The NBA had quite a week in terms of rule changes, anchored by anti-tampering measures that seek to prevent a repeat of the blockbuster summer that saw superstars switch teams and form dynamic duos in what many argue as collusion. Even more headline-grabbing are the fines allotted for each violation with the amount going up to $10 million in some cases.
However, one not-so-huge modification went past the radar (along with how traveling is interpreted which only affects a handful of players notorious for their “gather” steps) is the announcement of starting lineups. Before, teams were allowed up to 10 minutes before the opening tip to have their starters made public. With the recent change, the league now requires teams to have their starters revealed 30 minutes ahead.
While this is good news for opposing coaches and players who want to see what they’re up against with a little more wiggle room, some NBA execs confided to Zach Jones of Forbes that this update caters to a particular form of practice.
“It’s about gambling. All of it.”
It certainly helps in that area, most especially fantasy leagues. Fantasy team owners have long griped about having their lineups set in advance only to find out that the linchpin to them winning the week end up being sidelined due to unexpected “load management” or aggravating an injury sustained from a previous contest.
This isn’t entirely foolproof with teams still having the ability to tinker their starting five should circumstances necessitate doing so but still, having a 30-minute window is still a welcome change for numerous parties.
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