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elam endingĀ® explained

In a nutshell, the Elam EndingĀ® calls for the first part of a game to be played with a game clock, and the last part of the game to be played without a game clock. There are two key settings in the Elam Ending (when to shut off the game clock, and how to set the gameā€™s target score), and the beauty is that these settings can be customized for a given league/event.

As an example, TBT: The Basketball Tournament uses a version of the Elam Ending where:

  • At the first dead ball at/under 4:00 remaining in the 4th quarter, the game clock is shut off for the rest of the game
  • The gameā€™s target score is set equal to the leading teamā€™s score + 8
  • The first team to reach (or exceed) the target score wins

To illustrate, suppose Team A leads Team B, 65-60, at the first stoppage at/under the 4:00 mark of the 4th quarter. The game clock is shut off for the rest of the game, and the first team to reach (or exceed) 73 is the winner. Team A canā€™t rely on stalling, passive play, and free trips to the foul line to win ā€“ they must continue to play assertively and earn their points. Team B must mount a comeback, and doing so will require legitimate defensive stops and solid offensive execution ā€“ not deliberate fouling and hopeless heaves. The most important stretch of the game features the highest intensity, athleticism, and suspense of the game ā€“ exactly as it should ā€“ all capped off by someone putting the ball through the net to win the game.

The Elam Ending has proven to meet each of its primary aims:

  • Ā  Ā  Ā  Eliminate deliberate fouling
  • Ā  Ā  Ā  Reduce stalling
  • Ā  Ā  Ā  Eliminate rushed/sloppy possessions
  • Ā  Ā  Ā  Provide greater hope for late comebacks
  • Ā  Ā  Ā  Provide more memorable game-ending moments
  • Ā  Ā  Ā  Eliminate late-game clock controversies and reviews

Recommended versions of the Elam Ending for other levels of play (generally, the rationale is based on the current timing of the last media timeout at that level, and the average scoring rate at that level):

  • NBA: shut off game clock at last stoppage at/under 3:00 of the 4th quarter; set target score equal to leading teamā€™s score + 7
  • WNBA: shut off game clock at last stoppage at/under 3:00 of the 4th quarter; set target score equal to leading teamā€™s score + 7
  • Menā€™s College Basketball: shut off game clock at last stoppage at/under 4:00 of the 2nd half; set target score equal to leading teamā€™s score + 7
  • Womenā€™s College Basketball: shut off game clock at last stoppage at/under 5:00 of the 4th quarter; set target score equal to leading teamā€™s score + 9
  • Olympics: shut off game clock at last stoppage at/under 4:00 of the 4th quarter; set target score equal to leading teamā€™s score + 8

On paper, the Elam Ending might seem like a gimmick at first. But then you see it in action, and you realize the Elam Ending is the ultimate anti-gimmick ā€“ fostering fundamental, crisp, and intense basketball when the game is on the line. You realize that the timed format was consistently giving us the gimmicky version of basketball all along, with a warped and inferior style of play with the game on the line ā€“ repeated fouling, stalling and passive play, and regularly determining the outcome of the game with the ugliest shot of the game.

Elam EndingĀ® Explained Cont'd...

As an example, TBT: The Basketball Tournament uses a version of the Elam Ending where:

  • At the first dead ball at/under 4:00 remaining in the 4th quarter, the game clock is shut off for the rest of the game
  • The gameā€™s target score is set equal to the leading teamā€™s score + 8
  • The first team to reach (or exceed) the target score wins

To illustrate, suppose Team A leads Team B, 65-60, at the first stoppage at/under the 4:00 mark of the 4th quarter. The game clock is shut off for the rest of the game, and the first team to reach (or exceed) 73 is the winner. Team A canā€™t rely on stalling, passive play, and free trips to the foul line to win ā€“ they must continue to play assertively and earn their points. Team B must mount a comeback, and doing so will require legitimate defensive stops and solid offensive execution ā€“ not deliberate fouling and hopeless heaves. The most important stretch of the game features the highest intensity, athleticism, and suspense of the game ā€“ exactly as it should ā€“ all capped off by someone putting the ball through the net to win the game.

