The NBA's experimental rule change may make a 4-point shot inevitable

There has been a lot of discussion surrounding the NBA and making the game better recently and there's a new proposed rule that could do just that. It's not uncommon for players to hold on to the ball for an extra second before attempting a heave from near or even beyond half-court at the end of quarters or halves.

That is done to avoid hurting their shooting percentage, though it has led to a decrease in buzzer-beaters over time. Interestingly enough, the NBA has experimented with a rule that would encourage players to launch late in quarters and has even begun implementing it in the G League.

The rule counts attempts from near or beyond half-court as team field goal attempts instead of individual shot attempts, with the points still counting for the player if they actually make the shot. It is a simple rule change that would solve players' biggest issue with attempting those shots.

While missing one heave won't wreck a player's shooting percentage, if they are one of the best players on the team, they often end up with the ball in late-quarter situations, so attempting low-percentage shots once a game or once every other game can add up. This rule would ensure that they aren't penalized for taking a shot that has a far higher degree of difficulty.

Will the NBA add the "heave rule" anytime soon?

With the NBA experimenting with using it in the G League, it shows that they are already at least toying with the idea of incorporating it sooner rather than later. Doing so would make for a more exciting game with more half-court shots and possibly even lead to 4-point shots from between that distance and the 3-point line. The WNBA even experimented with that change in a recent all-star game, no doubt with the NBA using it to collect data.

Considering how many players have deep range, such as Steph Curry, Damian Lillard, and Donovan Mitchell, giving them more incentive to launch is a great idea. Of course, the counterargument is that some teams and players take too many threes, and this would only exacerbate that.

After all, it encourages players to take risky shots from outside to close quarters. On the other hand, having players hold onto the ball for an extra second to maintain their percentage isn't good for the game. 

As a result, the NBA should strongly consider adding the "heave rule" as soon as next season. Unlike many of the other rule changes that the league's competition committee takes a look at, this is a simple fix to an issue that has made the game less exciting. 

With the league's rating steadily declining, this rule won't help to turn the tide alone, but it is a good start that the NBA should look to implement as soon as possible.