Ideas to improve the game from a spectators standpoint These are just some things that have been on my mind for a while and I think it would greatly improve play, especially from a spectators standpoint: 1) Increase the length of quarters from 12 minutes to 15 minutes. I'm a Miami Heat season ticket holder and the games just fly by very quickly, adding an additional 3 minutes per quarter would greatly enhance the game from a spectators standpoint. Of course there are some drawbacks to this such as coaches having to readjust their subbing strategy and whatnot, but this can easily be worked around and the tradeoffs are huge. An average NFL and NHL game lasts 50 minutes longer than the average NBA game! 2) Find ways to make the initial tip off more significant. If you lose the tip off, that means you get the ball at the beginning of the second and third quarters, which then gives you two chances of getting a 2 for 1 at the end of a quarter as opposed to winning the tip off and only getting one chance for a 2 for 1 at the beginning of the fourth quarter. Losing the tip off gives you a larger advantage than winning the tip off, something needs to be done about this! What are some of your ideas? List them here!
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting VinnyMack:</div><div class="quote_post">I have a suggestion and I may be alone - TAKE OUT THE 3 POINT LINE!!!! It's a detriment to the game.</div> How is it a detriment to the game? A clutch 3 pointer is just as exciting as any highlight dunk.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Accord:</div><div class="quote_post">How is it a detriment to the game? A clutch 3 pointer is just as exciting as any highlight dunk.</div>Yes I completely agree. And also it is true that games fly by quickly. The thing I dont like sometimes in the NBA, (especially in the East) is that too much time is spent on isolations for star players like McGrady or Iverson. I love watching the Kings play their passing game - much more exciting.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting VinnyMack:</div><div class="quote_post">I have a suggestion and I may be alone - TAKE OUT THE 3 POINT LINE!!!! It's a detriment to the game.</div> Interesting that you should say that, because PP said the same thing a couple weeks ago in an interview. According to him, the 3-pt line encourages players to slack on offense and simply hover around the line waiting for a pass. It discourages players from creating their own shots, and while I respect his game, it overglorifies players like Peja. The three point line is extremely helpful when teams are playing a zone defense, but from a fan's standpoint, would you rather watch players taking it to the rack, or shooting threes all day? Great thread, it's something to think about.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Trail_Blazer76:</div><div class="quote_post">Interesting that you should say that, because PP said the same thing a couple weeks ago in an interview. According to him, the 3-pt line encourages players to slack on offense and simply hover around the line waiting for a pass. It discourages players from creating their own shots, and while I respect his game, it overglorifies players like Peja. The three point line is extremely helpful when teams are playing a zone defense, but from a fan's standpoint, would you rather watch players taking it to the rack, or shooting threes all day?</div> Exactly my response. You beat me to it TB! Great minds think alike. I did not hear that PP interview but that was the controversy when the 3 point line was implemented. The ONLY thing it accomplishes is spreading things out and "unclogging" the inside. And with the size and agressive play of today's PF/C, that's even disappeared. It goes against the teaching of most coaches who tell their players to work for only the high percentage shot.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting VinnyMack:</div><div class="quote_post">I have a suggestion and I may be alone - TAKE OUT THE 3 POINT LINE!!!! It's a detriment to the game.</div>Please. I would like to see questionable calls reviewed under 2 minutes of a game. I know it is far-fetched and would create a lot of controversy though. There are too many questionable calls down the stretch of ball games that determine the outcome of games when it should be the players.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Rudeezy:</div><div class="quote_post">Please. I would like to see questionable calls reviewed under 2 minutes of a game. I know it is far-fetched and would create a lot of controversy though. There are too many questionable calls down the stretch of ball games that determine the outcome of games when it should be the players.</div> Talk about PLEASE!!! This may be a measure to better determine the outcome of games but how does the spectator benefit? By standing around while a bunch of zebra's look at the final 10 shots of the game? I don't see how the spectator's entertainment experience is enhanced.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting VinnyMack:</div><div class="quote_post">Talk about PLEASE!!! This may be a measure to better determine the outcome of games but how does the spectator benefit? By standing around while a bunch of zebra's look at the final 10 shots of the game? I don't see how the spectator's entertainment experience is enhanced.</div>Of coarse there would be limitations to this as their is in the NFL, use your head a little. And taking away the 3-point shot? Are you kidding? It is a huge part of the game and gets the crowd to their feet. It also forces players to expand their shooting range. How about we take away jump shots too!!! :mrgreen:
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting VinnyMack:</div><div class="quote_post">Talk about PLEASE!!! This may be a measure to better determine the outcome of games but how does the spectator benefit? By standing around while a bunch of zebra's look at the final 10 shots of the game? I don't see how the spectator's entertainment experience is enhanced.</div> Maybe so, but the spectators can't be the only ones considered. Too often a game is decided by a dodgy call, and while this is going to happen sometimes occasionally anyway, it happens too often. Holding up the game for a video replay might be inconvenient I agree, but I would like to see something implemented to reduce the amount of bad calls that potentially influence a result. I think the NBA should do what the Australian Football League does (AFL), and that is implement any possible rule changes into the Pre-season competition. That was they can be reviewed under gametime conditions, without interrupting the regular season.
