December 17, 1994 - With teams slipping deeper and deeper into isolation ball in the late 80's, the NBA made a preemptive move to prevent the likes of Michael Jordan from just playing one-on-one all game. Prior to the 1987-88 season, the league instituted the illegal offense rule, which dictated that teams were not allowed to stash three offensive players away from the ball and above the 3-point line. Such a strategy was particularly problematic during the days when zone defense was not allowed, meaning help defenders had no choice but to follow opponents away from the rim.
The rule rarely required enforcing, though it can be seen in action here during a 1994-95 regular season matchup between the Detroit Pistons and Philadelphia 76ers.
More, from the Washington Post:
"There has been a growing propensity among coaches to move three men above the top of the key, thus clearing the way for two-man games or individual forays like those of Chicago's Michael Jordan. According to Rod Thorn, the league's vice president in charge of operations, those isolation tactics were "getting away from what the game is about."
So, beginning this season, a referee can call what will be known as an "illegal offense" and award the opposing team the ball to inbound."
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