MIAMI _ For those who couldn't understand why an NBA 20-second timeout lasted a minute or why games seemed to last forever over the closing minutes, the league has provided relief.
The NBA Board of Governors has adopted several changes to timeout policies that will go into effect for the upcoming season.
Change: Each team will have seven timeouts per game, with no restrictions per half.
Impact: Teams no longer will call timeouts in use-'em-or-lose-'em situations.
Change: All team timeouts will be 75 seconds.
Impact: In the previous format "full" timeouts were 90 seconds and "20-second" timeouts were 60 seconds. Both "full" and "20-second" timeouts have been replaced by team timeouts.
Change: All four periods will have two mandatory timeouts, which will take place after the first stoppage under the seven- and three-minute marks.
Impact: The under-nine-minute mandatory timeouts in the second and fourth periods will be eliminated.
Change: Each team can enter the fourth period with up to four team timeouts.
Impact: Each team will be limited to two team timeouts after the later of (i) the 3-minute mark of the fourth period or (ii) the resumption of play after the second mandatory timeout of the fourth period.
Change: Each team will have two team timeouts per overtime period; previously teams had three.
Impact: Conditioning could come into play for players expected to play big minutes.
Change: Referees will assess a delay-of-game violation if a free-throw shooter ventures beyond the 3-point line between attempts.
Impact: No more strolling back to midcourt to collect thoughts or gain an extra breath.
Change: Halftime will last 15 minutes for all games, beginning immediately upon expiration of the second period.
Impact: No longer will there be longer breaks for nationally televised games.
Change: A delay-of-game penalty will be issued if a team is not ready to start play at the expiration of the halftime clock.
Impact: Similar to the rule already in place for the start of games.