I think, from a spectators's pov, there are a number of improvements that should be made: 1) move back, not eliminate, the 3 pt. line. players who make huge shots from way out should still be rewarded for their shots. i think a 26 ft. line would be ideal 2)widen the court; not just because a 26 ft line wouldn't fit too well on the current size - offense will be able to work better against the zone defense if the court is spread out, and there's more room for ball movement 3) lower the shot-clock to 20 seconds, to force possessions to go by quicker - that is a big reason why pro games are higher scoring than college games despite better ball movement in college 4) increase the size of the 'safe landing zones' under each basket - there are too many charges called on plays which would have been good penetrations 10 years ago 5) mandate 3 hours of shooting practice a day for every player - shooting today stinks compared to back in the day (in the 80's, it wasn't irregular to have a couple guys shooting over 60 % from the field, and several dozen shot over 50 %, which wasn't considered that big a deal) 6) make fast break fouls worth a special flagrant value - 3 shots and possession, to encourage the running game of fast paced basketball 7) decrease the width of the lane - the current wide out version discourages post-play as in days of old, and encourages players to become jump shooters, since 3 second violations in the lane keeps big guys out 8) put the team limit of fouls for a half to eight, to cut down on fouls in the first and third quarters, encouraging fast paced games - the team limit will still be five a quarter, but teams go into the penalty if they go over the quarter limit or the half limit, whichever comes first; teams are gonna save their fouls for the 2nd and 4th quarters, when they wanna stop the other team and regain possession 9) award all back-court fouls with two free throws 10) Always give away tacos whenever teams go over 110 points - 100 points is fairly paltry, and with all the previous 9 changes, scores should go over 100 with regularity
I like it how it is now, if it changed excuses will pop up and whining will appear. The game is great how it is, I don't think anythin ON the court should be adjusted... and increasing time would probably mean they would have to increase fouls. That also means scoring would sky rocket one night where both teams are scoring great...
My top 3 suggestions: 1. Contract the league. The current number of teams has thinned out the talent pool and has caused a huge rift in the competition level. The entire Eastern Conference cannot compete with the power houses out West. It would also increase the level of play in the NBDL. 2. Bring back some of the older players to interact with the young fans. The league does a terrible job of teaching fans about their history. There should be museums or galleries displaying the team history and the veteran players can be the guides for those areas. These players have great stories, imagine Magic Johnson telling a bunch of teenagers about his court battles with Larry Bird. 3. Better stats on the Jumbo Trons. I would like to see the leading players for each category during the game, or have it similar to how baseball stadiums have it. Everytime a player scores his face is flashed on the screen with his stats for the game and season.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting shapecity:</div><div class="quote_post"> 2. Bring back some of the older players to interact with the young fans. The league does a terrible job of teaching fans about their history. There should be museums or galleries displaying the team history and the veteran players can be the guides for those areas. These players have great stories, imagine Magic Johnson telling a bunch of teenagers about his court battles with Larry Bird. 3. Better stats on the Jumbo Trons. I would like to see the leading players for each category during the game, or have it similar to how baseball stadiums have it. Everytime a player scores his face is flashed on the screen with his stats for the game and season.</div> I like those opinions, such as when you enter a stadium there is a big gallery of the history for the team... and maybe there can be a older veteran that will be there each home game to give the fans a talk, and maybe answer some questions. Showing the face each time someone scores would also be tight for those sittin on the upper deck Seriously tho, better stats would be great like the baseball stadiums. This would just cause a lot more updating for the the workers, but thats not out problem is it? :mrgreen:
I don't think there's any easy answer to this question. I wouldn't endorse adding 12 minutes to the game, I think that may be a bit excessive. Although I have considered the idea of a 20 second shot-clock. This is probably the only way to prevent coaches from trying to script the entire game by bogging down into a half-court offense. The NHL has similar problems right now, a premium has been placed on defensive traps and schemes in order to contain the oppositions scorers. That along with goalie pads the width of the net itself, anyway, that's another topic...As I started to say, many coaches now feel the need to call plays each and every trip down the floor. For football this is great, it's the strategic essence of the game. But the beauty of the game of basketball is it's free-flowing creativity, it's frustrating to see so much of it being stifled. Maybe it's due to deteriorating player fundamentals, or maybe it's just neurotic coaches and GM's who have more of a "win today, or walk tomorrow" emphasis placed on their job titles. Therefore, winning at any cost (including the entertainment value of the game) has become the premium. My solution(s), few will make much difference, but here they are: 1. Start with teaching young players (as well as current pros) the fundamentals of the game: especially the correct way to shoot a basketball. It's not very hard and with a little effort and repetition becomes quite simple to improve on quickly. Take a look at Hubie Brown with the Grizzlies and Jerry Sloan with the Jazz, fundamentals do pay off. You do not need an overwhelming amount of talent. 