Alright, I think it's time to address the elephant in the room: should Idaho implement a shot clock in high school basketball? Personally, I'm in favor. More states are adding the shot clock, and Idaho risks falling behind if they continue to sit on their hands. However, it's not something that can happen overnight. It costs money to actually install/operate these, and school budgets will need to be adjusted (especially with Idaho's smaller schools.) What does everyone think? I want to hear it all. Pros and cons because I know there are opinions on both sides.
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So the question I have is "why"? The original post says we are falling behind...in what way? We don't take as many crappy shots as NBA players? We don't have the PG stand out front and dribble uncontested for 20 seconds, and try to take their defender one on one? Are those reasons to speed up an offensive possession? If we need to keep up with college/NBA, then I guess we'd better back up the 3 point line, add a 6th foul, and start charging $12 bucks for a hot dog.
As was already mentioned, most possessions happen pretty quickly already. I don't see why we would punish a team from coming down the floor, setting up in an offense, and run some type of motion offense until they get a good shot.
If you're worried about the stall, then come out and play some defense. That's going to lead to offensive movement, a foul, a turnover, a lay-in, etc.
IMO, if there is anything we need to fix in basketball, it's that we need to remove the extreme physicality. The way things are trending, if you are less talented/skilled, you just turn the game into a rugby scrum to even things up.
THE John Balginy: During the meeting the board said if schools wanted to implement shot clocks on a school-by-school or conference-by-conference basis before they are implemented at state tournaments they are free to do so. The IHSAA felt that the precedent set when they worked to implement three-person officiating crews over a three year period should be followed here as well. They can always change that implementation date during the first reading at the April meeting if they choose to do so.
Here is the shot clock portion of the board meeting
Montana and Utah just approved a shot clock and will implement it for the 22-23 season. I read where IF the IHSAA approves the clock...the earliest it would implemented would be the 24-25 season. WTH? Why the delay? And having a shot clock at the state tournament only? Doesn't make sense...seems unfair to play a whole season without it and then use it in the most important games of the year. Paul, Brandon...help me out here!
Why does high school basketball need a shot clock? I've been watching games for over 40 years - me, my kids and my grandkids. If the clock is set to 35 seconds, how often does a possession ever last longer than 20 seconds? Except at the end of a close game, and how many of those are there? People are wanting schools to spend money they don't have on something that will only really come in to play during the last couple of minutes during a handful of games.
I read on cougarboard that the Uhsaa adopted a shot clock. Even small schools in other states can afford it. Most small schools have lights on there football field. Not ongoing expense. occasionally a team will deliberately stall. But aside from fast breaks and deliberate stalls I doubt most possessions take more than 20 to 25 seconds. Prevents stall.
nba figured 60 shots no stall led to 24 second clock. I wonder if that is too short. College was 45 then 35 and 30. Rare violation. May not be necessary for the most part. But to prevent stalls I see no problem with it.