Olympics vs NBA Basketball Rules: What Are the Differences? All You Need to Know for Rio 2016
Basketball fans that are attending the Rio Olympics has to be conscious that they can't assume the same expertise in NBA can be applied to this so-called amateur event. Confusion in referee's call can stem from several salient difference between the professional leagues to any Olympic or FIBA sanctioned event.
It is not just NBA players who will participate in the Olympics with their respective countries that have to adjust but the fans as well, to get attuned to referee's call. Though mostly similar, both rule books have key noticeable differences that are listed here to benefit the Rio-goers. Some of these rules are too small to affect the general gameplay, but others have significant impact.
Time of Each Game Quarter
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A basketball game is divided into four equal times called quarters, but since the NBA or any other professional league's time is generally longer by eight minutes, NBA has 12-minute quarters as opposed to shorter 10-minute quarters in the Olympics.
Both NBA and Fiba rules apply a five-minute overtime period if the score is tied after the regulation.
Time-outs
A simpler method is employed in FIBA rules regarding time-outs. Each team gets two time-outs in the first two quarters, three in the next half of the game and one per overtime period. Each time-out accounts for one minute. Under the NBA's system, six one-minute time-outs are entitled to opposing teams all throughout the regulation and can be called regardless of the quarter, as well as one twenty-second time-out per half and an additional three per overtime period.
There is a distinction in NBA that a player can call a time-out when in a tight situation or can't inbound the ball and in the risks of losing it in a five-minute violation. In FIBA, however, only the coach is allowed to call for a time out.
Allowable Fouls
In NBA games, six personal fouls or two technical fouls will result to a player's ejection from the game while FIBA will account for five fouls regardless of being personal or technical to get ejected.
Goaltending
The general understanding that there is an imaginary cylinder on top of the basketball loop is every pro player should know. Touching the ball when it is within this imaginary cylinder is illegal especially during defense and will result the ball to be counted even if it doesn't actually sank in or lose the ball possesion when done during offense.
FIBA employs the rule that once a shot hits the basket's rim it is already legal to snatch a ball off the rim or grab a rebound so long as you don't reach up through the hoop.
Three-Point Line Distance from the Hoop
The three-point line in FIBA play is an arc set at 6.25 meters from the center of the basket which is significantly shorter than the NBA three-point line which is set at 7.24 meters at the top of the arc.
The three-point arc distance has significant impact on play, especially when defenders don't need to stride far from the basket just to defend the arc from excellent shooters.
Absence of Zone Defense
FIBA has no rule regarding zone defense since all types of zones are allowed. Meaning, a player can astray anywhere in the court without risking a time violation. On the contrary, although NBA has more zones nowadays, a player is still forbidden to brood for more than three seconds under the basket when not guarding anybody.
