during the playoffs, the NBA announced a new Competition Committee, the committee that was formerly general managers that considers rules changes. There are some credible new members, like Doc Rivers, Rick Carlisle, Lionel Hollins, Sam Presti and Bryan Colangelo, but also owners Dan Gilbert and Joe Lacob. There’s various speculation about why Commissioner David Stern did this, but it’s going to be an important committee after watching these playoffs.
So many of these games have turned into legalized wrestling matches because the league has allowed defense to get way out of control. You see it all the time—Kevin Durant trying to get free off the ball for a shot at the end of Game 3 and Ron Artest and Andrew Bynum holding him and no call. The freedom of movement that was so trumped a few years ago with changes to allow zone is all but gone.
The scores are down with scoring just over 90 per game and the shooting is down, but not because players can’t shoot. Officials are allowing defenders to mug cutters, forcing all sorts of isolations. If Stern’s idea to change the committee was to save the game, he’s on the right course. These playoffs should be all the evidence he needs.