2. No more zones. Simple. Colangelo lobbyed for it for the sole purpose of stopping Shaq. Didn't work. Has been effective against guys like Joel Pryzbilla though... 3. Keep the 3 point line, I used to like the idea of dropping it, but then I thought about all of the great shooters I grew up watching in the 80's. These days, players just cannot shoot with the same consistency. Pay guys like Tim Legler and Steve Kerr to teach these guys proper form on their jumper. I would say move it back, but I fear not much would change, just a lot more bricks and air balls. Do like the idea of widening the court though. 4. Free throws are the simplest aspect of the game to master. Basically solution #3, but even simpler. Sure, shooting the ball un-guarded from 15 feet in an arena full of spectators is different from that of shooting in at the local gym or park. But please, please work on free throws with these players! It all goes back to shooting, maybe for some of these guys it's boring, but it really takes very little effort. If you can manage to finish a windmill dunk or dribble the ball between your legs 500 different ways, then you should surely be able to shoot at least 75-80% from the free-throw line!!! This one really drives me crazy. 5. Last but not least, just get used to boring NBA games. Lowered expectations are the necessary trade-off in today's world of instant gratification. Not much will change any time soon, it took a decade or so to develop into the ugliness we see today, so we can't expect it to swing back overnight. Slowly, things will change, the early days of the league were just as un-watchable. League leaders in FG% were in the high 30's to low 40's until more guys like Mikan started to show up. If it doesn't end up cycling back - the NBA will once again be on the verge of bankruptcy - and be surpassed by Streetball. Yikes! If you're unwilling to accept it for what it is, college ball is always a nice alternative. Most of these guys will never even sniff the European or South American pro leagues, they're motivated simply by the love of the game. Now that's refreshing.
Here are my ideas for improve the game: 1. Keep 3 point line but move it back some. Right now there are far too many three pointers being taken. I also dont like the sight of a 6-9 post player throwing up three point shots. Simple fix, just move it back some more. This would help keep the games closer and more intense. 2. As shape already pointed out, I think the league should be contracted in some way. The talent level right now is at polar opposites. I mean who really wants to see the Lakers vs. Wizards as of right now? I would love to see the league turn make the teams more even. Imagine if every game came down to the wire. 3. 20-second shot-clock. I would rather see the pro's play fast paced basketball rather than a half-court game. If I want to see nothing but a halfcourt game, I will go watch HS basketball. I like everyone else, hate the shooting that is going on now in the NBA however, I dont consider that a way to improve the game. That is why I did not include it in my list.
They should take away that 3 second violation in the paint. People should feel free and roam the paint for as long as they want.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Laker_Fever_834:</div><div class="quote_post">They should take away that 3 second violation in the paint. People should feel free and roam the paint for as long as they want.</div> I'm not sure if they should take it away; the players would never get off the paint if there wasn't a rule. However, the refs need to call it more consistently. I see violations all the time, and less than half of them are called. It's pointless to have a rule that you get away with breaking half the time.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Laker_Fever_834:</div><div class="quote_post">They should take away that 3 second violation in the paint. People should feel free and roam the paint for as long as they want.</div> That wouldn't improve the game from a spectators POV, and wouldn't improve basketball. If that happened, guys like Shaq could barge their way to one foot from the hoop, and do a basic layup or skyhook. Their would be less 3pt shots and if you didn't have a good PF/C you'd have no chance of winnig. It would make the game a lot more boring to watch.
I agree with the fact that their should still be a 3 second violation. I think what LakerFever was getting at was that there would be more inside ball w/o the violation. A simple solution would be to shrink the lane to what it used to be. Every few decades the NBA tries to neutralize another big player by widening the lane. First Mikan, then Wilt, and I think they did it for Kareem too. Put it back to 3/4 the size, and then let'em play. You'd have more inside shots, but you wouldn't have Shaq camping out under the basket like it was his second home.
