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Double your fun in half the time; a radical change to the most important aspect of basketball—scoring—would cure what ails the NBA

Basketball Digest, March-April, 2004 by Rick Barry

IF DR. JAMES NAISMITH WERE live to watch today's NBA he probably wouldn't recognize the game he invented. Not only are the players bigger, stronger, and quicker, but the rules have been modified to meet the needs of an everchanging sport. The three-point line, the shot clock, and the defensive three seconds circle under the basket are all additions that have made the game better. Even so, many fans and critics are quick to point out the numerous shortcomings of today's NBA.

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We often banter about possibilities for change--raise the rim, widen the lane, move the three-point line closer, and so on. In the past, I have been an advocate of leaving the game as it is and teaching the players to play the game in a more fundamentally sound manner. If today's players are being paid millions of dollars to perform at the sport's highest level, the least they can do is learn to shoot. rebound, and pass the ball with expertise.

Obviously the game of basketball is better and more exciting to watch if the players are skilled and knowledgeable. Most players possess today unbelievable athleticism and exceptional ball-handling capabilities. Unfortunately, sometimes this still doesn't equate to great basketball. And if a fan pays the price of today's tickets, he or she should be treated to a top-level performance. With that said, there are some possible innovations to the existing rules, specifically the scoring system, that could make the game even more exciting than it already is.

The challenge, of course, is how to implement a change that wouldn't destroy the purity of the game, while still providing new, positive benefits for the players, coaches, and fans. I love the game of basketball and have played it, coached it, or broadcast it since I was five years old. It is one of the most challenging and demanding sports on the planet. It just needs a few tweaks every now and then to keep it that way.

It's been said ad nauseam that you really only need to watch the last five minutes of an NBA game. People seem to feel as though the first 43 minutes don't generate quite the excitement or the intensity level as the last five. In many cases this is true. Some players seem to be on autopilot until the last five minutes, then suddenly launch into hyperdrive and play their hearts out for the victory. What if the game could be changed to make every minute count?

Another recent criticism of the NBA pertains to the paucity of scoring. Teams averaging 92 ppg just aren't stimulating enough for some NBA fans. In this world of video games and cable television, we Tare programmed to want nonstop action. What if the final score didn't matter?

This change may be too radical for some, but in essence it alters only one aspect of the game the scoring system. To explain the change, think tennis. If a tennis player gets blown out in the first set, 6-0, do you turn off the TV and not watch anymore? No, because you know that" there is a second set where the player has the chance to get even. Then you may be treated to a third and final set, which determines the match.

If you play tennis, you know that losing the first set is not the end of the world. You may get absolutely slaughtered in the first set and be able to rally to win the second. If you are able to do that, then just about anything can happen in the third: Players get physically and mentally fatigued, or they may have a nagging injury that flares up. The bottom line is that anything can and does happen.

What if a similar concept was in play for NBA basketball--and, for that matter, for the game at any level? What if a basketball half was akin to a tennis set? Lose the first half and you still have a chance to get even in the second. If a different team wins each half, a five-minute overtime would determine the winner. Radical? Yes, but when you get into it, this could be the most exciting and drastic rule change ever to hit the game.

The closest thing to this concept is in the CBA. The CBA uses a quarter scoring system in an attempt to create more excitement for the fans. The system awards one point for the team that won a quarter, half a point for any quarters tied, and an additional three points for winning the game. "The standings are based on total points earned under this format. And while that scoring system may increase the excitement for fans, it is absolutely, totally, and 100% wrong for a developmental league like the CBA.

The CBA continues to be the top developmental league for the NBA, yet the quarter scoring system makes developing young players almost impossible. Think about it from a coaching perspective: To win your division or qualify for a playoff spot, you need to win as many points as possible. So why in the world would any coach ever play his young, inexperienced players? The necessity of winning points is counterproductive to the goal of developing players.

I experienced this firsthand as a coach in the CBA and spent many sleepless nights wondering why the league had implemented this system, and how I could get some much-needed experience for my young players.

Double your fun in half the time; a radical change to the most important aspect of basketball—scoring—would cure what ails the NBA

Basketball Digest, March-April, 2004 by Rick Barry

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