Is this cruelty toward the basketball concept?

Question

Foul+basket counts+one free throw...

And the two of you know it wasn't a foul, and all you did was trying to make a block raising your hands 90 degrees, but since you were pushed and/or took a breath, you made 89 degrees instinctively...

I mean, if you had wanted to stop your opponent deliberately, you would have made a better job.

Aren't blocks the best thing in basketball? Why are they ruining it? Why don't they let defense breathe?

wfizz, I think you would get entertained by anything moving :D
Yes, there is a risk that "dirty" players like Stockton, Malone, etc. would abuse the gray area of basketball if defense gets more breath, but rules are made to evolve and mature, and should not make basketball a display of athletic abilities and dunking contests. NBA is a circus enough already. It has gotten too far to the other side, against defense. Defensive players get the knee, elbow, get blown away, as said, and the attacker gets a traveling call for that, or not even...
After all, the judge is there to call if the foul was intentional or provoked intentionally, specially in a situation where one only has his hands upward, without any blow possibility.
Even enough, the: basket counts+foul+free through is ridiculous, and just shows how much defense is underrated.
Well, this is the reason I don't watch basketball as I used to. I rather play 3 n 3, but with friends, and hope that some trained wise guy doesn't appear.

Answer 1

I couldn't agree with you more. Taking a charge is an art form. However, it seems that they try to protect the offensive player more than guy that is standing still, ready to take a knee or elbow to the mouth. Taking a charge is the most under rated parts of basketball.

Answer 2

Because it can out of hand WAY too easily. Foul calls are intended to keep the game in order, and not let the players get reckless.
Yeah blocks are my favorite part of the game, but that's when it's done right. Someone skying high to swat a ball into the stands is beautiful, someone trying to body someone else in order to do that is just ugly.

Answer 3

defense is the name of the game. aren't you supposed to stop your opponent from making baskets!! the league must be on something if they think they can hold back an aggressive defense play and no body gets knocked on their butts. just let them do their jobs and let us be entertained by the sound of the swat.

Answer 4

I agree. They should let the defenders play. True, there may be some blocking but there are way more charges which are called blocking on the defender.