ACTOR ONE
Let’s talk about how to revolutionize the business of
basketball.
ACTOR TWO
About time, I’m bored with all the slow ball we have today.
ACTOR ONE
We played basketball in the 1970s
before the 3-point line. Our thing was fast break basketball. We ran the fast
break every single time, so every play was exciting. Today, I see super
athletes walking from three-point line to three-point line, and running
in a semicircle behind the three-point line. That’s boring, that’s less fun to
play. We were always running. We weren’t stopping and spacing all the time.
ACTOR TWO
Yes. I agree that today’s basketball
can be incredibly boring, slow speed, basketball. It was the 1980s when the
three-point shot really started to get big. By the 2020s shooters got so good
they were making 40 to 50% of their three-point shots.
ACTOR ONE
That's why today I usually only watch
the last 4 minutes of basketball games. The routine plays are not that exciting
and the thrills are far and few between. There's too much walking and stepping
backwards behind the three-point line.
ACTOR TWO
The most spectacular plays are
decreasing in number. There are fewer dunks, alley oops, no look passes, and
blocks against the backboard.
ACTOR ONE
It's a mathematical problem. If you
shoot a two-point shot it's usually worth less than 1 point, because players
usually make less than 50% of two-point shots. 50% of two equals one.
For good shooters who shoot
three-point shots, each shot is usually worth more than one point, because they
often make over 40% of their 3-point shots. 40% of three equals 1.2.
ACTOR TWO
That's why one college team has jacked
up more than 100 three-point shots in a single game. That's why NBA teams
commonly shoot more than 40 three-point shots a game
ACTOR ONE
Why can't people think outside the
box? It's mathematically obvious that non-stop, run and gun basketball with the
three-point shot would be the best kind of basketball for speed and excitement,
because it would combine the excitement of the best two-point shots with the
best three-point shots.
ACTOR TWO
Basketball needs to be fixed and it
can be done with mathematics and analytics.
ACTOR ONE
It's a simple change, for people who
can wrap their heads around it. Basketball can be restored to fast break
basketball with the three-point shot. Every single play of every single game
would be exciting again.
ACTOR TWO
I get it. I know how to do it. Play
four-on-four full court instead of five-on-five full court.
ACTOR ONE
Yes, that will make the mathematical
probability of making a two-point shot higher than making a three-point shot
once again. Both shots will be about equal value. This will bring back fast
break, run and gun, basketball while keeping the three-point shot as an equally
viable option.
ACTOR TWO
Math is beautiful. It has shown us how
to fix basketball to make it the most beautiful game in the world again. The
two-point shot and the 3-point shot will become equally balanced again, and
basketball will be restored to its greatest possible entertainment
value. Let's "run" again.
ACTOR ONE
Every basketball game is an expression
of art like a play, novel or movie. Definitely like board games, but I am
changing the rules. Every junior high, high school, college, and professional
basketball game is like a play, a performance. I am expressing the play in a
new way by increasing the level of "violence." It's like a movie made
more interesting by adding action. The violent acts are the highlights. By
decreasing the numbers of players from the way it has always been, I am
expressing a new play with more action, highlights, and running. I am making a
better movie. And, it's all based on math. The expression is thinking outside
the box, so far outside the box, people often cannot do it. Expressing
an idea differently is never easy.
ACTOR TWO
I can remember all the way back to
when you first started.
ACTOR ONE
Four-on-four full-court basketball,
just like 3-on-3 full-court basketball, and 2-on-2 full-court, and 1-on-1 full
court basketball, all change the game, expression, and the art of basketball.
Changing the number of players changes the performance and the artistic
expression of the players.
ACTOR TWO
I like your other changes as well. You
have other changes to make the games more exciting as well. Blocking a shot against the backboard is one
of the most exciting plays and basketball.
If you block a 2-point shot against the backboard it should be -3 points
or -4 points. Blocking a 2-point jump shot should be -1 or -2 points. Because
an alley-oop requires a pass and a dunk it should be given three points or four
points. If there is a steal, a
fast-break, and an alley-oop, that should be three or four points. Throughout
writing and talking about basketball we have come up with almost every
innovative rule modification possible.
ACTOR ONE
Changing the number of players from 5
down to 4, 3, 2, or 1, and playing full court is an outside the box, unique and
creative idea. These are very creative
ideas that go beyond the basic concepts of the game of basketball. We have come up with additional creative
ideas such as the spread offense with various positions of the players. For
example, there is the 4-corner offence around the three-point line and the
point offense with the top of the three-point line and one, two, or three
players spread to one side, or unbalanced with one player one side and two on
the other side of the three-point line. The creative acts we have been
discussing regarding organization, scheduling, mediums (all sound and video
mediums, etc.), rules to increase highlights, and offensive and defensive plays
have been amazing.
