Is face-guarding legal in the NBA?

[Agloco]

Read the rule again.

Putting your hand up in someone's face to contest the shot is NOT face-guarding.

Face-guarding is putting your hand in front of the opponent's eyes while guarding from the rear.

Sounds more like a man-love rule to me.......

[endrity]

Seriously, I'd rather hear from some actual refs or those who have access to them for an accurate explaination vs speculation.
Looks likes its just as easy to not get fouls called as Battier demonstrated vs Kome. I don't buy the foul risk is the reason most NBA defenders do not utilise the hand face.

If you wanna hear it from the refs why do you post it here than, and not even read what others have said.

Yes, it's easy to get fouls. Dirk, Kobe, TMac, even Manu get a lot of calls by getting people to bait on their shot attemps.

The other thing is that, as I said, some people believe going for the block is better since it forces the shooter to change the arch on the shot.

[bobbyjoe]

In general, NBA players are lazy on defense.

In general, NBA perimeter players aren't capable of hanging 80 on a team.

Shane Battier is not lazy on defense, and Kobe is capable of hanging 80 on a team.

Doesnt Rip Hamilton extensively use the "hand right in your grill" defense like Shane Battier does?

I seem to remember one or 2 other NBA players who use it a lot, and for some reason I want to say Rip is one of them...

[RonMexico]

Doesnt Rip Hamilton extensively use the "hand right in your grill" defense like Shane Battier does?

I seem to remember one or 2 other NBA players who use it a lot, and for some reason I want to say Rip is one of them...

Tons of players use it: Rip, Nash, Bell...

[dallaskd]

NBA players are allowed to hold their hands up in the air, yes.

[Indazone]

Face Guarding is not illegal.

Now this is illegal defense!

http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...arch&plindex=0

[sickdsm]

I noticed Battier employing a technique of putting his hand directly over Kobe's eyes whenever he shot. Is this legal in the NBA? I've certainly never seen anyone defend Kobe like that before.

Basketball 101.


What do you think "get a hand in his face" means?

[The Nba Is Rigged]

What a useless thread, you should just have asked "is playing defense legal in the nba"? Wow this was really silly.