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Good clarification @LwrcasefaN. I used to think of it as already being in the direct path, and a sign was being contacted “perpendicularly.” Your body didn’t have to be at right angles to the other player’s movement, but this might show that you weren’t merely sliding into position at the same time they got there. This would be a little like the moving screen distinction. Easier versions of an offensive foul to call are when the offensive players fends off to aggressively (the forearm shiver) or lowers the shoulder (the bulldozer).I think if you apply the logic that the size of the impacted object isn't the sole variable in play, then it shouldn't be that hard. There's force applied to the object as well as the balance of that object. I like this rule change. I hope they expand on it. IMO, too may defenders, who are in legal guarding position, but retreating (not set) get called for blocks because the offensive players just bull dozes into them. Flops became more popular because defenders weren't getting these calls. They started "selling" or "exaggerating" their position. Summing up my mini rant....legal guarding position does not necessarily mean set...although many refs call it that way.
But even when someone is in legal guarding position, not every contact should produce a whistle. Especially with the bigs in the paint, you might end up with a “bull in a china shop” effect. Minor contact has to be permissible. This is why I’d expect some difference in the way these are called in the paint and outside the paint.