In the previous rules, if the ball hit the rim or the backboard, it counted as completing an attack, resetting the 24 seconds. Now it's stricter, making it undoubtedly more difficult for the offense, and easier to violate the 24 seconds rule.
About malicious fouls, the League has increased penalties. As long as you lay hands in the game, whether you hit someone or not, you'll be immediately ejected, followed by at least one game suspension.
If you hit someone, the suspension varies from 1 to 5 games depending on the severity, and there's a corresponding fine. Players leaving the bench during a conflict will also be fined.
After clearing the plagues of drugs and gambling, David Stern has focused all his energy on court violence. Stern realized that for the NBA to surpass MLB and NFL, targeting the broader middle-class and youth market, curbing violence was necessary.