The Elam EndingĀ® has proven to meet each of its primary aims:

  • Ā  Ā  Ā  Eliminate deliberate fouling
  • Ā  Ā  Ā  Reduce stalling
  • Ā  Ā  Ā  Eliminate rushed/sloppy possessions
  • Ā  Ā  Ā  Provide greater hope for late comebacks
  • Ā  Ā  Ā  Provide more memorable game-ending moments
  • Ā  Ā  Ā  Eliminate late-game clock controversies and reviews

Recommended versions of the Elam Ending for other levels of play (generally, the rationale is based on the current timing of the last media timeout at that level, and the average scoring rate at that level):

  • NBA: shut off game clock at last stoppage at/under 3:00 of the 4th quarter; set target score equal to leading teamā€™s score + 7
  • WNBA: shut off game clock at last stoppage at/under 3:00 of the 4th quarter; set target score equal to leading teamā€™s score + 7
  • Menā€™s College Basketball: shut off game clock at last stoppage at/under 4:00 of the 2nd half; set target score equal to leading teamā€™s score + 7
  • Womenā€™s College Basketball: shut off game clock at last stoppage at/under 5:00 of the 4th quarter; set target score equal to leading teamā€™s score + 9
  • Olympics: shut off game clock at last stoppage at/under 4:00 of the 4th quarter; set target score equal to leading teamā€™s score + 8

On paper, the Elam EndingĀ® might seem like a gimmick at first. But then you see it in action, and you realize the Elam Ending is the ultimate anti-gimmick ā€“ fostering fundamental, crisp, and intense basketball when the game is on the line. You realize that the timed format was consistently giving us the gimmicky version of basketball all along, with a warped and inferior style of play with the game on the line ā€“ repeated fouling, stalling and passive play, and regularly determining the outcome of the game with the ugliest shot of the game.

video highlights

Praise for elam ending

ā€œThe genesis of this latest (All-Star) tweak comes directly from Chris Paul, who called me last summer and said ā€˜Iā€™m a big fan of The Basketball Tournament. Are you familiar with the Elam Ending?ā€™ And I said I was. Itā€™s fascinating to me.ā€

Adam Silver, NBA Commissioner

ā€œIā€™ve watched a lot of The Basketball Tournament. No one knew what to expect (when implementing the Elam EndingĀ® at the NBA All-Star Game.) But throughout the whole 4th quarter and at the end of the game, everybody was like, ā€˜That was pretty damn fun.ā€™ā€

LeBron James

ā€œI love the Elam EndingĀ® because you canā€™t sit there and hold the ball. You gotta go out and get a bucketā€¦Thatā€™s the beauty of itā€¦(Every game ends on a game-winner) Thatā€™s the best part about it. You have to come out and impose your will ā€“ thatā€™s what itā€™s about.ā€

Joe Johnson, 7x NBA All-Star

ā€œI LOVE that they added the Elam EndingĀ® to the NBA All-Star Game.ā€

Kenia Cole

William & Mary Womenā€™s Basketball Assistant Coach

Nick Wright, FS1 First Things First

ā€œI would love to see the Elam EndingĀ® brought to the NBA regular season and postseason.ā€

Ron Morris, The Basketball Times

ā€œMark my words, 25 years from now Elam willā€¦be inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.ā€

Mike Golic Jr.

ā€œThe Elam EndingĀ® is perfectionā€

Sarah Spain, Around the Horn

ā€œThe Elam EndingĀ® is fantastic, I want to employ it in all games. Itā€™s SO good.ā€

Tim Doyle, CBS Sports/NBA TV

ā€œElam EndingĀ® is the next step for basketball, at all levels. Creating that game-winning shot is why we play and love the game. I actually believe it is inevitable in the next 5 years.ā€

Seth Greenberg, ESPN College Basketball Analyst, 2x ACC Coach of the Year

ā€œElam EndingĀ® never disappointsā€¦College basketball needs to adopt the Elam Ending!ā€

Carl Richburg, Marquette Univ Men's Basketball Director of Recruiting

ā€œElam EndingĀ® is the bestā€

Tom Haberstroh, ESPN

ā€œMan, that was an amazing All-Star Weekend. Well done, NBA. Shouts to Nick Elam, Jon Mugar, TBT, Chris Paul, and the league office for executing that Elam EndingĀ®. Thatā€™s the future.ā€

