Amanda Knapp
The Elam Ending, also known as Final Target Score, is an alternative way to finish basketball games. It was created by Nick Elam, a professor at Ball State University, to mitigate late-game fouling and maintain a natural flow to the basketball game until the final buzzer sounds. Instead of a game clock, teams play to a target score, with the shot clock still enforced. The first team to meet or exceed the target score wins, eliminating the need for overtime.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Full Form | Elam Ending, Final Target Score, Winning Score |
| Named After | Nick Elam, a professor at Ball State University |
| Objective | To eliminate stalling and passive play by the leading team and intentional fouling by the trailing team |
| Rules Format | Teams play to a target score, with the shot clock still enforced |
| Target Score | Leading team's score plus a predetermined number of points |
| Overtime | No overtime as the first team to meet or exceed the target score wins |
| Winning Score | A walk-off field goal (two-point or three-point) or a free throw |
| Implementation | The Basketball Tournament in 2017 |
| Widespread Attention | 2020 NBA All-Star Game |
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What You'll Learn
The Elam Ending's rules
The Elam Ending, also known as the Final Target Score, is an alternative way to finish basketball games. It was designed by Nick Elam, a professor at Ball State University, who first proposed the idea in 2016. The format was first used by The Basketball Tournament in 2017 and received widespread attention in 2020 when it was chosen for the NBA All-Star Game.
The Elam Ending rules are as follows: the game is played in its traditional format with timed quarters until a certain point, usually the last few minutes of the fourth quarter. At this point, the clock is turned off, and a target score is set. This target score is determined by taking the leading team's current score and adding a predetermined number of points—usually between seven and nine points, depending on the league. For example, if the leading team has 80 points when the clock is turned off, the target score might be set at 88. Once this target score is set, the first team to reach or exceed it wins.
The Elam Ending format eliminates the game clock as a factor, which prevents trailing teams from intentionally fouling to get the ball back and run down the clock. Instead, trailing teams are incentivized to play good defense to get the ball back and focus on reaching the target score. This format is designed to preserve a more natural end-of-game finish, with pure basketball possessions and great defense until the final buzzer sounds.
The Elam Ending has been well-received by fans and players, with many finding it a more exciting way to finish games. It has been praised for creating an intense and electrifying experience, with players embracing the concept and TV ratings spiking in the fourth quarter.
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How it differs from traditional basketball rules
The Elam Ending, also known as the final target score or winning score, is a rules format for basketball that differs from traditional basketball rules in several ways.
Firstly, unlike traditional basketball, which is played with four timed quarters, the Elam Ending introduces an untimed element to the game. In the Elam Ending, the game clock is turned off at the first whistle or dead ball with under four minutes remaining in the game, resulting in an untimed finish to the game.
Secondly, the target score format replaces the traditional scoring system. In the Elam Ending, a target score is set, typically by adding a predetermined number of points to the leading team's score. For example, if the leading team has 80 points, the target score may be set at 88 points. The first team to reach or exceed this target score wins the game. This format eliminates the concept of overtime, as the game ends as soon as the target score is reached.
Thirdly, the Elam Ending addresses the issue of late-game fouling. In traditional basketball, it is common for trailing teams to intentionally foul to prolong the game and attempt a comeback. The Elam Ending mitigates this by removing the clock from the equation, reducing the incentive for trailing teams to resort to fouling. This helps to preserve the natural flow of the game and prevents the game from being extended unnecessarily.
Additionally, the Elam Ending encourages more strategic and intense gameplay. With the clock turned off, trailing teams can focus on executing defensive stops and making each possession count, rather than worrying about the ticking clock. This can lead to more exciting and competitive endings, as players are pushed to perform at a high level until the very end.
The Elam Ending was devised by Nick Elam, a professor at Ball State University, and was first used in The Basketball Tournament in 2017. It gained widespread attention when it was implemented in the 2020 NBA All-Star Game, receiving positive feedback from fans and players.
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The history of the Elam Ending
The Elam Ending is a rules format for basketball designed by Nick Elam, a professor at Ball State University. Unlike traditional basketball rules, where the game is played with four timed quarters, the Elam Ending involves setting a "target score" that teams play to. This format aims to address issues with stalling and passive play by the leading team and intentional fouling by the losing team to keep themselves in the game.
Nick Elam began working on the concept in 2004 after becoming frustrated while watching the NCAA Tournament. He noticed that the final minutes of close basketball games were often diluted with rushed offensive possessions and repeated fouling by the trailing team, which made the games hard to watch and impacted TV ratings. Over the next ten years, he recorded and analyzed over 2,000 college and NBA games, verifying his hypothesis that trailing teams resorted to intentional fouling at the end of the game.
