Completely disgaree, i love it the way it is.

How is this a spoiler?

No idea why the spoiler tag is there.

The spoiler tag has been removed. It shows up if you check the box next to "Check this if your topic contains a game spoiler (e.g., an NBA game that might be televised later)."

bring back 12 min quarters. Its a reward for making it to that level. I heard they did the 10min quarters to be in-line with Olympics. Wouldnt it make more sense to play longer (48 mins) so that when the Olympics come players have better game endurance.

Basketball is always messed up by the people who run it......no jump balls, but an arrow, what genius came up with that, probably never played the game, doesnt know the skill it takes to out jump a big guy, or a big guy to tap it to another play for an easy 2. Why do we change what works???

No one would attend to 20 minute halve games!! Worst possible idea.. BRING BACK 12 MINUTE QUARTERS PLEASE!! Its over too quickly for god sake.

SP, it's not just the international game that 40 minute games are about, but trying to create a more concise package for TV (now and in the future).

12min quarters for me ;)

Definitely not a fan of 20 minute halves, completely changes the flow of the game which is fine just the way it is.

I would also like to see them revert back to 12 minute quarters - more bang for your buck and a measure of playing at the elite level.

Totally agree with SP too. Never been a fan of the possesion arrow. Bring back the jump ball and reward people for playing good defence!

Love the 20min half format for college and domestic games...but leave the 4 quarters as is.

We've seen some really good games this year - high intensity and relatively high scoring too. Whether or not it is a result of the reduction in playing time, I don't know, but if we are going to see that sort of quality because of it, I'll happily forgo an extra eight minutes of crap basketball, especially if it means more tv coverage too.

Would be worth adding a few extra games a season to make up for the minutes being lost.

Or alternatively, go for a 7-game finals series; I'd certainly prefer the chance to watch more than 1 knockout final or just 3 semi/grand final games at worst case.

So, did the first poster click "spoiler" because they think that 4 x 10mins "spoils" the game of basketball???

Jokes aside, I'd say it's because a checkbox prior to a submit button is often used as a "tick this to confirm you've read the rules" element.

20 questions?
when did 12 minute quarters come in?
did it have to do with a slide in TV ratings?
did it create lower or extra spectators?

No to 20 minute halves ,yawnesville ,watching teams play in carnivals

I don't go with the idea of 20 minute halves, but I'd love to get jump balls back.

I just don't get the love for jump balls. I have never had a game ruined by the lack of jump ball, or had anything even come close to resembling annoyance at the arrow.

Don't agree with 20 min halves, but bring back one and one after team foul penalty. Sure, it might make games go a bit longer but it adds another tactical element to the game.

^Agree with TC2. Has never really bothered me. Except I'd like to see the refs let the players go at it for a bit longer rather than blowing the whistle as soon as both players have a piece of it.

TC2 and Xztatik do you play bball or just watch? If you play and play competitively and want to win at any cost then the love for jump balls comes from working your behind off in d-fense, getting a stop! Or chasing down a loose ball, diving for it, doing what you can for your team to get the ball. With the arrow system you work hard and then give the ball back to offense if the arrow is pointing their way. That is not a reward for hard work! Bbball is not just about scoring, there are many aspects, d-fense, box out, picks, mind games etc... All these and more make the game great, the arrow fails!

Have to strongly agree with SP- many times you see a player work like hell to force a jump-ball situation, only to see it be given back to the opposition.
Yes, I realise that the arrow turns around immediately after the possession, but it rarely seems fair in competitive situations.

Work like hell to force a jump ball? Come on, you need to put your hands on the ball at the same time as another guy, or fall on top of him when he is on the ground. It's a good effort to do so but it's not the most fantastic hustle play that you are trying to describe it as. I don't see what boxing out, picks and mind games have got to do with the possession arrow either.

And as far as me playing, yes, for many years, at competitive levels too. I love the hustle of the game and would always work my arse off. If I forced a jump ball and the arrow wasn't pointing our way, it wouldn't be of the slightest concern because you get straight back out there and do it all again. What is more rewarding, winning a jump ball, or tying a ball up TWICE so you get the possession?

The reason why i asked if you played, is because players understand this stuff im saying, where as non-players just really watch for the scoring. Just wanted to know where you where coming from. Your bout the only player that likes the arrow. I bet the world if the people running the show took a petition with players to have the arrow or not, "not" would win in a land slide!

Boxing out, picks, mind games etc dont have anything to with the arrow. You missed the point. The point is non-players watch for scoring, players watch and notice these things. And they're all the little things that make the game great.

And im not saying a jumb ball is the best hustle play, but it can be, whether you tie the ball up, take a charge, run off a pick for an easy 2, what ever, you work hard you get results. You ever changed a game from a hustle play, it happens, therefore for that one game it could be the best play, the defyning moment.

Also the point regarding this jump ball business was an example to outline, it worked well, just like 12 min quarters, why do things that work get changed?.............TV ratings, world game, silly people in charge...who knows???

Ok, fair enough.

As far as the little things that make the game great, I'm all for them. You only need to watch the minute-long spectacle of watching NBA players line up and having the ref takes ages until he is satisfied enough for him to hoist the ball and you can see why the jump ball itself is not something to get excited about.

I am sure most people would say they don't like the arrow but if you ask them to outline their reasons why, they probably couldn't come up with more than "well, that's the way we have always done it." It's a small change, it hasn't impacted any games that I have ever seen but I think it's a change for the better.

I was not a fan of the possession arrow when it came in, but it is actually fairer than a jump ball. The stoppage occurs because there is a 50/50 event in which you cannot separate the two teams. So what could be fairer than alternating possession between the teams 50/50. Any other result has its inequities, particularly jump balls, which pretty much have a foregone conclusion on most occasions.

SP, yeah I play, actually it's probably the fact that I'm usually the smallest player on the court that makes me dislike jumpballs haha.

But nah I see where you're coming from, it's just never really bothered me.

No worries gentlemen, somehow turned out to be a good sub-topic. Yeah Xztatik i to share the pain of being the smallest out there, gotta use the brains and the speed...hehehe.

No worries gentlemen, somehow turned out to be a good sub-topic. Xztatik, i to share the pain of being the smallest one out there, gotta use the brains and the speed....hehehe.

See, I was usually the largest man out there but I still didn't like the jump ball ;-)