A Basketball Rule Change That Needs To Happen

[ChiefZilla]

I've always thought the power play is an interesting concept in hockey. It adds an element to the game that makes it unique from other sports.

I've also always thought that foul trouble can ruin a highly anticipated basketball game. The refs can have too much influence if they're calling a game tight inside, forcing coaches to bench their players for much of the first half if they pick up 2 or 3 quick fouls, or if they pick up foul #4 early in the second half.

So here's my idea...

Implement the power play in basketball.

It sounds a little crazy, but I really don't think it is. Keep the "foul-out" number the same in both the NBA (6) and NCAA (5). But if a player reaches that number, the coach can choose to either sub him out (resulting in his disqualification for the rest of the game, aka the "status quo"), or the coach can choose to bench him for one minute during which his team will have to play four on five.

After the power play, if the same player picks up another foul, the same options will be available to the coach.

If it's a less important player, the coach might choose against the power play. If it's a star player, he'd probably choose the power play.

The beauty of it is coaches might not be so afraid to have their star players foul out. If a guy picks up 2 or 3 early fouls, maybe he wouldn't sit out for the rest of the half.

But it's still a significant enough punishment to sway players from hacking away. Playing four on five in hoops is very, very difficult.

Thoughts?

[louiemdj]

That would be pretty crazy to watch. You would have to make it longer than 1 minute though. It would have to hurt a little more that. Maybe 2-3 minutes.

It's obviously never going to happen, but it's a cool idea.

[iKnowNothing]

Interesting idea. But coaching turnover would be even greater because coaches would make more mistakes that people could easily point to and say this was a very bad decision.

[The Cosmic Kid]

It seems crazy to make any major changes to the rules. I wonder what the reaction was like when the three-point line was introduced.

[ChiefZilla]

(04-19-2012 11:36 AM)louiemdj Wrote:  That would be pretty crazy to watch. You would have to make it longer than 1 minute though. It would have to hurt a little more that. Maybe 2-3 minutes.

Yeah, I had a tough time deciding what the proper amount of time would be. I think the team playing four-on-five would have to switch to a 2-2 or 1-2-1 zone and just try to force the offense to hit a wide-open outside shot. So I guess it's not guaranteed the opponent would score, but it'd certainly be a lot easier.

Two minutes might be a good punishment, but that's something they'd have to figure out.

(04-19-2012 03:07 PM)iKnowNothing Wrote:  Interesting idea. But coaching turnover would be even greater because coaches would make more mistakes that people could easily point to and say this was a very bad decision.

That's the best part. It'd add a whole new element to coaching. Good coaches with common sense would be fine. But others would just get too stressed out deciding what to do.

[SkyBlues42]

If it's a close game, I'd let my start player foul out. Would never want to be "short-handed" in a game like that, where every defensive stop helps.

Having said that.. if it's a blowout, I'd also let him foul out. Teach him to be more careful. Can't think of a scenario where I'd actually accept the "Power Play."

[ChiefZilla]

(04-22-2012 11:58 AM)SkyBlues42 Wrote:  Can't think of a scenario where I'd actually accept the "Power Play."

That's the key. You'd have to find an amount of time where it's at least tempting for a coach to opt for the Power Play. If that's one possession, so be it. If it's five minutes, go with that.