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Friday 13 OctOber 2017
Less time, fewer timeouts among adjustments for NBA coaches

By BRIAN MAHONEY games, instead of the pre- marks.
AP Basketball Writer vious rule that permitted Even at the end of games,
NEW YORK (AP) — Mike three timeouts in the final coaches acknowledged
D’Antoni ran an offensive two minutes. there were too many stop-
system known as seven — Teams can be fined pages.
seconds or less, so he likes $100,000 or more for rest- “As a head coach you al-
things fast. ing healthy players during ways want more timeouts.
Good thing, because NBA national TV games, and You want to have that
coaches find things come are discouraged from rest- flexibility at the end of the
at them more quickly this ing multiple healthy players game to be able to help
season. in the same game or sitting your team,” Miami’s Erik
They are losing time and them in road games. Spoelstra said. “But when
timeouts, with fewer days — Halftime will be 15 min- I’m watching games, I want
to prepare before the utes for all games — and there to be less. I do. I want
regular season and fewer the league plans to be there to be less timeouts
chances to talk things over diligent about starting the and for the games to go a
during games. clock as soon as the first little bit quicker, particularly
Throw in new rules legislat- half ends. There previously at the end. You want to just
ing how they can rest play- was a minute or two lon- see the action.”
ers, and there are plenty of ger for national TV games, All timeouts will now be 75
adjustments even for vet- and sometimes the clock seconds. Full timeouts were
eran coaches. wouldn’t start until all play- formerly 90 seconds.
“I think it’s good,” said ers had cleared the floor. “Before you have the little
D’Antoni, the NBA coach That change caught the pow-wow for a long time-
of the year with Houston attention of D’Antoni, who out, the coaches try to get
last year. “Take stuff out of noted that in some arenas reacquainted and figure
coaches’ hands, because there is a longer walk from out where you’re going
we just screw it up anyway. the benches to the locker to eat dinner,” D’Antoni
So it’s better for the play- rooms. joked. “But now you’ve
ers.” “So instead of showing 10 got to go in and actually
Among the changes: clips at halftime, you might coach.”
— Tuesday’s start is the only be able to show two or Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra talks with guard Derrick “I’m just happy Adam Sil-
Walton Jr. (14) during the second half of an NBA preseason
NBA’s earliest since 1980. It’s three,” D’Antoni said. basketball game against the Charlotte Hornets, Monday, Oct. ver gave us some good
a week earlier than normal, Byron Spruell, the NBA’s 9, 2017, in Miami. guidelines to follow when it
with the maximum number president of league opera- Associated Press comes to that so we don’t
of preseason games cut tions, said the goal wasn’t coaches and Competition in the second and fourth feel like we’re cheating our
from eight to six. to shorten the length of Committee, which includes quarters, feeling they came fans,” Memphis coach Da-
— Timeouts are reduced games, which run about 2 some coaches, during the too soon after the quarters vid Fizdale said. “That was
from 18 to 14, with each hours, 15 minutes. He said summer on the changes. started. There will now be one good thing that came
team having seven. They the league wanted the Spruell said coaches were two mandatory timeouts out of the coaches’ meet-
will be limited to two dur- games to have a better fine with the removal of the in each quarter, at the un- ings, Adam Silver’s leader-
ing the last three minutes of flow, and worked with the under-9 minute timeouts der-7 and under-3 minute ship on that.”q

Wiggins He will not turn 23 until Feb- for a player coming off of sets. That’s what you’re
ruary and has yet to make a rookie contract to turn asking him to commit to.”
an All-Star team. But had down a max-level exten- The meeting was held in
Continued from Page 18 he made it to restricted sion, but Wiggins did inject September and Wiggins
free agency next summer, a little drama into what is completed the process
“I like everyone from the there was a very good normally a straight forward without an agent while
trainers to the coaches to chance another team process. The sides were on leaning on a close circle
the front office, my team- would have sent a max the verge of reaching a of advisers, including his
mates,” Wiggins said. “I offer sheet his way. The deal in August when Wig- parents, and an attorney
love everybody. They’ve Timberwolves beat them gins decided to part ways to review the paperwork.
treated me with noth- to the punch. “He’s never with agent Bill Duffy, who Duffy is still expected to
ing but nice since I got satisfied. He wants to get had represented him ever challenge to get a com-
here. And they were the better,” coach and presi- since he was drafted by mission from the deal as
first people who gave me dent Tom Thibodeau said. Cleveland and traded to well. Wiggins made great
the opportunity to play in “I think he’s already dem- Minnesota in 2014. strides as a scorer in his first
the NBA after I got trad- Minnesota Timberwolves’ onstrated that to make the Taylor told The Associated three years, improving as
ed from Cleveland and Andrew Wiggins listens to progress that he’s already Press in August that he a 3-point shooter, devel-
they welcomed me with a question during a news shown is impressive, but as wanted to meet face-to- oping a low-post game
open arms so this is where conference Wednesday, Oct. I mentioned, it’s scratching face with Wiggins before and using his athleticism
I wanted to be at.” 11, 2017 in Minneapolis where the surface. And now we the deal was signed to and strength to get to the
Wiggins averaged 23.6 the NBA basketball team hope that it’ll continue to have a frank conversation free throw line. But he still
points in his third season announced that the two sides grow and it’ll translate into about the expectations has a long way to go as a
had reached agreement on
in the league and has ce- a multiyear contract with wins.” Owner Glen Taylor that come with such a big defender and rebounder,
mented himself as one of Wiggins, a former No. 1 overall made it clear to Wiggins contract. and will need to be even
the building blocks of an draft pick. early in the summer that “He seems to have the better than the .356 shoot-
up-and-coming franchise. Associated Press he was comfortable with ability and so the only thing er he was from 3-point
Along with Karl-Anthony to help the Timberwolves paying the huge price to it would be is for some rea- range last season if the
Towns and Jimmy But- end a 13-season playoff keep the athletic wing in son he didn’t work hard Wolves are going to snap
ler, Wiggins is expected drought. the fold. It is extremely rare enough to obtain the skill that skid.q