Timekeeping Errors

[Nevadaref]

Originally posted by ChuckElias
I would agree with Mark, and disagree with Nevada. As soon as you notice the clock is not running, blow the play dead and adjust it.

In theory, Nevada is right. The extra 3 seconds don't matter if they're gonna run it down to 3 anyway. But if anybody else notices the clock, and you don't take care of it, you will look very very bad. Observers LOVE clock awareness. If you're aware of it, fix it. JMO

Well said, Chuck. If you can catch it nice and early before it can effect play that is clearly best. However, we all know how much of a pain these failure to start the clock situations can be. The biggest problem is that you can't know that the clock hasn't properly started until a couple of seconds should have elapsed (unless you have a clock which shows tenths in the final minute, then you can notice it quicker--thankfully these clocks are becoming much more common). It just takes that long to ascertain that your timer is asleep or that there has been an equipment malfunction. So by the time the official knows something is wrong, the offense could have pushed the ball well up the floor and might be attacking on the basket. Since we wouldn't want to stop the game under these circumstances, its gets darn messy.
While I am in NO way advocating that my above suggestion is correct according to the rules, I do believe that you will get more acceptance and have a better chance of getting out of that gym alive using my just ignore it philosophy, than if you handle the situation the way stated in Stat-man's original post.