The switch to the old NBA ball
By Page3blog
@Page3blog (4)
United States
December 11, 2006 5:13pm CST
So the news just broke that starting January 1, the NBA will be going back to the old leather ball they previously used before the synthetic micro ball they introduced this season. The official announcement comes Tuesday. I for one think that the NBA was all wrong about the introduction of the new ball. The players had very little warning and the league didn't even use the players to test the ball. I have not had a chance to dribble the new ball but I have handled the classic old leather ball, and i love it. Do you all think this is the permanent end of the synthethic ball? Will the NBA reintroduce it in a few seasons after more testing? Have any have you ever handled the new ball? Do you all think that the league scoring average/assists will drop or rise again with the new ball?
14 responses
@chance00 (3331)
• United States
11 Dec 06
I wonder if there is a difference in the way it bounces.My son said it is a little harder to grip for dunking and things like that.I know the expense for an all leather ball should be more then the syntetics as well.I know with people who like to grip and dunk there will be some probelms
@Page3blog (4)
• United States
12 Dec 06
funny you should mention expense...from what I've found looking online, the NBA is actually charging around the same price for the new ball that they would normally charge for a leather ball, about $100.
@coolcager (496)
• Costa Rica
12 Dec 06
its the same. maybe the diff is that the new ball is much better in image hehe.
@vipul20044 (5793)
• India
12 Dec 06
I think so that if they did introduce something it is there to stay
Siriously i have never heard about the micro ball so thanks for the information but then i did love the old classic balls
I just hope this new micro ball does make some impacts!
@dentonbecca (38)
• United States
12 Dec 06
I think you are right on in this discussion.The people actually using the ball should have a chance to determine if it handles as expected.I think that the stats will not be good because the players dont know what kind of performance to expect out of the ball and they will be apprehensive at first.
@Chapman15 (1492)
• United States
12 Dec 06
I wrote about this a week ago comparing it to the Coca Cola Conspiracy!I think Stern got some major kick backs from the balls... The players were knocking it before the season started... You have to keep the players happy right!?!
@kgwat70 (13387)
• United States
12 Dec 06
It sounds like to me they should have done more testing with that new ball before putting it into effect. The players have been complaining about it for some time and I think it was handled the wrong way though I can not imagine there is that much of a difference. These players should learn to adapt to changes just like we do with our jobs. I think athletes complain too much about things, especially something as small as this one.
@AlmightyBigfoot888 (553)
• United States
12 Dec 06
i don't like the new ball- tell me when every game is supposed to average 110 points each team?
and the game like a week ago, where they scored over 300 combined points- that ain't even supposed to happen in the all star game!
@lemar37 (201)
• United States
12 Dec 06
I think it is a good thing that they changing back to the old ball, it's a ball the players are use to i have heard that many players are saying the new ball is cutting up their hands and damaging them the leather ball has been used for 30 or 40 years i don't see any reason to change now
@cowboyzfan (718)
• United States
12 Dec 06
I can't stand sports these days sometimes! They always trying to change something that doesn't really need to be changed! They should just stick with the old ball and that's final.
