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Old Mon Apr 05, 2004, 02:15pm
bob jenkins bob jenkins is offline
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Join Date: Aug 1999
Posts: 18,127
Quote:
Originally posted by rulesmaven
Can someone articulate a purpose for the rule that is not undermined by the fact that a basket scored with more time in the game (e.g., 1:01) will lead to less game play than a basket scored with less time in the game (e.g., 59.9)? Maybe there is one. I can't think of one. That's why I posted.

Original rule: Clock always continues to run. Problem: A team that's ahead can let the clock run out and that's not (in the eyes of the rules committee, coaches, etc.) in the spirit of the game.

Possible Solution: Stop the clock after every made basket. Problem: The game lasts too long. THere's no real disadvantage to either team to stop the clock early on -- each team has plenty of time to adjust to whatever time is left.

Final solution: Stop the clock "near the end of the game." Any decision on the definition of this time (:30, 1:00, 2:00, etc) is arbitrary. It needs to be long enough so that it's not a disadvantage if it continues to run, but short enough that it doesn't lengthen the game too much. The committee decided 1:00 was a good compromise. Shrug.
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