Buzzer beaters at the end of quarters or games are some of the most exciting plays in the NBA, and Duncan Robinson of the Detroit Pistons thinks there would be more of them if they didn’t count against a player’s field goal percentage.
Robinson was speaking on an episode of the Young Man and the Three podcast, when he shared his idea, which is something that has been discussed by several others, including Zach Lowe.
We’ve all seen situations when players dribble out the clock rather than launch a near-impossible shot from beyond half court. Many players have incentives tied to their field goal percentage and aren’t willing to risk the ding for a shot that isn’t likely to go in.
It’s a dud way to end a quarter, and Robinson’s idea is a good way to end this nonsense and increase the number of wild last second shots in the NBA.
Duncan Robinson is right: Unleash the buzzer beater!
I agree with Robinson that it is frustrating to watch guys pass on shots just to protect their field goal percentage.
His suggestion is that shots taken under five seconds from beyond half court shouldn’t count for or against a player’s field goal percentage, which would encourage more players to actually shoot them.
The Pistons are no strangers to game-winning buzzer beaters, as they had one last season when Jaden Ivey hit a runner against the Raptors way back in November, but this rule change would also encourage players to launch buzzer beaters at the ends of quarters, not just at the end of the game.
And why not?
We know that players can hit these shots and that many of them practice these scenarios, so it could lead to more exciting endings.
And these baskets matter, as a desperate half-court make at the end of a half not only fires up the crowd, but could be the difference in the game, almost like free points you were given for winning a lottery for which the odds aren’t that bad.
It's stupid to have player’s paychecks tied to their field goal percentage, and it may be even worse that people in their 20’s who are already generationally wealthy should care what a missed buzzer beater might cost them, but Robinson’s idea would take all of that nonsense out of the equation.
We’ll see if the NBA is listening, as it’s something that has been talked about in league circles for a long time.