Evening star., 1933-01-22
NA|SM|TH CAN SEE
NO GOOD IN THEM
Debate With Kansas Coach
Fails to Alter View on
Time Limits.
BY FORREST G. ALLEN,

Coach at Kansas U. and Member Of Joint
Rules Committee.
7 AWRENCE, Kans., January
21.-Despite any arguments
l. my colleagues and I can
summon, DR.. James Mai
smith, inventor of the game of
basket ball, still emphatically dis
likes both the new "10-second"
and three second" rules.
He witnesses many games and con-
tinues to be an ardent lover Of the sport
that is his brain child, but he is ada
mant in his attitude toward the latest
revisions in the playing code. He re-
fuses to admit any good will come of
them.
Believing Dr. Naismith's reactions to
the changes wrought in his game will
be Of interest to the legions of basket
ball fans, give you series of ques-
tions he tossed at me in the course
OF a recent debate.
MY answers, which failed to sway
1v1 the doctor, are given for what
they are worth:
No. Why permit 500 colleges to
make rules for millions of players who
do not need the 10-second rule?
Answer-The new rules were passed
unanimously by the Joint Basket Ball
Rules Committee, representing the Ma
tional Collegiate groups the Y. NJ. G. A.,
the A. A. U. and the Chartered Boards
of officials
No. why not do away with the
dribble in the front court? After all,
dribbling amounts to practically the
same thing as running with the ball
nowadays.
Answer-By legislating the dribble
out of basket ball many Of the thrills
and surprise plays would be eliminated.
The dribble is synonymous with the
broken field run in foot ball.
No. 3-Why compel the offense to
cross the center line in 10 seconds?
Answer-Because many coaches put
the emphasis on the stall" and slow
break, with the premeditated block in
the back court, not attempting to score
by advancing the ball goalward but
rather by picking off one of the de-
fensive men from behind. This added
to desultory game
No. 4-Why coax the defense to play
by practically reducing the offensive
court to one-half?
"A diately resorting to the quick break
as soon as they obtain possession
OF the ball. If the avenue of scoring is
shut off, then the offensive team re-
sorts to a set offensive scheme.
No. 5-Why have large courts under
present playing conditions? Why not
cut them in half?
Answer-Because both halves are
used on an average Of every 80 seconds
If they were cut in half a very great
congestion would result, as either team
would be in shooting range of its op-
porent's basket the moment it got the
ball
No. 6-Why permit the post or pivot
man in the free throw lane, with his
back to the goal. to shoot for the bas-
ket? Permit HIM to dribb.e, but not
toward the goal.
Answer-A time limit wes put on the
center post play in an attempt to dis
courage the blocking plays in that area.
Generally the post man was a giant.
BY maintaining possession for a long
period Of time, block plays were built
around the big fellow No restriction
as to basket shooting or goalward drib-
bling was placed upon any other player,
50 why upon the pivot man?
No. why nlislead the public caus-
ing the impression that the team with
the ball is stalling, when the reverse
seems true to me?
Answer-The chief desire Of the rule
makers was to increase action and pro-
vide more scoring attempts. There was
no thought Of changing single funda-
mental of play. In my opinion. the
new and revivified game is highly pleas
ing to the spectators. 1t wasn't last
year