Brooklyn Nets and the effects of proposed NBA rule changes

The NBA’s board of governors are expected to pass new game rules for the upcoming 2018-19 season. These changes can have some effect on the Brooklyn Nets.

According to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, new rule changes are expected to be in effect for the 2018-19 season. The NBA sent out a memo to general managers and coaches to outline the unanimous recommendations of the league’s competition committee to the board of governors.

On Sept. 20-21, the NBA board of governors will vote on the proposed rules. They will need a two-thirds majority vote in order to approve the new rules. These are the new proposed rules.

Resetting the shot clock to 14 seconds instead of 24 seconds after an offensive rebound
Clarifying the clear path foul rule
Expanding the definition of the “hostile act” to more easily trigger instant replay

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With three new proposed rules, how can each rule effect the Brooklyn Nets?

The Brooklyn Nets head coach Kenny Atkinson runs a pace-and-space offense. A pace-and-space offense revolves around a small-ball type offense which favors outside shooters and mid-range shooting.

Last season, the Brooklyn Nets only had a handful offensive rebounds a game. The offensive rebounding production was reduced to due the Nets weak frontcourt. Nets general manager Sean Marks did a good job packing on the Nets frontcourt this off-season.

He brought in Ed Davis and Kenneth Faried, who are both solid offensive rebounders. In addition to Davis and Faried, Nets big man Jarrett Allen has shown he has some offensive rebounding in his game. One of the most productive offensive rebounders last season was DeMarre Carroll.

With more offensive rebounders, the Nets will have to adjust to the new 14-second shot clock rule. The Nets are usually a patient team on the offensive end when it comes to winding down the shot clock. If they get an offensive rebound, Atkinson will have limited time to re-set the offense.

This means the Nets should look into perimeter shooting as an option. They are a perimeter-friendly shooting team and if they can get a good shot from behind the arc or in the corner, it will give Brooklyn great shot opportunities.

The new clear path rule will not be much of a change. The proposed rule will just simplify the clear path foul. This means the rule will become more simple and specific.

The Brooklyn Nets had a good amount of transition points off turnovers last season. Spencer Dinwiddie, Caris LeVert, DeMarre Carroll, and D’Angelo Russell were all average stealers last season. Most of their steals led to transition points on the opposite end.

With a clarified clear path rule, these Nets can look to draw a clear path foul and get easy points.

The clear path rule can be a bonus for the Nets if they are able to draw these fouls off steals or turnovers next season. These points will benefit Brooklyn not just throughout the game but down the line in close games.

The Nets had a good amount of close games last season. A majority of these games led to Brooklyn losing in the end.

To go along with the addition two free throws, the Nets will receive the ball on the sideline the foul was committed.

The “hostile act” would be redefined to include bad interactions between a player and a coach, referee or fan, as opposed to the current rule, which only applied to player-player conflicts.

The Brooklyn Nets are not known for being an argumentative team or a team which causes a lot of disagreements.

Last season, Kenny Atkinson had a notable ejection when he went on the court and argued with a referee over a bad call.

Spencer Dinwiddie had a series of disagreements with NBA referees over blown calls. In fact, Dinwiddie lead the NBA for the majority of the 2017-18 regarding blown calls.

Dinwiddie’s disagreements did not lead to any ejections, but built up some criticism of officials during and after the game.

If this proposed rule comes into play in 2018-19, the Nets will have to be more careful about arguing openly or demonstratively. This rule change should have minimal effect on Brooklyn in 2018-19.