We all know those games that come down to the very last play. Every time a team scores, someone new takes the lead while the opposition plays that much harder in attempt to score another basket. Those final moments are crucial – one misplay could cost your team the win. But what happens if the GC calls the end of the game and the score is tied?
In the regular season, the score stands as is. In the interest of time, we can’t allow teams to go over their scheduled hour and creep into the next games’ time slot. So the game stops, the score is tied, and you get to reflect on that missed lay-up that cost your team the win on your drive home. Those are my favourite drives…
Playoffs are when we need to clearly define the winner and ‘not winner’ (because no one is a loser in a ‘fun first’ league, amirite?). The match-ups are structured in such a way that the winner of one game plays the winner of another game, and so on. As such, the entire game format is a bit different. Instead of two 25 minute halves with a 5 minute half-time which you see in the regular season, teams play two 23 minute halves with a 4 minute half-time. This allows for a 5 minute overtime period, if required.
When entering into the overtime period, every play matters more than ever. Teams will start with a tip-off at center court, and the first team to score 2 baskets (4 points) will be declared the winner. Easy as that.
