Not sure how it is everywhere in Europe, but in Macedonia it's like that. They're prejudiced against me because I live in America, and because I'm much more athletic and skilled than them. So when I drive into the lane, they really use force against me and foul A LOT. What sucks is that if you call foul, there's no basket if it goes in. At least where I play at (in NYC), the basket counts if you're playing full court (only sometimes on half court, depends who's playing against you lol. Not outdoors though. I found a nice, controlled gym where there's a sign-up sheet for full-court games. Everything is fair and controlled, and no arguing about who plays next and w/e, so that's why we have this and 1 rule too keep lazy defenders from fouling and hurting you every time).
Then there are those tall fat men who stay a couple of feet from the basket. So tough to get rebounds on them. Couple that with with... NO TAKEBACKS... and a low rim (like 9'6" where I'm at) and they are all-stars. You just can't beat them. I'm a jumpshooter, I can make 4 shots in a row, but if I miss one, defense gets the rebound and goes right up with it for a point and you don't have possession anymore. Makes it tougher to be a shooter.
There are no "checks" either, but this is a rule I like. These are the Macedonian rules:
1. If you score, you must take the ball out from anywhere along the baseline. There's no wait for a check. Your team needs 2 passes before you're allowed to shoot (the throw in from the baseline counts as a pass). Defense is allowed to intercept the pass in (exception: on the very first possession of the game when the score is 0-0, the first pass in cannot be intercepted).
2. If you are fouled, you take the ball out from the sideline straight out from the spot you were fouled. No wait for a check again. You take the ball out from here. Defense is allowed to intercept that throw in. Also, you may shoot as soon as the ball is in play (don't need to wait for a 2nd pass).
^^ Those 2 rules make for some awesome fast-paced basketball though
. Well, so does the no takeback rule, but I hate that rule. Makes it unworthy to settle for jumpshots, but it's too dangerous to drive in so it just overall sucks for me.
It's better at simulating a full-court game because there are no checks in full court so you don't have to wait for the defense to pay attention, you just go. However, to keep it from getting crazy fast, there's that 2 pass rule after a shot (akin to eliminating cherry-picking in a full court game).