The Elam Ending was first introduced in 2017 by The Basketball Tournament (TBT), a single-elimination, winner-takes-all tournament with substantial prize money. In this format, the game clock is turned off with four minutes left in the game, and a target score is set by adding a predetermined number of points to the leading team's score. For example, if the score is 88-80, the target score is set at 96, and the first team to reach this target score wins.
The Elam Ending received widespread attention in 2020 when it was chosen as the format for the NBA All-Star Game. The target score for this game was set at 24 points more than the leading team's score after the third quarter, honouring Kobe Bryant, who wore the number 24 during his last 10 seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers. The Elam Ending has also been adopted by the NBA G League for games that go into overtime and the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) for their 2020 Summer Series tournament.
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The impact on the NBA All-Star Game
The Elam Ending, also known as the final target score or winning score, is a rules format for basketball. It was first introduced in The Basketball Tournament in 2017 and received widespread attention in 2020 when it was chosen as the format for the NBA All-Star Game.
The Elam Ending was created to address the issue of stalling and passive play by the leading team and intentional fouling by the losing team to prolong the game. Under the traditional timed format, the trailing team often resorted to intentional fouling in the final minutes, hoping to get the ball back after free throws. This resulted in a stop-and-start game that was painful to watch and negatively impacted TV ratings.
The Elam Ending eliminates the game clock and replaces it with a target score. The game is played in its traditional format until a certain point, usually the last few minutes of the fourth quarter, at which point the clock is turned off. The target score is then set by adding a predetermined number of points to the leading team's score. The first team to reach or exceed the target score wins, and there is no overtime.
The impact of the Elam Ending on the NBA All-Star Game has been significant. The format was first introduced at the 2020 NBA All-Star Game, with an untimed fourth quarter and a target score of 24 points more than the leading team's score after the third quarter. This target score was chosen to honor Kobe Bryant, who wore 24 during his last 10 seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers. The game between Team LeBron and Team Giannis was a close and exciting contest, with Team LeBron winning 157-155.
The Elam Ending was well-received by fans and players, with TV ratings spiking in the fourth quarter as the game grew more competitive. The format addressed the issue of stalling and lack of intensity that had previously characterized the NBA All-Star Game. By removing the clock, the Elam Ending shifted the focus to reaching the target score, resulting in a more electrifying and intense experience for fans.
Following its successful debut, the NBA continued to use the Elam Ending for the NBA All-Star Game through 2023. The format has also been adopted by the NBA's G League for any game that goes into overtime. The impact of the Elam Ending on the NBA All-Star Game has been to increase the competitiveness and intensity of the game, improve the viewing experience for fans, and reduce the need for excessive fouling by trailing teams.
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The future of the Elam Ending
The Elam Ending, also known as the final target score or winning score, is a rules format for basketball. It was designed by Nick Elam, a professor at Ball State University, who was frustrated with the stalling and passive play by the leading team and intentional fouling by the trailing team. The format was first used by The Basketball Tournament in 2017 and received widespread attention when it was chosen for the NBA All-Star Game in 2020.
The Elam Ending has been credited with preserving a more natural end-of-game finish, allowing teams to play at a high level both offensively and defensively right up until the final buzzer. It has been particularly well-received in All-Star games, which are known for being non-competitive and lacking intensity. The introduction of the Elam Ending in the 2020 NBA All-Star Game led to a significant increase in TV ratings, with fans tuning in to witness the unexpected development of a thrilling fourth quarter.
The success of the Elam Ending in basketball has led some to consider its potential application in other sports. Nick Elam, the format's creator, has also spent time tinkering with solutions for problems in baseball. Additionally, some have suggested that it could be implemented in different venues under the NBA's umbrella, such as the G League, Summer League, and preseason play.
While the Elam Ending has been well-received by many, it is still a relatively new concept, and only time will tell if it becomes the standard format for basketball and other sports. However, with its ability to create electrifying finishes and engage fans, the Elam Ending certainly has the potential to revolutionize the way we experience sports.
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Frequently asked questions
ELAM stands for 'Ending', and is also known as 'Final Target Score' or 'Winning Score'.
The ELAM ending was designed to preserve a more natural end to basketball games. Instead of a game clock, teams play to a target score, with the shot clock still enforced. The target score is set by taking the leading team's score and adding a predetermined number of points. The first team to meet or exceed the target score wins.
The ELAM ending was created by Nick Elam, a professor at Ball State University. He noticed that the final minutes of basketball games were often diluted with rushed offensive possessions and repeated fouling by the trailing team. The ELAM ending was designed to mitigate late-game fouling and maintain a natural flow to the game.
The ELAM ending was first used by The Basketball Tournament in 2017. It received widespread attention in 2020 when it was chosen as the format for the NBA All-Star Game.
