AUBURN HILLS, Mich. (AP) -- NBA scoreboard operators are being told to sound warning horns during breaks in action in an effort to cut down on the game lengths.
According to a memo distributed courtside Tuesday night at the Detroit Pistons game before they played the Rockets, the length of games has been increasing, "largely due to prolonged delays after breaks."
NBA spokesman Tim Frank confirmed to The Associated Press that the protocol went into effect Tuesday night.
The memos, some of which varied slightly from team to team, outlined new procedures for locally telecast games, including warning horns to be sounded shortly before the ends of timeouts and breaks between periods.
Those warning horns are to be followed by final horns ending those breaks, and referees are directed to make sure huddles break promptly.
Received 02/22/11 08:38 pm ET
