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The Palming Violation: The Answer Or The Problem?
Some say that great players are the ones that win championships. Others say that the truly great ones make those around them great as well. Both statements are true. However, it is safe to say that a player is truly great if certain rules that apply to the game of basketball are changed by him, in response to his style of play.
This player is Allen "The Answer" Iverson, and yes, his crossover changed the palming violation rule not only in the NBA, but throughout the whole basketball world. Iverson had such an impressive crossover dribble. He could fake anyone, and score almost at will considering his height. His combination of raw speed, skill, and heart makes him, (put generously at five feet and eleven inches) one of the best basketball players in the history of the sport.
In one of the blogs, Sherman Mazur's in particular, it was mentioned that although Iverson's currently out of the playoffs, his former team, Denver, was the pick to be in the 2009 finals.
As he was building his legend around the league, opposing players and coaches were complaining about his primary weapon: the crossover dribble. Their argument was that he was palming the ball, and that he would take too many steps. The league reviewed the complaints and became stricter in calling those palming violations.
Players found themselves regretting the push for making the league call palming violations because they got called for it more often than The Answer did. Iverson's crossover was so fast, that the referees could not call the violation during real time. What the rest of the National Basketball Association thought would stop The Answer, became their problem.
As of late, this rule has been put to question numerous times. The fact is that players feel like they have been around basketball long enough to not make such a careless mistake. However, upon closer inspection, very few players are really grounded in the game's fundamentals. Very few get to play with their heads and with fundamentals. For all the great things about the game of basketball, the sad reality is that being tall and athletic will always ultimately give the edge. The more athleticism and height you have, the less skill and basketball I.Q. you need to develop.
So it turns out that the palming violation may be a rule that levels the playing field a bit. It is there to make sure that the players are at least using sound fundamentals when making moves with the basketball. It is there to maintain the organization and discipline within a real ballgame, and not let it become some street event where there are no rules.
At the end of the day, the greatest players are the ones that can win despite all the things that the rest of the league gives them. Be it a change of rules, defensive schemes, and the like, all that matters is winning. "The Answer" Allen Iverson has indeed proven his greatness as an individual player. To be able to do the things he does at his size is a spectacle to watch. However, his crossover has yet to bring him a championship he can call his own. Perhaps, this season or the next. But until then, he will remain one of the most respected and gifted players in basketball.
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