Elam Ending

Designed to preserve a more natural end of game finish, the Elam Ending calls for the game clock to be shut off at the first dead ball under four minutes in the fourth quarter or second half. A target score is then established by adding eight points to the leading team’s score. For example, if the score is 80-72, the two teams will play until someone reaches 88. With no game clock in play, trailing teams are allowed to focus on getting stops and buckets, rather than intentionally fouling.

Many have a misconception about how often games end with a meaningful made basket. Under the regular format, when a game ends with an unsuccessful meaningful possession, the clock does the heavy lifting (and turns the most important possession of the game into a blooper reel), not the defense. Even for some of the rare games that end with a buzzer-beater (those released in a tie game), the Elam Ending would raise the stakes and enhance the drama. All that remains is the fraction of a percent of games that end with a do-or-die buzzer-beater (where the team that wins at the buzzer was trailing at the time they released the shot); those are definitely cool, but even then the clock still dampens the celebration by necessitating a replay review.

The Elam ending allows teams to play at a high level all the way through the end of the game and take their best shot on the last possession of the game. It provided greater hope for late comebacks as long as you can continue to get defensive stops. And it provided more memorable game-ending moments.

It allowed teams to play at a high level all the way through the end of the game and take their best shot on the last possession of the game. It provides greater hope for late comebacks as long as you can continue to get defensive stops. And it provides more memorable game-ending moments.