OT: NBA experimenting with 44-minute game

[BlazerCaravan]

http://www.si.com/nba/2014/10/14/nba-preseason-44-minute-game

Under the 44-minute format, each quarter will have two mandatory timeouts, while in a standard-length game the second and fourth quarters have three mandatory timeouts. A mandatory timeout occurs if neither team has taken a timeout within a certain period of the game.

From the NBA's press release:

“At our recent coaches’ meeting, we had a discussion about the length of our games, and it was suggested that we consider experimenting with a shorter format,” said NBA President, Basketball Operations Rod Thorn. “After consulting with our Competition Committee, we agreed to allow the Nets and Celtics to play a 44-minute preseason game in order to give us some preliminary data that will help us to further analyze game-time lengths.”

I think this is an interesting idea. That would basically reduce all our starters by fiat from 36 MPG to 33 MPG... which is super-awesome. It also reduces the number of time outs in a game, which is super awesome. It'll make games fit in a TNT timeframe which the never do now, which is super awesome. It means fewer commercials for TV which is why it'll never happen.

Thoughts?

 

[SlyPokerDog]

This is a move against the Blazers. One less minute in each quarter means that Lillard wouldn't have been able to take his .9 shot.

 

[BlazerCaravan]

This is a move against the Blazers. One less minute in each quarter means that Lillard wouldn't have been able to take his .9 shot.

Nah, they make sure the minute comes out of the middle of each quarter.

 

[MickZagger]

Stupid idea.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Nah, they make sure the minute comes out of the middle of each quarter.

Oh, that makes sense.

 

[Boob-No-More]

Yeah and lets shorten MLB games to 7 innings so pitchers can throw more complete games. Maybe even have a mercy rule where if one team is up by more than 10 runs after 5 innings you call the game. Oh, and we need a bigger ball to make it easier to hit and the pitchers have to throw underhanded to reduce wear and tear on their arms. And, let's throw in a time limit that no new inning can start after 55 minutes. That way most games would be over in a hour, not three and a half hours.

Oh wait, I already play in a league like that. Nevermind...

Stupid idea. Don't tamper with the fabric of the game to appease the networks. They are willing to pay you a ridiculous amount of money for your current product. Why change it?

BNM

 

[Charcoal Filtered]

Yeah and lets shorten MLB games to 7 innings so pitchers can throw more complete games.



BNM

Great Idea! I cannot remember the last time I have been able to stomach an entire 9 innings on TV without getting distracted and doing something else.

YThey are willing to pay you a ridiculous amount of money for your current product. Why change it?

BNM

Because they would be willing to give you more. I would love to see the results of the starters playing determine more of the outcome. The NBA could easily cut more and have a better product.

 

[Denny Crane]

Yeah and lets shorten MLB games to 7 innings so pitchers can throw more complete games. Maybe even have a mercy rule where if one team is up by more than 10 runs after 5 innings you call the game. Oh, and we need a bigger ball to make it easier to hit and the pitchers have to throw underhanded to reduce wear and tear on their arms. And, let's throw in a time limit that no new inning can start after 55 minutes. That way most games would be over in a hour, not three and a half hours.

Oh wait, I already play in a league like that. Nevermind...

Stupid idea. Don't tamper with the fabric of the game to appease the networks. They are willing to pay you a ridiculous amount of money for your current product. Why change it?

BNM

This.

 

[KingSpeed]

This would kill the history of the game. You wouldn't be able to compare eras of the game was shorter for current players.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

This would kill the history of the game. You wouldn't be able to compare eras of the game was shorter for current players.

Yet, somehow we're able to compare baseball players who played 154 game seasons with those who play 162, and football players who played 14 game seasons with those who play 16. Or NBA players who played before the advent of the 3 point line with those who played after.

I'm not in favor of changing game time, but this particular argument is silly.

 

[riverman]

I don't want to shorten game length but I'd like to see back to back games cut down and fewer regular season games so they could spread it out over the season. I think it gives you better basketball in the long run to have fresher guys on the court

 

[PtldPlatypus]

I don't want to shorten game length but I'd like to see back to back games cut down and fewer regular season games so they could spread it out over the season. I think it gives you better basketball in the long run to have fresher guys on the court

And I feel the other way; I loved the compressed 66 game season where teams were occasionally playing 3 consecutive days. I think less rest would require teams to give more players meaningful minutes, putting a greater importance on depth, as well as in-game coaching decisions.

 

[Charcoal Filtered]

Yet, somehow we're able to compare baseball players who played 154 game seasons with those who play 162, and football players who played 14 game seasons with those who play 16. Or NBA players who played before the advent of the 3 point line with those who played after.

I'm not in favor of changing game time, but this particular argument is silly.

Or the hand checking on the perimeter, 24 second shot clock, and allowing teams to play zone.

Besides, I think trying to compare players of different generations is silly anyhow.

 

[Shooter]

Interesting that nowhere in the NBA press release does it say WHY they want to go with a shorter time frame.

 

[riverman]

Jerry West's career scoring numbers would skyrocket if they had had a 3pt shot as well as Pistol Pete. It's hard to compare eras.

 

[Charcoal Filtered]

Interesting that nowhere in the NBA press release does it say WHY they want to go with a shorter time frame.

You never advertise doing something strictly for money. I see it as a win-win for everyone except bench players.

 

[Shooter]

Jerry West's career scoring numbers would skyrocket if they had had a 3pt shot as well as Pistol Pete . . .

As well as Geoff Petrie! He hit a ton of 3-point shots way before there was a 3-point shot.

 

[Shooter]

You never advertise doing something strictly for money.

Is that what it is? The NBA is making huge amounts of money from its TV contracts already. How would this get them bigger contracts?

 

[Blazinaway]

I hate the last minute especially which can last 10 minutes or more with all the timeouts and free throws. I'd say one timeout per team in the last minute and that is it. I'd also like to do something to stop all the fouling that can go on

 

[BoBoBREWSKI]

I'd be shocked if the NBA went with this. It would cost the NBA, TNT, ESPN, ABC, and all the teams a significant amount of money. Less commercials, less press table advertising minutes, less on court promotions, less time fans spend in the arena = spend less money, etc etc etc.

Shooter - GREAT avatar!

 

[Natebishop3]

Less minutes for the bench though.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[illmatic99]

FIBA games seem really short to me at 40mins. NBA, a bit long at 48. Awesome that they picked a number right in between the two to test this out. I actually really like this idea.

 

[PDXFonz]

I'd much rather decrease total games than game length.

I agree with KS, it would kill the history of the league.

 

[OneLifeToLive]

No, no, no

 

[noknobs]

This makes other bad ideas look good.

 

[BlazerWookee]

That idea's so bad, this guy saw it and said, "Damn, that's a bad idea!"

 

[BBert]

Jerry West's career scoring numbers would skyrocket if they had had a 3pt shot as well as Pistol Pete. It's hard to compare eras.

And Geoff Petrie.

 

[Charcoal Filtered]

Is that what it is? The NBA is making huge amounts of money from its TV contracts already. How would this get them bigger contracts?

That is four minutes that they usually are playing. You could keep the same TV time the same and run commercials.

Since stars drive the NBA, this makes them more valuable.

 

[BlazerCaravan]

That is four minutes that they usually are playing. You could keep the same TV time the same and run commercials.

Since stars drive the NBA, this makes them more valuable.

Fewer mandatory timeouts means fewer commercials, though. I don't see TV liking this.

 

[Shooter]

That is four minutes that they usually are playing. You could keep the same TV time the same and run commercials.

Huh? NBA games vary in length and often run over 2 hours. I don't see how this gets the League more commercials.