ACTOR TWO
It's interesting some of the rules we
have come up with. Every player on each team can dunk. Every player on each
team can shoot the three. Every player on each team has to make at least 33.3%
of their three-point shots. Perhaps, they have to prove this before every game.
ACTOR ONE
Yes, we can do incredible rules and
incredible expressions using those rules. This can be done, or may not be done
depending on the circumstances.
ACTOR TWO
I remember how when you first brought
it up, the idea of playing 4-on-4, it was an idea so far out of the box that
people could not even grasp it as being a good idea. Yet, you swung my mind
around. The creative expression of getting more highlights and the math behind
it finally changed my mind.
ACTOR ONE
The overall game will change
dramatically. The experience of watching basketball will change.
ACTOR TWO
The impact on the players will be
significant. They will always be running instead of stopping and spacing all
the time. That alone with be more fun for the players.
ACTOR ONE
I want to see a lot of double picks.
Two players setting the pick for the point guard, so the pick is really solid
and both the lane to the basket and the lanes for passing open up more than
they can in the 5-man game.
ACTOR TWO
Yes, we want to fundamentally adjust
the game to running and gunning again. Not just the full court game but the
half-court game as well.
ACTOR ONE
If I was scouting for players, they
would be all dunkers, all great three-point shooters, and all great ball
handlers.
ACTOR TWO
Fortunately, there is an oversupply of
players like this today. Weekend warriors who can play like this exist
everywhere today.
ACTOR ONE
We could create software the do
everything. Or, we could go to a company that is running software for pick-up
games, or amateur leagues, and adopt it to create a 4-on-4 league. This would
make sure all the players know when, and where, to play, and all the fans know
when and where to show up. Every day there would be more fans and players
contributing to the uniqueness of the games once the player count fundamentally
changes the game. Crowd enthusiasm for certain plays could help determine point
assignments.
ACTOR TWO
Yes. Change the dynamics, flow, and
character of games. Make basketball beloved again.
ACTOR ONE
It's also time for the 4-point shot.
Shooting from behind the half-court line will be 4 points, behind the
three-point line at the other end of the court into your basket, will be
5-points. Shooting behind the free throw line at the other end of the court
into your basket will be 6 points. If you make the shot of course.
ACTOR TWO
Very innovative. And very exciting,
because players can make those shots. I'm seen them, and I have done some of
them myself.
ACTOR ONE
Gameplay will change dramatically.
Everything about basketball is fundamentally changed by altering the player
count in full court games, exhibitions, or tournaments. New strategies and
flows will have to be coached.
ACTOR TWO
I can't wait. I'm tired of waiting for
the last 4 minutes of today’s games to get interested. I want this fundamental
change where every play might be amazing. This change creates an expression of
a new work of art.
ACTOR ONE
Originality and creativity are what
these new games are all about. Why would anyone not step into a trillion
dollar, worldwide, industry and disrupt it like this?
ACTOR TWO
People can't be creative and people
can't think outside the box. Everything we have ever discussed has been
innovative. You are an artist man. You always see things 20 or 30 years before
others do. We need a new and unique expression of basketball, because like I
said, I am tired of no running and gunning, and all the other exciting plays
that are disappearing.
ACTOR ONE
Consider all these rule change ideas
fixed. It’s just a matter of when and where now. These ideas rearrange the game
of basketball.
ACTOR TWO
They are certainly nonconventional.
ACTOR ONE
The NBA has no idea how easily it
could be wiped out. The Sportico website says NBA teams can be worth up to 8
billion dollars. Playing 4-on-4 would produce better games and thus could wipe
out billions of dollars of value for an NBA team. There will be pushback.
ACTOR TWO
It would be so easy to fundamentally
change basketball for the better.
ACTOR ONE
Yes, and you wouldn’t have to change
the basketball courts. The gymnasium infrastructure has all been built. Just
reduce the number of players. But what will change is all kinds of logos and
trademarks. Lot’s of things would have 4-on-4, 4x4, four-on-four,
three-on-three, 3x3, or 3-on-3, or some other permutation, to say a few, for
example. Things might have FC for full-court. You would not have to put on new
lines for the 4-point shot, 5-point shot, or 6-point shot, because you already
have the half court line, top of the key, and the free throw line. These could
be judgement calls at first. Later, light lines could be added.
