James should rule lanes to hoop with official help
By Brian Windhorst, Beacon Journal staff writer

CLEVELAND - Concerned about the continued drop-off in scoring, the NBA is changing some rule interpretations this season.

One of the biggest beneficiaries might be LeBron James.



NBA officials are briefing the teams that they'll be changing the way defensive fouls are called. The use of the forearm to hold off or restrict an offensive player's progress will be called a foul this season. Officials will be enforcing it from halfcourt to the three-point arc and on moves to the basket.

In addition, drawing a charge will become tougher as the defender must not be moving. Though that is a basic basketball rule, NBA officials in recent years have called charges as long as the defender has position. It allowed quicker players to sneak to a spot and take a charge while still moving.

The motive here is to give offensive players more freedom to move with the basketball and, thus, create more points.

"They told us at the coaches' meeting that the defender's arm has to be close to the body," Cavaliers coach Paul Silas said. "If you extend it, then tweet! A foul."

Silas, who is a defensive-oriented coach, doesn't exactly like the new guidelines, but it might help his best scorer.

James plays the wing position and gets most of his points going to the basket. One of the ways opponents tried to stop him last season was bashing him or trying to draw a charge as he made his move.

Players will be briefed on the new interpretations before their preseason game this week in Memphis.

"I think it will help the league. I think it will help defense, too, because people are going to have to move their feet more," James said. "Offensively, I think it will help a lot of us perimeter guys."

Last season James often struggled to get calls in certain situations, which is common for rookies. He's hoping earning some respect along with the new guidelines will mean more trips to the foul line.

"You have to earn some respect in this league before you get calls," James said. "Of course, I'm going to want to get as many calls as I can."

Silas expects players in the league to adjust to the new rules but does think that it might make a minor impact.

"How are you going to stop (LeBron)?" Silas said. "If you put your hand out to stop him, it has to be a foul, and I'll make sure they enforce it."

Rookie camp

About 500 new season-ticket holders watched the first practice of the season at Gund Arena Monday as a part of season-ticket holder "rookie camp." They got to see a spirited and emotional five-on-five drill between the first, second and third teams. In expanding on the experiment started Sunday in the intrasquad scrimmage at the University of Akron, Lucious Harris worked with the first team as shooting guard and Eric Snow ran the point for the second unit.

Free-agent float

With 14 players under contract, the Cavaliers aren't likely to keep any of the three training camp free agents currently with the team. But guards David Jackson and Jimmy Hunter have been impressive shooting the ball. Hunter hit 4-of-6 on 3-pointers and scored 16 points in the first scrimmage last Friday, and Jackson hit 4-of-6 and two 3s Sunday to finish with 10 points. Technically, the Cavaliers can keep 15 players, but the odds are not in the free agents' favor. Still, they will get more chances.

"I intend to let them play in the exhibition season so people can see them," Silas said. "They know what their chances are here. We are loaded. But word gets around, and if you have good things to say, it can only help."

Messages for Brian Windhorst can be left at 330-996-3819 or [email protected]

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