WHAT IS 'THE ELAM ENDING'?
Under a timed format, games rarely end with a series of meaningful possessions. The clock typically forces trailing teams to foul, resulting in all-too-frequent parades to the free throw line, with the trailing team rarely coming back to win. The Elam Ending allows teams to play at a high level — both offensively and defensively — all the way through the end of the game. They can’t use the clock as a crutch. It also calls for clutch performers to step up at the end of each game and hit a game winning shot.
The teams then play to a target score, with the shot-clock still enforced. The first team to meet or exceed the target score wins. There is no overtime. The winning score can be a two-point- or three-point shot or a free-throw.
Once the game clock is eliminated, trailing teams are allowed to focus on getting stops, rather than preventing the clock from running out. This results in great defense and pure basketball possessions all the way through the end.
This elegant concept has proven to address what we don’t enjoy about late-game play; fouling, stalling, predictable outcomes, etc, and enhance what we do enjoy; athleticism, thrilling finishes, and wild celebrations.
Elam Ending is used in the big amateurs tournament ‘The Basketball Tournament’ (TBT) each year and even lately during the NBA All Star Game.
ELAM ENDING IN MALBAS MADNESS
In Malbas Madness the playoff games games will be played with 'the Elam Ending. This means the clock is turned off after the third quarter and we will use an untimed "fourth quarter".
The teams then play to a target score, with the shot-clock still enforced. The first team to meet or exceed the target score wins. There is no overtime. The winning score can be a two-point, three-point shot or a free-throw.
The target score is determined by taking the leading team's score and adding 6 or 8 points depending on the age group.
Example:
Team A is leading the game with 32-30 after the third quarter in the U14 age category. We’re adding 8 points to the Team A’s score which makes the target score 40 points. The first team to reach the target score is the winner!
