Basketball is one of the most popular sports in America, and the world. There are many reasons. It’s inexpensive, all you need is a ball and a hoop. It’s even possible to practice key fundamentals without a hoop. It combines athleticism, skill and strategy into a very exciting product.
It’s a thrilling product with a shot clock. Without it, Colorado high school basketball players are stuck playing a boring game of the past that fans and players don’t want to play.
I grew up in Central New York before moving to Durango. I played basketball all my life and have loved every second of it. I played in high school with a shot clock.
So when I found out high school basketball in Colorado doesn’t have a shot clock, I was surprised and saddened.
Basketball isn’t the same without a shot clock. The shot clock provides a certain flow and rhythm to the game. There are not many better feelings in basketball than either forcing the opposing team into a shot clock violation or saving your team with a clutch bucket with the shot clock expiring.
A shot clock provides more scoring, which is more fun to watch and play.
Without it, teams can stall with a lead, which is an awful way to watch a game and end a game.
No player signs up for and loves basketball by holding the ball and playing keep away while the time runs down.
The NBA’s had a shot clock since 1954. Women’s college basketball has had it since 1970, while men’s college basketball since 1985.
We should allow these kids to play a game similar to the one they grew up watching and loving. No kid stalls for minutes while playing at the park or in a pickup game. If they do, it probably won’t end well for them.
Colorado isn’t alone. Only 27 states have a shot clock in high school basketball for this season.
Critics may argue the kids need more time to work the ball around and find a good shot. That’s idiotic. If a team can’t run a good offensive set and find a good shot in 35 seconds or less, the blame falls on bad coaching, not the shot clock.
Another argument may be that stalling and holding the ball is a strategy that shouldn’t be taken away. But different strategies in tempo can be found within a shot clock.
The University of Virginia is a team that runs one of the slowest tempos in college basketball every year, while a team like Arizona this year has found success pushing the pace. They both play under the same shot clock.
The Colorado High School Activities Association should approve a shot clock soon because it will deliver a better product for the fans and the players.
Whether a high school player goes on to play college basketball or not, they should have the opportunity to play this beautiful game the way their idols play, and the way the game should be played.
bkelly@durangoherald.com
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