Wednesday, March 27, 2024

Basketball Better with Fewer Players

 

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.

 

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