Stephen Curry’s first shot against the Portland Trail Blazers ended up being a four-point play. Nothing unusual for him, but it featured a huge change coming to officiating this season. Defenders can’t just freely swat at a shooter’s hand anymore. However, before understanding what that means, it’s vital to know what a “high five” is.

Unlike a shooting foul, contact on high fives appears after the shot. It is when a defender makes a second motion after the ball is released by a shooter. Previously, Dillon Brooks and the Houston Rockets hounded Curry’s injured thumb without being penalized. But before the season, referees met in New York to bring a much-needed change to the rule.

Now, such contact will result in a shooting foul and protect players from contact after the shot. The wordi

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