One of the biggest changes to how referees will call NBA games this season is the addition of the “high five” or “hot stove” foul. Now, if a defender makes contact with a shooter’s hand or arm after the shot has been released, it will still be called. Of course, this rule change will greatly benefit Golden State Warriors superstar Stephen Curry.
During a recent news conference, Curry shared his thoughts on the new wrinkle to how shooting fouls are called.
“To me, it’s kind of overdue because it was a conversation of when you’re shooting, how you protect the shooter,” Curry said. “I flail a little bit because I don’t want to roll my ankle. It’s kind of like the natural instinct side. But when it became something where people were attacking hands, doing not just a closeout but a second motion, going in arms and hands and stuff like that, it’s not basketball. It has nothing to do with affecting a shot. It’s more just putting people in danger, that type of thing. And it’s avoidable; you can still play great defense and avoid doing that.”
Curry continued.
“So I got that one, and I knew it was coming as soon as Kamara came across. It’s like they call it the second action. You can have a contest and do what’s kind of normal basketball defense, normal shot contest. But the second act, when you’re coming through or delivering a blow or whatever, that s–t we’ve been trying to get that call for years. So I do appreciate that, as I’m sure I’ll argue one if it happens again. That’s just part of basketball.”
Curry Will Benefit From Rule Change
Curry is the best shooter in NBA history. And while the new rule change will ensure offensive players are safer when taking contested looks, it will also provide them with more space to get their shot off. Defenders won’t want to give up easy fouls by being overzealous in shot contests.
As such, Curry could see his already incredible shooting numbers (solid efficiency on high volume) trend even further upward this season. Of course, Curry won’t be the only player to reap the benefits of this rule change. Fortunately for the Warriors, Buddy Hield, Seth Curry and Al Horford could also benefit.
Whenever a new rule is implemented ahead of a new season, game officials make a point of calling it early in the year. It will be interesting to see how consistent those calls become as we get deeper into the basketball calendar, and then again once we hit the postseason.
Warriors Will Hope To Contend This Season
Golden State’s front office has done a solid job of rounding out Steve Kerr’s roster ahead of the new season. The franchise now has solid balance, in both scoring profile (shooters, slashers, floor spacers, cutters, etc) and defensive versatility. When you couple that with a potential big season from Curry and Jimmy Butler, who is currently in his first preseason with the franchise, there’s a lot to be excited about.
The Warriors will undoubtedly be coming into the new campaign with hopes of contending for a championship. The new shooting foul change will give them further confidence that they can be one of the bigger threats in the Western Conference.
However, only time will tell whether their veteran core can sustain a deep postseason run and potentially put the franchise in a position to hang another championship banner as we near the end of the Curry-led Warriors era.
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