SHOT CLOCK
- George Konstantinidis
- Jan 7, 2024
- 2 min read
The 24 Seconds That saved the N.B.A
Up until 1954, basketball games were dull. Basketball officials then had a clever idea – the shot clock. It's a timer that gives teams only 24 seconds to make a move and take a shot. Before this, teams could hang onto the ball forever, making the games feel super slow. But the shot clock changed the game, saying, "No more taking it easy, make your move!
The changing point was back in 1950 in a game between the Fort Wayne Pistons and the Minneapolis Lakers. It turned out to be a total snoozefest in the third quarter because the Pistons were winning, and they decided to play it super safe and slow. But the Lakers were like, "Nah, we're not playing that game," and just held onto the ball without even trying to score. The result? A mind-numbingly low-scoring quarter, with the Pistons winning 19-18. Here is a video description of the game https://youtu.be/bSaFn_0I_Ms?si=vGJf9c-u_ulnx5Ov
Now, fans and officials were pretty upset about the whole slow-motion basketball situation. Basketball was losing interest. Then Daniel “Danny” Biasone, the founder and owner of the team Syracuse Nationals came up with the idea of the shot clock and convinced the NBA to adopt it.
Why 24 seconds? According to Biasone “I figured out we were averaging about 60 shots a game per team,'' Biasone says. ''Twenty-four fits into the sixty, so if each team used up 24 seconds for a shot, they would average 60 shots. But the exact number wasn't important. My idea was to keep the game going, to speed it up.'' (https://www.nytimes.com/1984/10/28/sports/when-biasone-took-24-seconds-to-save-the-nba.html#:~:text=Why%2024%20seconds%3F,they%20would%20average%2060%20shots.)
Officially, the clock was used only on a trial basis during the 1954 exhibition games, but it became immediately popular. When the Rochester Royals played the Boston Celtics to open the regular season on October 30, the 24-second clock was an official N.B.A. rule. At the end of the season, average team scoring increased nearly 14 points to 93 points per game(https://www.nytimes.com/1984/10/28/sports/when-biasone-took-24-seconds-to-save-the-nba.html#:~:text=Why%2024%20seconds%3F,they%20would%20average%2060%20shots.)
The game suddenly was all about speed and action. Teams had to be quick thinkers and take shots in that short time frame. The result? Games went from "meh" to "whoa!" More scores, more excitement, and way more fun to watch.
Plus, no more teams stalling or playing defense just to run out the clock. The shot clock threw a wrench in those tactics, making games non-stop showdowns.
It's not just about shooting hoops; it's like a strategy game now. Teams must be all smart about managing time and making lightning-fast decisions. It's like turning basketball into a real-life chess match.
And guess what? Fans love it! Faster games, more action – it's like basketball on steroids. So, the shot clock? It's basically the superhero that saved basketball from being a total snoozefest. Props to the shot clock, the real MVP of the court!
Long story short, the shot clock came in like a superhero, saving basketball from being a total snoozefest. It's like the secret MVP, making the game way more exciting, one shot at a time. So, next time you're cheering for an epic play, remember to give a little nod to the shot clock – the real MVP of the court!
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