The fact that the NBA is set to test the new one-free throw rule in the G League this season serves as further proof that the league is very much open to making some drastic rule changes that might potentially have a significant impact on the game as we know it.
In line with what could literally become a game-changing rule, we decided to take things one or two steps further by presenting our own set of proposed rule changes we feel the NBA should consider. As with all the changes the league has and continues to implement, the ultimate objective remains to be everyone’s desire to not only to make the game itself more exhilarating, but also, to level the playing field as much as possible.
Revised Playoffs Seedings
One of the biggest issues that has been haunting the league in the past few years is the vast difference in the level of competition between the two conferences. After a crazy offseason, the Western Conference only got stronger, and in the process, further decreasing the competitiveness in the Eastern Conference.
Simply put, the general belief is that it is easier for a team form the East to make the playoffs as compared to the ruthless West. To address this, we think the league should seriously consider seeding the top 16 teams for the playoffs based solely on standings. This rule change has been discussed extensively in the past, and maybe now is the time to implement the same.
Shortened Regular Season
Injuries are an ugly yet inevitable part of the game. There’s just no two ways about it, and at the end of the day, this plays a significant role in dictating or diminishing the chances of a certain team to make a considerable run in the postseason. Again, there’s nothing we can do to completely eliminate this facet of the game, but if there was something we could implement in order to perhaps help reduce the risk of injury, then surely, it ought to be worth considering, right?
Why don’t we start with reducing the number of games each team plays in the regular season? 82 scheduled games in the span of six months means that on average, every team will take the court once every couple of days. Theoretically, if the league opts to bring down this number (we can start with maybe 65 or 70 games per season?) then it would give the players more time to rest, and as a result, should also reduce the risk of injury.
Playing less games in the regular season also means that players will enter the playoffs with more energy reserved in the tank, thereby potentially bringing out the best in teams participating in the postseason.
FIBA Rules on Goaltending
Now that we’ve proposed two macro-level changes above, we also have a few more ideas that are focused more on actual gameplay. For one, why don’t we look at implementing the international goaltending rule currently enforced by FIBA? This is the international governing body of the sport, so surely, they have put a lot of thought into this rule.
According to FIBA rules, goaltending can no longer be called once the ball has already hit the rim. If the NBA chooses to implement this rule change, then it should have a positive effect on the aesthetic value of the game. Just imagine athletic high-flyers performing insane chase-down blocks on fastbreaks with this new rule in place.
Late-Game Timeouts
Another lingering issue in the league is how timeouts slow down the game during the dying minutes. Sure, this makes the game more methodical, and also highlights the significance of coaches calling the right plays at the right time, but there’s no denying that at times, it tends to be anti-climactic.
Why not enforce a rule which will somehow limit the use of late-game timeouts? This way, the game will become more free-flowing in the final minutes of play, giving the players on the court more control over the outcome.
The Four-Point Line
Let’s get a little crazy here and take something straight out of the playbook of BIG3 league. How about taking the four-point shot a step further by adding a four-point line in the NBA? This can be a few feet away from the current three-point line, and it would definitely have a tremendous impact on how the game is played. The sport has recently evolved into a long-distance shootout, so why not fully embrace this and add an area wherein teams can add four points to their current tally by making a shot from said area? One man who’ll definitely benefit from this radical rule-change is Golden State Warriors superstar Stephen Curry, who would unquestionably be the league leader in four-pointers.
As they always say, the only thing permanent in this life is change, and this is a notion that we’ve seen in the NBA throughout its history. The beauty of this league is that it is not afraid to embrace change, with the intention of making the game better for its spectators. Some of these proposed rule changes may sound a bit out-of-the-box today, but perhaps they’ll make more sense within the next few years.
Follow Us
Subscribe