Explaining the new rules for US tour

The countdown is well and truly on for the Adelaide 36ers’ two-game NBLxNBA pre-season matches, but the fans need to know the game will be a bit different.

With teams from two different competitions playing against each other, the 36ers will adopt the NBA rules for the two matches against Phoenix Suns and Oklahoma City Thunder.

Adelaide 36ers power forward Robert Franks says the differences have to be embraced and will take a bit of time to adjust to life under the NBA lights.

“There are a few key changes in the games, and we got to get those sorted out before we play the Suns,” Franks said.

“We are playing their rules, it’s going to be tough, but that’s what so great about these pre-season matches.”

THE BALL
NBL use Spalding basketballs, while in the NBA, Wilson is the ball of choice.

Wilson, and has a different texture, weight and feel.

“I love the Wilson ball, the NBA ball, it’s what I grew up with,” Franks said.

COURT SIZE
The size of an NBA court is 28.65 metres by 15.24 metres), Meanwhile, the size of the courts the NBL is played on are FIBA regulation size of 28m x 15m, the FIBA court is smaller than in the NBA, allowing slightly less movement and spacing, which creates more headaches for the defense.

THREE-POINT LINE
Along with the larger court, the NBA three-point line is further from the hoop, at 7.24m. The distance becomes shorter if you shoot from the corner as it's only 6.7m from the basket .

According to FIBA, the three-point line has the same distance from every single angle and is measured at 6.75m.

GAME DURATION
Every quarter in the NBA lasts 12 minutes, while each one in the NBL is 10 minutes. Overtimes remain the same in both leagues, at five 5 minutes in duration.

TIME OUTS
In the NBA, each team has seven timeouts during regulation. Each team can have no more than four timeouts in the final quarter and two timeouts per team after the three-minute mark of the final stanza.

In overtime, each team is allowed two timeouts. Also, coaches are not the only ones who can call timeouts in the NBA, they can also be called by players who have possession of the ball.

In NBL and FIBA basketball, each team can use two timeouts in the first half and three timeouts in the second half. Each team is limited to two timeouts with two minutes or less remaining in the final quarter.

Each team is given only one timeout per overtime, and the timeouts do not add up in case there is more than one overtime. Plus, the head coach can call for a timeout in NBL / FIBA basketball.

FOULS / FOUL TYPES
The personal foul limit in the NBA is six per player, while NBL/FIBA grants only five personal fouls due to the game being eight minutes shorter in length. There are technical fouls in both rulesets. However, technical fouls are not considered personal fouls in the NBA, while they do count towards the foul limit in NBL/FIBA.

Flagrant 1 and Flagrant 2 fouls do not exist in FIBA. Instead, unsportsmanlike fouls are written in the rulebook. In most cases, they are like Flagrant 1 fouls and are charged for excessive contact.

There are disqualifying fouls in NBL/FIBA that work similarly to Flagrant 2 fouls in the NBA.

If a player is called for two technical fouls, two unsportsmanlike fouls, or one technical and one unsportsmanlike foul, the player is ejected from the game.

GOALTENDING / INTERFERENCE
In both rulebooks, goaltending is called when a player blocks the opponent's shot after it has hit the backboard. However, the players cannot touch the ball while it is above the ring and within the imaginary cylinder in the NBA.

In FIBA, players are allowed to touch the ball after it hits the rim even if the ball is in a downwards motion toward to goal and is within the cylinder of the ring. Players can also tip the ball even if it's still in the cylinder area.

JUMP BALLS
All basketball games begin with a jump ball. However, NBL/FIBA rules state if there is a jump ball during the game, the players will not actually jump for the ball to gain possession.

Instead, the possession will be awarded to the team by the alternating possession rule. If a team starts the game with the ball, the opponent squad will have possession of the next jump ball.

If no such situation occurs during the quarter, the said team will start the next quarter, and the alternating possession arrow changes sides.

DEFENSIVE THREE SECONDS
In the NBA, there are both defensive and offensive three-second rules, while there is only an offensive three-second violation in the NBL/FIBA, meaning players can stay as long in the paint as they want without any repercussions.