Fix #3
Elam Ending/Target Score Basketball/Clutch Time
Thus I’ve thus far stuck to mostly original ideas. Fix #3 is not an original idea, but one I don’t feel has been given its full due as a way to improve so much of what ails the NBA. The biggest argument against adopting the Elam Ending, or target score basketball that I’ve heard, is that we are losing those last second, buzzer beating shots, and I get it. As a Blazer fan, probably the 2 greatest moments of my basketball fan life were watching Dame sending home the hated Houston Rockets and cocky L.A. Clippers on deep buzzer beaters at the end of playoff series. I mean both those moments were AWESOME, but you know what isn’t awesome? The ending to the vast majority of games that get played every night, particularly those from the last few years since “instant” replay has become a bigger part of the game (fix #4 should take care of this). Would I trade those 2 moments for an improved ending to almost every other basketball game I watch? For me the answer is yes. For you the answer may be no, if so that’s cool, I get the argument. All I ask is you hear me out and keep an open mind.
Proposal #3 — Adopt Target Score (Elam Endings) to ALL games
First 3 ½ quarters score clock remains as it is now.
With 6 minutes to go there is a stoppage in play and 21 points is added to the leading teams point total, this becomes both team’s “target score” and the game clock is turned off. Why 21? Who hasn’t played a pick-up game to 21 before? And it’s roughly how many points a team scores in a good ½ of a quarter.
Each team is allowed 1 timeout. Less timeouts = better endings that are decided more by players, and less by coaches.
Each coach is allowed 1 foul veto. Why the veto? It makes it less likely the game will end with a free throw, and provides one more chance for coaches to mess up, which is always entertaining.
The only referee initiated challenge occurs on game deciding shots or fouls… or not. I’m not a fan of replay slowing games down.
Let’s unpack this a little with some pros and cons. We’ll start with the cons, because as I see it there aren’t many of them. First con is simply change. Let’s face it, for the majority of folks change is hard, even if they aren’t willing to admit it. Second, we lose the (extremely infrequent) buzzer beater. That’s it.
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Before we go any further we need a name for this. We could continue to call it the Elam Ending, providing a shout out to Nick Elam who is credited with this idea. Or we could get a bit more creative. Target Time? Crunch Time? Personally I kind of like Clutch Time. The NBA already keeps “clutch stats” and any basketball player or fan is already familiar with the term “clutch”. From here on out that is what it’ll be referred to, but the important part is the concept, not the name. That can be workshopped later.
So what would be the pros to Clutch Time? First, and probably most significantly, every game has a game winning shot. Imagine the discussion, analysis, and stats that would go along with this? Who has the most game winners in the league? Leading Clutch Time scoring average? Who does the coach play in these ultimate games to 21? Biggest come from behind victory? Think about it, there would be no limit to potential deficits overcome during Clutch Time. The Nuggets could be up 30 in Golden State going into Clutch Time when Jokic fouls out or twists an ankle. What happens now in the current NBA? The Nuggets second string starts walking the ball up the court, using all 24 seconds of the shot clock, and essentially run out the clock. We’ve already have a term to describe this phase of the game, Garbage Time. Boring! What could happen using target score? Steph starts to heat up and the Dubs go on a run. The game simplifies, it comes down to who is making buckets and who is getting stops. MPJ finally gets it going and is fouled on a 3 only 2 points away from the target score and the win, but Kerr still has a veto in his back pocket. Steph comes down and hits a dagger 3 (a league leading 18th game winner of the season), and gives the Nuggets the night-night. MPJ is screaming that his toe was on the line, and because this was a game deciding shot the (offsite) refs can, and do take a look. Twenty seconds later the call is confirmed and the Warriors complete the biggest Clutch Time comeback in history.
What do fans complain about the most about the end of games? How long everything takes, particularly when games are close and theoretically should be the most exciting. Using Clutch Time so much of what we don’t want as fans goes away. There are fewer timeouts down the stretch. Gone are timeouts to set up plays, substitute offense for defense, stop runs, and advance the ball. There are no more players standing on the perimeter dribbling for 20 seconds to milk the clock and try to protect a lead. If you are on offense your job is to get a bucket to get closer to reaching the target score. And how about for the team that is losing? What do we do now? You’re down by 5 with a minute to go, you start fouling, putting your opponent on the line and hope they miss free throws because you are running out of time. What happens in Clutch Time? All your focus turns to stopping a team from scoring.
This also eliminates one part of the game I loath. Your team is losing by 3 with 12 seconds to go. Your star player is dribbling up the floor and everyone knows you need a 3 to push the game into OT. What do smart teams do now? Foul. Put the opposing team on the line and turn it into a free throw shooting contest. I absolutely hate this! What would be a winning strategy in Clutch Time? Get a stop and get a bucket, just like how basketball was meant to be played.
NBA, I know change is scary, but it’s time to make this a reality.
Links to everything that ails the NBA, and how to fix it.
Fix #1 — The “Perfect” 82 Game Schedule
Fix #2 — Goodbye Tanking
Fix #4 — Game Flow (shortening games)
Fix #5 — Officiating
Fix #6 — Supersizing the In-Season Tournament
Fix #7 — TV Ratings
Fix #8 — Court Dimensions & Too Many Threes (?)
Fix #9 — All-Star Weekend
Fix #10 — Musings & Final Thoughts
