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Old Wed Apr 24, 2002, 01:01pm
Mark Padgett Mark Padgett is offline
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Join Date: Aug 1999
Location: only in my own mind, such as it is
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Question

Just to make this more interesting, could someone explain to me the logic of having backcourt and closely guarded counts when there is a shot clock in use? The purpose of a shot clock is to force a team to attack the basket within a certain amount of time. If you are willing to accept that as an adequate method of forcing offense and making the game enjoyable, then why have the other counts? They seem redundant to me.

It's as if you are saying that 30 seconds to shoot is OK, as long as the ball is in the frontcourt for at least 21 of those seconds and you do not have any of your players hold or dribble the ball for more than 4.9 seconds when a defender is standing 6' or less from them in the frontcourt. What's the point?

The only rationale I can come up with for the 10 second count is that it would be more difficult for the defense to guard full court for 29 seconds than for 9, so putting the offense in a more confined space for 21 of those seconds makes the game more interesting (I suppose).

However, I still see no need for the 5 second count in shot clock games. Frankly, I don't like the count in non-shot clock games either. I feel a gaining a possession is too great a reward for someone standing close to the ball handler for 5 seconds.
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