Sunday was a scary day for two of the NBA’s biggest stars.
In their respective first-round playoff matchups, the Milwaukee Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Memphis Grizzlies’ Ja Morant both went down hard after absorbing charges. Both Antetokounmpo (lower back) and Morant (wrist) wouldn’t return as the Bucks and Grizzlies lost their Game 1’s at home.
Beyond the aggressiveness to the rim that has helped turn Antetokounmpo and Morant into superstars, fans noticed a commonality between the plays that knocked these two out: They may have happened because a defender seemed to be focusing more on taking a charge than playing actual defense.
Take a look to make your own judgment:
Giannis with a scary fall 😳
Fortunately, he's ok 🙏 pic.twitter.com/QaShNkKoUi
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) April 16, 2023
Ja Morant headed to the locker room with an apparent injury after this play. pic.twitter.com/MZOrSN9Tmz
— ESPN (@espn) April 16, 2023
I mean, I don’t fault the defenders for technically playing within the rules, but I see the point. They’re not really trying to “play defense.” In both cases, they’re just content to present themselves as obstacles in hopes of drawing a foul, which is dangerous when world-class athletes make themselves airborne and can get undercut.
The injuries to Antetokounmpo and Morant prompted an NBA fan discussion about a hopeful change to charge rules.
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rule change petition: eliminate the charge call
— Shea Serrano (@SheaSerrano) April 16, 2023
The 2 best ideas I’ve seen on changing the NBA charge rule:
1. Only the on-ball defender can draw a charge. Most of the dangerous plays are caused by help defenders sliding in the path for a collision instead of playing D.
2. Expand the charge circle to limit the in air ones.
— JWills (@itsjwills) April 17, 2023
The rules incentivize one of the best rim protectors in NBA history to instead undercut a guy to draw a whistle. Not at all a bad play by AD, he's responding to the incentives he's given. This is why the charge circle needs to be expanded so airborne guys aren't undercut.
— Nate Duncan (@NateDuncanNBA) April 16, 2023
I’ll get it out of the way now, because people will definitely reply with
It’s a charge
How else can someone defend
Do you know the rulesBut ca
Charges like this need to go. It’s dangerous, it’s not basketball, you aren’t even attempting to play. Rules need to change https://t.co/TnePzFAr8g— Josh Lloyd (@redrock_bball) April 17, 2023
We already have a rule to allow defensive players to contest without following.
Roy Hubert briefly made a career out of the verticality rule.
Either contest without following or get TF out of the way. The help charge is garbage. The end.
— Peter Bukowski (@Peter_Bukowski) April 16, 2023
I don’t think you can outright get rid of the charge. But I think modifying the rule for any action in the lane, or expanding the restricted zone makes sense. NBA players are too athletic around the rim to not rethink this from a safety and quality of play perspective https://t.co/cpsAfBCJbI
— Drew Applebaum (@dapple1312) April 17, 2023
Yeah man im convinced NBA gotta change the block/charge rules https://t.co/eC3L62Xsjk
— D.O.C (@darwinchvz320) April 16, 2023
Need to have a conversation about the block/charge call pretty soon
Joel Embiid, Ja Morant, and now Giannis have all recently taken the same dangerous fall pic.twitter.com/XT8tGZ7sxO
— Tony Clements (@TonyCMKE) April 16, 2023
Giannis and Ja Morant got hurt on charges where guys were just trying to step in front of them instead of play actual defense within like a half hour of each other in real time.
— Ryan Glasspiegel (@sportsrapport) April 16, 2023
