[2elijah]

IMO.... and I stess the M....

High school basketball, both Girls and Boys, needs to adopt a Shot Clock and a Running clock rule.



Shot Clock 40-45 seconds would be a good time frame for HSBB.

Running Clock...
Would it be used only in the 2nd half?
Would it used after a certain point spread was reached?
Could it be something that would happen anytime during the game, but it could be ended if the point spread is closed.

Or if there is a 50 point spread anytime in the 2nd half, the game could be ended by the mercy rule.

How would you suggest to address the historical records?

[2elijah]

Oops guess the records have been addressed. Some people think that passing the ball to
get the best shot possible is a viable strategy. It is certainly the best strategy
against teams that overcome their lack of fundamental skills with pressure and up tempo.

The reason the pro game faded from popularity was the rise of fundamentally unskilled
but highly athletic players relying on the clock to play defense for them. Turnovers were
minimized but allowing the star scorers to dominate the ball handling and shooting.
If the defense were adequate for 24 seconds, then the star took a bad shot. As a result,
dunks, three point shots and off balance, circus shots became the ESPN highlights.
After thirty years of this, people think this is the way basketball was always played.

Fannies in the seats reflect what will be done. Fans think that forcing the other team to
play defense until a good shot opens up is boring. Those fans need to be pleased for their
dollars. Case in point: Look at the posts concerning Trinity over on Preps. The general
theme is (1) how much better their stars would look in a wide open system and
consequently, (2) how much better their team would be.

Now, just for fun. What if Trinity meets super athletic Hoptown and runs a star emphasized wide open system? Hoptown might force enough turnovers and get up
enough shots to win. But if Trinity runs its good ball handling team system?
Trinity gets as many shots as Hoptown, shoots a higher percentage, is able to keep
its superior center in defensive and offensive position all night and wins.

Trinity's coach knows that if he loses the state tournament he will be blamed no
matter what system he runs. He plays his best hand by slowing down and playing
team ball. The only team that can beat him will be a better ball handling, slow the
game down even more kind of team. A team like the 1962-63 Carr Creek LIT champions.
That team beat Seneca 47-46 in what Adolph Rupp claimed was the best high school
game he ever watched. That was the only loss Seneca and Wesley Unseld suffered
on their way to winning two straight state championships. The Seneca coach said the
better team won. The Louisville sports writers claimed all week that Carr Creek was
an over rated mountain team that didn't belong in the tournament. After the win,
Carr Creek's coach, Morton Combs said, "Looks like we had a pretty good team
after all."