The NBA's new rule that changes offensive basketball forever: this has been its impact

The first NBA preseason game was the first official test to try out the new NBA rule that will forever change the way offenses attack .

The NBA's goal is to ensure that the way our basketball is played continues to evolve positively

With the new criteria, referees will begin to penalize more severely players who use their arm to push defenders and gain space.

'"The goal of the league is to ensure that the way our basketball is played continues to evolve favorably," the NBA itself reported.'

'With the new NBA rule that differentiates "bracing" and "force and illegal"'

To determine whether an arm shove to create space is an offensive foul, referees must analyze four concepts that indicate a very specific protocol.

"We have to make sure that the defensive side of the ball is not penalized by allowing illegal acts by the offensive player. There will be some contact that you consider bracing and that I consider forceful and illegal," explained Monty McCutchen, senior vice president of development, acknowledging that distinguishing permitted contact from illegal force represents the greatest challenge of the season.

Scottie Barnes, the first victim of the NBA's new offensive officiating rule

In the first NBA preseason game, which pitted the Toronto Raptors against Giannis Antetokounmpo's new Miami Heat, it only took a few minutes of play to see how seriously the NBA is taking this change in officiating criteria.

Scottie Barnes was called for an offensive foul for pushing an opponent during the first two minutes of the first quarter of the game that Toronto lost to Miami.

Barnes's shove is not flagrant. Without a doubt, last season it would not have been called a foul. But if that is the new criterion

' "Sports Illustrated" highlights that "Barnes’ shove is not blatant. Without a doubt, last season it would not have been called a foul. But if that is the new standard".'