As for rule changes to aid the defense, some of what the players asked for included more lenient rules for using their hands while defending. Some were about rim protection — allowing defenders to take the ball off the rim as they do under FIBA rules. “I would make defense legal again,” one player said. “Let basketball be basketball. Let’s tilt it one way, because that’s what we think people want to see. Let’s just let basketball be basketball. It’s a beautiful game.” “I’d make the game a little bit more physical,” another player said. “A lot of the foul baiting stuff and everything wouldn’t really be as useful.”
This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Anonymous NBA player poll: ‘Make defense legal again’