Shortening NBA game time

BLUEJAYWAY

Saw last week in a preseason game the game was shortened 1 minute for each quarter. Total 44 instead of the usual 48 minutes. IIRC it shortened the total game about 15 minutes (so a 5-1 ratio,time vs. actual playing time). Was a test run. Wonder where they will put those displaced commercials. Do you think it may become permanent and possibly spread to more clock controlled sports? Any advantages? Less chance for injuries. Lenghten careers? I think the players liked it as many say the season is too long what with the playoffs time included as well. Should'nt make too much different in accumualting career stat numbers.

BostonAmericans

I never thought a basketball game was that long to begin with. I can see shortening the season by a few games, but that will never happen due to the money implications. I suppose you could get the same effect by shortening the games, and it would bring it inline with collegiate and international standards.

I am really interested in seeing how the speed up experiments in the Arizona Fall League in baseball will work out. If there is a sport that needs speeding up it is baseball. As much as I love the game, it's glacial pace can be maddening.

Baez578

I wonder how they would feel playing 162 games (albeit less demanding on the body)?

Agree that it shouldnt affect career stats much. I think it would have a bigger impact on game stat records (triple doubles, ppg,etc)

byronscott4ever

I'm more in favor of them eliminating all the dead time. After a free throw, do we need to see fist bumps? I liked it when they eliminated all the socializing before the tip, great start. Maybe shorten halftime by a few minutes, it's not like much is going on then anyways. Start the season about a week earlier too would be nice.

Southsider

They could also likely shorten the game without necessarily changing the elapsed minutes by reducing the number of dead ball fouls. If the clock continued to run they could effectively shorten the game without having to actually shorten the game.

sportscardstop

<< <i>They could also likely shorten the game without necessarily changing the elapsed minutes by reducing the number of dead ball fouls. If the clock continued to run they could effectively shorten the game without having to actually shorten the game. >>



If you have a running clock, you will have teams stalling when they are ahead during any dead ball time. It's already getting like soccer with the flopping. I don't want to see the stalling like we see in soccer.

There is no reason to shorten an NBA game. It is the fastest game of all 4 major sports. They think it will help reduce wear on the players. Major stars currently play 37-38 minutes per game. If they shorten the game, the coaches will just play the bench players less. You won't see the stars minutes drop to 35. Coaches will just figure that now they get their star on the court for 37/44 minutes instead of 37/48.

wrestlingcardking

Make a thirty second timeout a real thirty seconds or cut the amount of timeouts during the game........

mlbfan2

There's some talk about changing foul shots. For example, don't take any foul shots until the 3rd quarter is over. If team X has 14 foul shots to take, and team Y has 10, then team X shoots 4 foul shots (14 minus 10). Makes sense. Who watches a game to see the free throws anyway?

mtcards

I think if they just quit calling all the phantom fouls, call travelling (which when you dont call, usually ends up with LeBron or someone else at the free throw line and generally cut one timeout per half away, it would accomplish the same thing. Making games quicker does not mean better quality

JMDVM

As a Knicks fan, They can't shortened these games enough.....

60sfan

Reduce the number of timeouts each team has.

VitoCo1972

The NBA is phenomenal now and anyone complaining about it isn't a basketball fan. The league should change almost nothing (with the possible exception of 2 minutes for 20 second timeouts). It's in better shape than it's been since the 1993.

BLUEJAYWAY

<< <i>As a Knicks fan, They can't shortened these games enough..... >>

This deserves a

Baez578

<< <i>As a Knicks fan, They can't shortened these games enough..... >>



I share your pain

EAsports

I'm an NBA season ticket holder. I'm also a huge soccer fan. One of the things I really like about both is that they are fairly predictable as far as time investment. Soccer is almost dead-on two hours, and a basketball game is pretty consistently 2:15ish.

Of course, I still love football and baseball - but there is nothing more soul-crushing than the FIVE FREAKING HOUR 2:30 PM SEC on CBS football game. You know what I don't need more of in my life? NAPA Know-how and Sonic commercials, that's what.

coachnip13

EASports nailed it. It's the commercials, not the game. The NFL is darn near unwatchable anymore. This happens quite often:

Touchdown
2 minutes of commercials
Kickoff
2 minutes of commercials
A few plays, end of quarter
2 minutes of commercials

The NBA is trying to shorten the TV slot into a manageable 2 hours, but they are unwilling to lessen the number of commercial breaks. So they go after the actual game time and claim that it is in the best interests of the players' health.

olb31

on the NBA and college basketball - way to many time outs at the end of games. I guess for college you get 5 per game so if you have them use them. but for the NBA it seems like they have an unending amount of time outs at the end of the game. Do like college you get 5 per game and that's it. I am not even sure what the correct rules are for time outs in the NBA, but I was watching the end of regulation of the hornets and bucks last night and I bet there were at least 6 time outs in the last minute of the game. Way too many.

For the NFL - maybe work in a few more commercials between quarters and keep the flow of the game going while the quarter is being played. Each team should get the ball and then a time out at minimum.

itzagoner

they could shorten the game. they could also add drama to overtime by allowing each side to select a player for a little game of one-on-one to decide which "team" is best.

bt!ch-slap hockey.

Frozencaribou

I've always thought it strange that basketball games were 48 minutes instead of 60. As a person who doesn't play basketball, there are a few things that amuse me.

1) Being able to call timeouts during active play when under duress.

2) Being able to inbound the ball at half court after a score at certain times during the game.

3) Bench players that have to act as male cheerleaders whenever something good happens.