Dump the 24sec shot clock
June 6th 2009 14:00
It's time to add six seconds back to the shot clock, to allow the NBA to move forward to a much greater test of will amongst great athletes.
Since the shot clock was reduced in 1980 to 24 seconds from 30, shooting percentages have slipped, offenses have gotten more basic, and individual play now has a far greater role in a what was a much more dynamic team sport.
I'm not for a moment saying that I don't think that today's stars wouldn't be stars with a 30 second shot clock. But today's coaches and point guards and centres would definitely have a much stronger role to play. And small forwards and shooting guards would be less effective. No, I'm not going to get into hating on Kobe. He's a great player and still would be with more time on the shot clock, but he would have to improve his passing.
I don't know if anybody's noticed, but these days March Madness is a far more interesting sporting tournament than the NBA post season. And the NCAA uses a 35 second shot clock. I can't remember ever looking at an offensive sequence in a college game and thinking "I wish these guys would hurry up and shoot."
Instead I watch college ball and think that it's great that the point guards have time to set up a legitimate flex, or brush double screen or picket fence. And in college every basket counts. Much more so than the NBA.
So you're thinking I want lower scoring games? No, I want better scoring games. So the scores will drop with a 30, rather than a 24? So what. It will be better shooting, with better passing and better offensive composition. Do we really need more 126-118 games? I'll take an 87-85 game with every basket contested every time.
With a 24 second clock, the guard has eight seconds to get over half way, then 16 seconds to get a shot away. But nobody is going to run an offense that has the shot taken with less than five seconds on the clock. That leaves 11 seconds to get a good shot away. That's no where near long enough. It also means most plays are going to be three pass plays. Three passes isn't enough time to asess the defense's weaknesses and dribble, and then get the best shot off.
With a 30, you would have time to do all that, and you might even have time to reset and run another option if the first one is closed down.
We don't need more shooting, we need better shooting. Make every basket count.
Larry Erving
Since the shot clock was reduced in 1980 to 24 seconds from 30, shooting percentages have slipped, offenses have gotten more basic, and individual play now has a far greater role in a what was a much more dynamic team sport.
I'm not for a moment saying that I don't think that today's stars wouldn't be stars with a 30 second shot clock. But today's coaches and point guards and centres would definitely have a much stronger role to play. And small forwards and shooting guards would be less effective. No, I'm not going to get into hating on Kobe. He's a great player and still would be with more time on the shot clock, but he would have to improve his passing.
I don't know if anybody's noticed, but these days March Madness is a far more interesting sporting tournament than the NBA post season. And the NCAA uses a 35 second shot clock. I can't remember ever looking at an offensive sequence in a college game and thinking "I wish these guys would hurry up and shoot."
Instead I watch college ball and think that it's great that the point guards have time to set up a legitimate flex, or brush double screen or picket fence. And in college every basket counts. Much more so than the NBA.
So you're thinking I want lower scoring games? No, I want better scoring games. So the scores will drop with a 30, rather than a 24? So what. It will be better shooting, with better passing and better offensive composition. Do we really need more 126-118 games? I'll take an 87-85 game with every basket contested every time.
With a 24 second clock, the guard has eight seconds to get over half way, then 16 seconds to get a shot away. But nobody is going to run an offense that has the shot taken with less than five seconds on the clock. That leaves 11 seconds to get a good shot away. That's no where near long enough. It also means most plays are going to be three pass plays. Three passes isn't enough time to asess the defense's weaknesses and dribble, and then get the best shot off.
With a 30, you would have time to do all that, and you might even have time to reset and run another option if the first one is closed down.
We don't need more shooting, we need better shooting. Make every basket count.
Larry Erving
| 7 |
| Vote |
