To eliminate nonsense and increase entertainment, sports need to follow one simple principle: Never incentivize failure.
In basketball, we could eliminate virtually all intentional fouls by simply adding one wrinkle to the penalty for fouling: the fouled team can retain possession of the ball. Could look like this:
Foul in the act of shooting: fouled team gets to choose between sending the fouled player to the line or taking the ball out of bounds.
Whatever the incentive for failure is, take it away. With fouling, currently it can be a way to get the ball back. So remove that incentive.
An added bonus to this structure is you can get rid of fouling out. No need for it if fouls are properly penalized. And allowing the best players to play boosts entertainment.
Next topic: Stop tanking by eliminating the draft.
Preach! Completely agree with removing incentives for failure. I actually don’t mind the fouling while down late in the game, so that complicates things. But overall, agree with your sentiment.
To eliminate nonsense and increase entertainment, sports need to follow one simple principle: Never incentivize failure.
In basketball, we could eliminate virtually all intentional fouls by simply adding one wrinkle to the penalty for fouling: the fouled team can retain possession of the ball. Could look like this:
Foul in the act of shooting: fouled team gets to choose between sending the fouled player to the line or taking the ball out of bounds.
Foul not in the act of shooting:
- team foul 1-5: ball out of bounds
- team foul 6-10: 1 FT + ball (like a tech)
- team foul 11-15: 2 FT + ball (and so on)
- intentional / clear path / flagrant: 2 FT + ball
Whatever the incentive for failure is, take it away. With fouling, currently it can be a way to get the ball back. So remove that incentive.
An added bonus to this structure is you can get rid of fouling out. No need for it if fouls are properly penalized. And allowing the best players to play boosts entertainment.
Next topic: Stop tanking by eliminating the draft.
Preach! Completely agree with removing incentives for failure. I actually don’t mind the fouling while down late in the game, so that complicates things. But overall, agree with your sentiment.