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5 ways to make the NBA more interesting, challenging, exciting and fun

By Matt George Moore

PORTLAND, OR - JANUARY 27: Evan Turner #1 and C.J. McCollum #3 of the Portland Trail Blazers tie their shoes before the game against the Memphis Grizzlies on January 27, 2017 at the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Sam Forencich/NBAE via Getty Images)
PORTLAND, OR - JANUARY 27: Evan Turner #1 and C.J. McCollum #3 of the Portland Trail Blazers tie their shoes before the game against the Memphis Grizzlies on January 27, 2017 at the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Sam Forencich/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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LAS VEGAS, NV – JULY 16, 2018: Collin Sexton of the Cleveland Cavaliers shoots a free throw and ties the game to go into double overtime against the Los Angeles Lakers during the 2018 Las Vegas Summer League at the Thomas & Mack Center. /

Two-Minute Overtime!

Here’s another swell idea that the NBA uses in its Summer League games. If baseball is seriously considering automatically placing a runner on second base in extra-inning games, then the NBA should be willing to shorten its overtime by three minutes.

As I think the Summer League games proved, a two-minute overtime is much more exciting than the typical five-minute one. It makes every overtime possession that much more precious. There would be little to no margin for error. And, although I haven’t run the simulations, it seems to me that it would make it more likely that one team actually prevails after just one overtime.

Final Thoughts

The NBA game is constantly evolving. From the fun, run-and-gun 1980s; to the center-dominated, stifling defenses of the 1990s; to the current game, which is moving outward from the paint and toward a more active, passing, long-range-shooting style. The game and its players are always finding ways to score, to move the ball around, and to make every offensive possession more productive.

Next: Blazers stuck on sideline as NBA evolves

What do you think of these ideas? Any of them sound good to you — or is this just pie-in-the-sky, never-gonna-happen silliness?

Well, who says the NBA has to be so darn serious, huh? Let’s try some of these out. Let’s see what happens.

The players are changing the game, anyway. It’s time the league adopted some cool new rules to reflect the evolving styles, talents and skills of the men who take to the hardwood every night for our sporting entertainment.