Oklahoma City Thunder: Get ready for new NBA rules

The NBA owners have approved two new rules that will not strike your fancy but will quickly become so much a part of the culture that you won’t think twice about their existence.

The owners approved expanded use of replay by referees and indicated their approval for ads on uniforms.

I know, ads on uniforms sounds hideous and it mostly is, if you’ve seen some of the European ads that are blazed across the entire jersey. But the owners voted to move forward with the process, with plans to implement it for the 2013-14 season. Deputy commissioner Adam Silver said the final vote likely would come in September for a patch 2 inches by 2 inches just above the heart.

Though common in Europe, that kind of encroachment is largely unseen in the U.S. But think of it this way. How is that different than the Nike swoosh? And 2×2 is not much different than commemorative patches, like the NBA Finals logo that adorned the jerseys of the Thunder and the Heat last month. Truth is, by Game 2, we won’t even notice.

Of course, the slippery slope never is more slippery or slopey than in advertising, so eventually, Dunkin’ Donuts will be splashed across the Celtics’ green and Sonic’s logo will dominate the Thunder jerseys and not even look out of place, since the colors and artwork is similar. Like everything else, we’ll get used to it quickly. And who knows? Maybe it helps the Thunder sign Harden and Ibaka.

The expanded replay involves three extensions of the current policy, according to nba.com:

* Referees will call “flagrant” on the court and immediately use the courtside television screen to determine whether the foul was Flagrant 1, Flagrant 2 or actually a common foul. Previously, any changes were made following a review by the league office at least a day later.