Teams will get fewer timeouts overall and won’t have as many opportunities to stop the game in the final two minutes.
LAS VEGAS — Basketball writers on tight deadlines and fans who think NBA games drag on too long should be pleased with some upcoming rules changes in the league.
Multiple changes to timeout format, the length of halftime and procedures for administering free throws will be implemented beginning this season after unanimous approval by the NBA’s Board of Governors on Wednesday, the league announced.
Two of the bigger changes to timeouts include the reduction of timeouts per game from 18 to 14 and limiting teams to only two timeouts apiece instead of three in the final two minutes.
“These changes will help us fulfill our goal of improving game flow and pace of play, ” NBA president of league operations Byron Spruell said in a statement. “Fewer stoppages and less time without action, especially at the end of a game, will further enhance the viewing experience for our fans.”
Timeout modifications, per the press release, include:
Game-flow changes as outlined by the NBA:
The NBA also decided to move the midseason trade deadline from the Thursday after the All-Star Game to 10 days before the annual event in February. That will help avoid awkward situations like when DeMarcus Cousins presumably found out he was being traded during an interview session at All-Star Weekend last season.
“With the new placement of the trade deadline, ” the release explained, “teams will be able to settle their rosters before the All-Star break and avoid the disruptions that result from players joining new teams just as practices and games are beginning to resume following the All-Star break.”
Utah is represented on the NBA’s Board of Governors by former Jazz CEO Greg Miller.
