As the Los Angeles Lakers prepare to open their season on Oct. 18, a few things have changed in the NBA. Yes, LeBron James has joined the purple and gold, but other changes will send ripples throughout the league.
One of those is a rule change enacted by the NBA that will affect play in the 2018-2019 season.
The NBA elected to crack down on defensive contact made off-ball. Essentially, this means that defenders will no longer be able to hold, push or impede offensive players throughout the game.
This rule change has already been clear in the preseason as many referees have looked to call it early and often to set the tone for the rest of the season.