The basketball will be one of the most attractive Olympic disciplines for Tokyo 2020. For this edition of the Olympic Games, a great dispute for the gold in the masculine branch is expected where many figures of the NBA, who will have to adapt to a different style of play than the one they are used to.
There are 12 teams that will face each other in three groups during the first phase. Iran, France, USA Y Czech Republic they will be in Group A; Australia, Germany, Italy Y Nigeria they will be part of B; while in C they will play Argentina, Spain, Japan Y Slovenia. The teams will have their best figures, many of them who compete in the most important leagues in Europe and others in the NBA.
But, for this tournament, NBA players will not have the same rules as they play in the regular season and the playoffs. For the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, the rules that follow correspond to those of the International Basketball Federation (FIBA), which imply huge differences.
Around one Ten differences can be listed between the FIBA and NBA rules. To know more in detail, below we will comment on these distinctions in the regulations of both institutions.
Differences between FIBA and NBA rules:
Game time
In the NBA, they are disputed four quarters of 12 minutes each, while in FIBA they are four quarters, but 10 minutes. At first, the latter played two 20-minute halves, but in order not to wear down the players, they were given more breaks. However, these playing times could change in the coming years.
Times out
The NBA has a total of seven times out to be used throughout the game, with the possibility of using two more during overtime or overtime. Each of these requested times has a duration of 75 seconds.
At FIBA, this is different as there are two timeouts during the first two quarters and three for the second half, to which one more is added in overtime. They all last one minute and, unlike in the NBA where players and coaches can do it, these must be requested exclusively by the coaches
Time stop after score
In the NBA, during the last minute of the first, second and third quarters, and during the last two minutes of the fourth quarter, in addition to any additional time, time is stopped after a basket. This at FIBA occurs in the last two minutes of each quarter and any overtime.
Three point line
One aspect of the court that has its differences is the three-point lines. The thing is in NBA they are 7.24 meters (6.7 meters at the baseline) and at FIBA it is 6.75 meters (6.60 at baseline). It is expected that the International Federation will continue to stretch it as it has been doing in recent times.
Expulsions
In the NBA, a player is sent off for committing six personal fouls or two techniques. While at FIBA it is given to five fouls, be they personal or technical (in case of committing two of the latter, they will also be expelled).
When are free throws rewarded?
The NBA awards two free throws after each foul from the fourth team foul in the quarter, or from the second foul committed in the last two minutes. This does not include technical or offensive fouls. On the other hand, in FIBA rules, the two free kicks are given after the fourth foul, but including techniques and offenses, although offenses do not qualify to go to the free line when it is the fifth.
Fouls during free throws
The NBA can invalidate a free throw made in the event that a teammate of the shooter commits an offense. Meanwhile, in FIBA, only the shooter himself can commit a violation so that the shot is invalidated.
Dash interference
The NBA takes a imaginary cylinder from the base of the rim to the top where any touch of the ball to that zone will mean a violation. In FIBA, the player can touch the ball once it touches the ring.
Zone defense
The NBA has a rule that goes against this way of defending, since no defensive player may stay in the restricted area zone for more than three seconds if he is not actively defending the opponent, in case this happens, it will be a common fault. At FIBA, this does not happen.
Rule of steps
This is one of the best known differences between FIBA and NBA, since the former has always been stricter than the latter in terms of the three-step rule before dribbling, passing or throwing the ball. In 2017, the International Federation unified this standard by accepting the famous “zero step”.
.
