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NBA rumors: G League to adopt significant rule change for free throws

If you attend a Santa Cruz Warriors game this season -- or watch one on TV -- you are going to see fewer free throw attempts.

Zach Lowe of ESPN has the details:

The NBA G League is experimenting this season with a new rule under which all trips to the free throw line will include only a single foul shot that will be worth one, two, or three points depending on the nature of the foul leading to the attempt, officials told ESPN.

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The G League will revert back to traditional free throw rules for the last two minutes of regulation and overtime, officials say. Shooting fouls on made baskets -- "And-Ones"-- will proceed the same way, with the shooter attempting one free throw worth one point.

It's always been important to make your free throws. Now, there is even more pressure because you only get one shot. Literally.

Let's say Santa Cruz is down by two points with just over two minutes remaining, and Golden State two-way player Damion Lee is fouled on a 3-point attempt. In this scenario, you would undoubtedly expect him to make at least two of the three attempts to tie the game.

But now, if he misses that one attempt it's an empty possession and a big opportunity missed.

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It's safe to assume that players who already aren't the best free throw shooters will not embrace this experiment.

But "experiment" is the key word here. Here is how the G League describes itself on its official website:

"The NBA G League is the NBA’s official minor league, preparing players, coaches, officials, trainers, and front-office staff for the NBA while acting as the league’s research and development laboratory."

The last four words are the ones that matter in this context.

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If you're wondering what Steph Curry -- one of the best free throw shooters in NBA history -- thinks of this change, you're in luck:

One other anecdote from Lowe's story:

Officials estimate that moving to a "one foul shot for all the points" model will shave between six and eight minutes off of each G League game, says Brad Walker, head of basketball operations for the G League.

This is a very interesting decision by the league and it will be fascinating to see how it impacts strategy and game results.

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