Isaac
Years ago
Could the NBA ditch free throws?
Interesting piece from ESPN - Imagine a game without free throws?
As a general principle, "earning it at the line" is not a force of good in basketball. Earning it at the line results in potentially spectacular plays disintegrating into a flying collision, some of which result in injury rather than pyrotechnics. Earning it at the line is the equivalent of intentionally pulling the plugs on the speakers just as the party is getting good.
The scourge of the free throw is a far easier problem to diagnose than to treat because there are no simple antidotes. Could we just automatically award two points to a player when he gets fouled in the act of shooting or while his team is in the penalty? One or the other? Maybe two points for a shooting foul, but only one point and possession for a non-shooting foul in the bonus?Full article
It's interesting because what basketball might view as a bland hassle, sports like soccer and footy have made into key components. The suspense before a penalty in soccer, or a guy lining up for a kick from outside fifty.
This is from the half-bakery, but it made me think of two amusing options:
- replace free throws with a half-court attempt for five points
- when fouled in the frontcourt, you get a free attempt from wherever you're fouled, almost netball style. So fouling a lay-up is effectively giving up the points.
Edit: Spotted this funny-but-I'd-watch-that suggestion on Twitter from @ZolotAwesome:
fouling player goes to other side of halfcourt. Ball inbounds and offense plays 5v4 till they score/ball crosses halfcrt #hoopidea
if you're already 4v5 and you foul on shot, that player also goes to other side of court, and it's now 3v5. Dunks ensue #hoopidea
