Our opponent played a passive 2-3 zone for twenty-nine minutes. We played man defense. With three minutes to go, I signaled the players to hold the ball out. The opposing coach screamed, "Play Basketball." After about a minute, he abandoned the zone. It didn't matter.
The shot clock began in the NBA during the 1954-1955 season and in the NCAA in 1985. The NBA adopted the shot clock at the behest of the Syracuse Nationals which lost to Boston in a four-overtime playoff elimination game. Bob Cousy, who scored fifty points, dribbled until fouled and converted 30 of 32 free throws.
Only eight states mandate a shot clock for high school basketball and in 2020, the NFHS voted down a proposal to require it.
During an international panel of coaches I participated in last night on how to "Make Youth Basketball Fun" last night, all coaches agreed on the value of shot clocks. The shot clock has numerous merits:
1) Speeds up the game
2) Allows for more possessions
3) Encourages teams to get into offense more quickly
4) Rewards excellent defense
5) Neutralizes "stall ball"
Opponents argue that it removes strategic delay and has costs.
What is the cost for shot clock equipment? Examine the individual and aggregate costs, "Not to mention the cost of shot clock installation running no less than $1.5 million, combined, for every school in the Kentucky High School Athletic Association and the difficulty in finding a reliable person to run the apparatus."
"Daktronics is one of the nation's leading distributors of scoreboards and shot clocks, and a spokesperson said that each shot clock typically costs $2,000 to $2,500, and with installation, the total cost can range from $5,000 to $10,000."
Unscientific polls have shown that over eight-five percent of participants want shot clocks. Many coaches also favor the 'reset' that after regaining possession (e.g. an offensive rebound), that the clock be reset to fourteen seconds as in the NBA.
If not now, when?
Lagniappe: Why do we coach? Coaching allows us to help young people grow. Every day isn't as momentous, but last night I shared in two achievements:
1) Former player Victoria Crovo received acceptance into Veterinary School.
2) High school freshman Cecilia Kay earned her first varsity win, leading her team with 26 points and 15 rebounds. A "straight A" student, the fourteen year-old is the best age-matched player I have coached in over two decades of coaching.
She scores the opening hoop last night.
