Quote:
Originally Posted by TheAlpineOracle
There's no contact in basketball, but it's exciting with points every few seconds and most games coming down to the wire.
When you take the contact out of hockey and both teams are playing not lose rather than win, what's exciting about that? Nothing.
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My main issue is that the game means essentially nothing until the final 5 minutes. Scoring 100 points is fine, but most of the points are essentially meaningless. The final 5 minutes is where the most meaningful play is. Both teams go on "runs" at various times, but unless it's a ridiculous mismatch, they both end up within 2 or 3 baskets of each other near the end.
The game should be 5 minutes long, that's all.
As for the fighting thing, I'll say this once more: pre-planned fights with goons is pointless and meaningless. Having two players organically come to rough-housing after tough battles in front of the net or in the corner should never be heavily discouraged. That's part of the game and it's good for the fans and players alike (gets out the aggression so that we don't resort to stick violence). If that rough-housing should escalate into a fight, so be it. Punish both players accordingly and move on. Don't encourage fighting, but don't outlaw it.
Basically, the status quo as things are now is totally fine by me. Pre-ordained fights are stupid.