JD Gravina, Western IL Univ Women's Basketball Head Coach

ā€œI LOVE the Elam EndingĀ®. Iā€™m 100% on board!ā€

Rany Jazayerli, The Ringer / The Athletic

ā€œThe Elam EndingĀ® in basketball ā€“ an idea that is breathtaking in its simplicity and at the same time its impact on gameplay.ā€

In the news

How the Elam EndingĀ® has pumped up the excitement in the fourth quarter

cleveland.com

For years, the NBA All-Star Game lacked some sizzle. That was until 2020 when the Elam EndingĀ®, made popular by The Basketball Tournament, was instituted for the All-Star Game.

The Elam EndingĀ® is back for the 2021 NBA All-Star Game, and its inventor wants more

cbssports.com

For years, the NBA All-Star Game lacked some sizzle. That was until 2020 when the Elam EndingĀ®, made popular by The Basketball Tournament, was instituted for the All-Star Game.

What is the Elam Ending’s future after the NBA All-Star Game?

yahoo.com

The Elam EndingĀ® was concocted by Nick Elam ā€” a card-carrying Mensa member, professor and die-hard basketball fan ā€” as a solution to the tyranny of clock management at the end of games.

The Elam EndingĀ® is the best thing to happen to basketball this century

thecomeback.com

The Elam EndingĀ® gets rid of much of the tedious end-of-game fouling and makes sure every game ends on a game-winning basket.

The NBAā€™s Best Players Love the All-Star Gameā€™s ā€œElam Ending.ā€ Could It Ever Stick?

insidehook.com

After debuting at least year’s All-Star Game, the untimed, possession-based format has won its share of admirers.

The Last Two All-Star Games Showed The Elam Endingā€™s Effectiveness In Very Different Finishes

uproxx.com

The Elam EndingĀ® was adopted by the NBA for the game, and it brought an element of suspense and intensity to the normally mellow All-Star Game.

interviews +
presentations

Podcast interview

Alway Better Than Yesterday with Ryan Hartley

Podcast interview

Dan Friel for TBT Podcast

Podcast interview

NPR’s “Only a Game” with Martin Kessler

live interview

ESPN Outside the Lines

live interview

MLB Network Hot Stove

Guest panelist

MLB Network MLB Now.

live interview

Inside Indiana Business

live interview

Jared Greenberg for NBATV GameTime Live

presentation

Ā 2018 MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference

2025 NCAA TOURNAMENT

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SEEDING PROJECTIONS

February 2, 2025

Nick Elam, Ph.D.
RANKED 13TH-BEST BRACKETOLOGIST OVERALL
2018 Bracket Matrix Co-Champion
2021 Bracket Matrix T-34th out of 203 entries
2022 Bracket Matrix T-21st out of 211 entries

ALL CAPS: PROJECTED CONFERENCE CHAMPION
*Projected First Four Participant

1
AUBURN
DUKE
IOWA STATE
Alabama

2
MICHIGAN STATE
MARQUETTE
Florida
Tennessee

3
Kansas
Kentucky
Purdue
Houston

4
Mississippi
Mississippi State
Oregon
Texas A&M

5
MEMPHIS
Louisville
Illinois
Wisconsin

6
Arizona
Texas Tech
Saint John’s
Michigan

7
Ucla
Clemson
Maryland
Missouri

8
West Virginia
Connecticut
Creighton
UTAH STATE

9
Georgia
Vanderbilt
GONZAGA
Saint Mary’s

10
San Diego State
Ohio State
Oklahoma
Baylor

11
George Mason
Central Florida
North Carolina*
New Mexico*
Texas*
Pittsburgh*

12
DRAKE
MCNEESE
ARKANSAS STATE
UC IRVINE

13
UTAH VALLEY
AKRON
SAMFORD
YALE

14
FLORIDA GULF COAST
JACKSONVILLE STATE
CLEVELAND STATE
NORTHERN COLORADO

15
UNC-ASHEVILLE
MARIST
BRYANT
TOWSON

16
NORFOLK STATE
CENTRAL CONNECTICUT STATE
AMERICAN*
MOREHEAD STATE*
SOUTHERN*
OMAHA*

 

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