NBA Changes Rules, But Is It Really Helping?

Well, the NBA is back at it again, tweaking its instant replay rules after a controversial call in the 2024 playoffs. Now, this new rule allows referees to call fouls that should have been called when reviewing out-of-bounds plays. So basically, refs can now retroactively hand out fouls while watching the slow-motion replay, even if they didn’t call it in real-time.

But let’s be honest, this new rule is a disaster waiting to happen. Sure, it sounds good in theory. Is this making the game better? Or are we just opening the floodgates for even more replay reviews to slow down games that already drag on like they’re waiting for someone to press play again?

And for those die-hard fans who think replay review is the answer to all of basketball’s problems, replays don’t eliminate mistakes, they just give refs more time to make them. You could have 50 angles, but you still do not know if Giannis’ elbow hit someone’s face or if the guy’s face just found its way into Giannis’ elbow. It’s not an exact science, and that’s the beauty of sports.

So, instead of trying to fight human error at every turn, maybe we should just embrace the fact that mistakes are part of the game. No amount of replay or slow-motion footage is going to make the calls perfect. And honestly, the more lab equipment you give the refs, the more we’re all stuck waiting for the action to pick back up while they analyze it.

Lakers to Honor Jerry West with Special Jersey Tribute

The Lakers know how to honor their legends, and this season they’re paying tribute to the one and only Jerry West. The team will wear the black No. 44 patch all season long, including postseason games, because they’re hoping to make those, too.

West was a 14-time All-Star and a key figure in building not one but two Lakers dynasties. He also holds the bizarre honor of being the only player to win Finals MVP on the losing team, because, let’s face it, when you average 37.9 points and 7.4 assists in a Finals series, you kind of deserve it.

West’s legacy deserves nothing less than a full-season tribute, and for Lakers fans, it’s a reminder of the man who helped shape the franchise into what it is today.

Zach Guthrie Heads to South Bay

The Lakers are back at it, making moves, but this time, it’s in the coaching department. They have hired Zach Guthrie as the new head coach of their G League affiliate, the South Bay Lakers. Guthrie’s got some solid experience, having coached for Washington, Dallas, and Utah, so if nothing else, he’s seen plenty of basketball frustration up close.

Crafty Meets Calculated

It looks like two of the league’s most skilled guards, Kyrie Irving and Jalen Brunson, are teaming up this offseason to get some serious work done.

Could this be a glimpse of Kyrie passing on his handles to Brunson, or is Brunson showing Kyrie how to run the offense like a true floor general?

Regardless of who’s teaching who, this is one offseason workout that has everyone talking. Maybe we'll see some of that chemistry show up during the season, whether they face off or team up in some future All-Star games.

Alyssa Thomas Rewrites Connecticut Sun Record Books

The Connecticut Sun were on fire Tuesday, and Alyssa Thomas was the one holding the torch. Thomas led the Sun to a dominant 86-66 win over the Los Angeles Sparks, nearly logging another triple-double in the process. With 7 points, 11 rebounds, and 12 assists, Thomas was everywhere. But the real headline was her rewriting the Sun’s franchise record books.

With the first bucket of the game, Thomas surpassed UConn legend Nykesha Sales for the most field goals made in franchise history. Sales, who played for the team when it was still the Orlando Miracle, held the record with 1,481 field goals in just 278 games. Now, after 315 games and 1,484 field goals, Thomas sits alone at the top. This win also completed Connecticut’s four-game sweep of the Sparks this season.

WNBA Players Push Back on Commissioner Engelbert’s Comments

Tensions have been brewing between WNBA players and commissioner Cathy Engelbert since her recent comments. Engelbert addressed the growing harassment faced by players on social media this season, but many in the league, including the Women’s National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA), are calling her response inadequate.

The conversation focused on the treatment of rookies Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese, whose racial backgrounds (Clark is white, Reese is Black) have brought an ugly edge to fan interactions. Reese has been vocal about receiving death threats, being followed home, and even having AI-generated photos of her circulated online. Other players like Chennedy Carter and Diamond DeShields have also shared horrifying experiences of being harassed.

But instead of diving into the details of these racial and personal attacks, Engelbert steered the conversation toward the on-court rivalry between Reese and Clark, comparing it to the iconic Larry Bird vs. Magic Johnson rivalry of the late 1970s. And while she emphasized the importance of rivalries in sports, many felt she sidestepped the serious issues players are facing off the court.

And this response hasn’t sat well with the WNBPA or the players themselves, who feel the issue deserves more attention and action. As Diamond DeShields pointed out, telling players to ignore hateful comments, especially when those comments cross the line into racism or personal attacks, isn’t enough. The union and its players are now calling for more substantial support from the league in addressing these toxic interactions.

That’s all for today, thanks for reading.

We’ll see you tomorrow!

— The Players Unlimited Team