ACTOR TWO
It’s all new and unconventional, but
so original, and you have certainly fixed basketball. You have done a
one-of-a-kind blog about all this. There is originality beyond functionality in
all that you have been doing with basketball.
ACTOR
ONE:
Here’s
a list of changes, but just one, the number of players, changes everything
important:
4-on-4
full court basketball, or even fewer number of players full-court.
The
four-point shot.
The
five-point shot.
The
six-point shot.
Point
changes for other offensive shots and defensive plays.
New
offensive strategies.
New
defensive strategies.
Almost
all players can dunk.
All
players can make three-pointers.
Time
changes.
Other
things to speed up the games.
Game
duration.
Playing
to 200 points, or another number, for example.
ACTOR
TWO:
You
might be able to get the entire game under 1-hour, 1.5 hours, or under 2-hours
which would be better for TV. More highlights in less time for sure. You could
also have longer games. Sometimes players want to play until they are too tired
to go. Some of these changes can be absolute. At least now they are set in
print. The package transforms basketball. I would love to play games until the
players got too tired or the score hit a mark.
ACTOR
ONE
There
could be the stacked offense, the wide-open offense, the dare them to shoot
defense, and the tight man to man defense. The zone and one, and it goes on.
ACTOR
TWO
I
hope you consult me on the graphics, uniforms, trademarks, and all that stuff
which will make things fan friendly and unique. The promotional materials will
be fun.
ACTOR
ONE
I
would love to make my own software for the mundane tasks. And of course,
software games based on all these ideas. Simulations of games to play on
computers and phones.
ACTOR
TWO
The
world needs more and better video content.
ACTOR
ONE
That’s
one reason I would like to start with a reality TV show immediately. Just start
taping the process of getting all these going. The process would be full of
interesting people and activities.
ACTOR
TWO
Fortunately,
there is an oversupply of players like this today. Weekend warriors who can
play like this exist everywhere today.
ACTOR
ONE
You
could go to a company that is running software for pick-up games, or amateur
leagues, and adopt them to create a 4-on-4 league. This would make sure all the
players know when and where to play, and all the fans know when and where to
show up. Every day there would be more fans and players contributing to the
uniqueness of the games once the player count fundamentally changes the game.
Crowd enthusiasm for certain plays could help determine point assignments.
ACTOR
TWO
Yes.
Change the dynamics, flow, and character of games. Make basketball beloved
again.
ACTOR
ONE
It's
also time for the 4-point shot. Shooting from behind the half-court line will
be 4 points, behind the three-point line at the other end of the court into
your basket, will be 5-points. Shooting behind the free throw line at the other
end of the court into your basket will be 6 points. If you make the shot of
course.
ACTOR
TWO
Very
innovative. And very exciting, because players can make those shots. I'm seen
them, and I have done some of them myself.
ACTOR
ONE
Gameplay
will change dramatically. Everything about basketball is fundamentally changed
by altering the player count, or counts, in full court games or exhibitions,
and tournaments. Strategies, rolls, and flows will have to be coached.
ACTOR
TWO
I
can't wait. I'm tired of waiting for the last 4 minutes of games to get
interested. I want this fundamental change where every play might be amazing.
The very idea is a work of art.
ACTOR
ONE
Originality
and creativity are what these new games are all about. Why would anyone not
step into a trillion dollar, worldwide, industry and disrupt it like this?
ACTOR
TWO
People
can't be creative and people can't think outside the box. Everything we have
ever discussed has been innovative. You are an artist man. You always see
things 20 or 30 years before others do. We need a new and unique expression of
basketball, because like I said, I am tired of no running and gunning, and all
the other exciting plays that are disappearing.
RULE CHANGE LIST for Blog Post:
Here’s
a list of changes, but just one, the number of players, changes everything
important:
4-on-4
full court basketball, or even fewer number of players full-court.
The
four-point shot.
The
five-point shot.
The
six-point shot.
Point
changes for other offensive shots and defensive plays.
New
offensive strategies.
New
defensive strategies.
Almost
all players can dunk.
Almost
players can make three-pointers. (Perhaps must prove it to play.)
Time
changes.
Other
things to speed up the games.
Game
duration.
Playing
to 200 points, or another number, for example.
COPYRIGHT
Copyright (C) 2024 Bradley R.
Hennenfent, M.D. All rights reserved. This blog is an ongoing script and
treatment for basketball related videos, TV shows, games, exhibitions, and
tournaments, including scripted and unscripted shows.
