TBT Preview With Seth Greenberg
Sling spoke with ESPN broadcaster Seth Greenberg to get his thoughts on this year's TBT tournament, the Elam Ending and more.
Seth Greenberg does not care for marshmallows. The legendary coach and basketball broadcaster is known for his “No Marshmallows” catchphrase, but when it comes to The Basketball Tournament (TBT), he really means it.
https://www.facebook.com/sling/videos/448656726821583
“The competitive spirit of TBT is second to none,” Greenberg told Sling TV in an exclusive interview ahead of this year’s TBT tournament, which gets underway at noon Eastern on Saturday, July 16 with eight games from the Omaha and Rucker Park Regionals on ESPN2 and ESPN3. “Players play harder in the TBT than they do in the NBA Summer League. The intensity of the game, because of the Elam Ending, because it’s one-and-done…The TBT is, you’re going to the park, and if you win, you stay on the court, if you lose, you’re done for the day. Except now when you’re done for the day, you’re down a million dollars.”
That’s right: The winner of the TBT Tournament takes home $1 million dollars, so there’s a lot more at stake than just pride. Here’s more on what makes the TBT so special.
The Elam Ending aka Sling Shot
https://www.youtube.com/embed/tItE4BA8yVA
Let’s be honest: The worst thing about basketball is the intentional late-game fouls that losing teams commit to try to claw their way back. It disrupts the game’s flow, forces predictable foul shots, and rarely actually works.
The Elam Ending changes all of that. Instead of battling against the clock, the Elam Ending creates a target score that the winning team must reach to end the game. In the TBT, the target score is established by adding 8 points to the leading team’s score during the first dead ball after the clock is under four minutes. So if the score is 82-78, the target score will be 90, the game clock is turned off, and the game ends when one of the teams reaches or passes 90 points. This not only forces both teams to play exceptional defense as they attempt to get stops, but it means that every single game will end on a made shot (Sling TV is actually sponsoring this game-winning basket; we’re calling it the Sling Shot and yes, we feel very clever about the name).
“The Elam Ending is the most unique ending in basketball,” Greenberg says. “The NBA All-Star Game adopted it and it’s been an absolute home run. It is incredible the endings we have, because instead of fouling and trying to lengthen the game, all you’ve got to do is be committed defensively, get stops, and then all the pressure goes on the team that is leading.”
As Greenberg notes, the Elam Ending actually changes the tactics in late-game scenarios. “Legitimately, you throw out the clock, and now it’s just, you’re in the park, you’ve got your target number, and you’ve got to go and get it done on both ends: get a stop, get a shot.” If you’re into late game heroics, TBT has the basketball for you.
Bracketology
Everyone loves the “win-or-go-home” drama of the NCAA Tournament; TBT has that too. With 64 teams competing in a single-elimination tournament for a $1 million dollar prize, the stakes of every game could not be higher.
Just like the NCAA Tournament, fans can get in on the fun by filling out their own TBT bracket. In addition to the $30,000 in cash prizes that TBT will be awarding to the top 1,000 entries, Sling subscribers can enter to win additional prizes, including $4,000 in Fanatics FanCash, $500 in Puma gift cards, and TBT apparel. Follow this link to enter and be sure to fill out your bracket before 12pm ET on Saturday, July 16.
For tips from Seth Greenberg on filling out your bracket, click here.
Unique Competition
https://www.youtube.com/embed/adNwShdeWfY
One other element that makes TBT so distinct is the mix of young prospects like the Thompson twins (who are expected to be lottery picks in next year’s NBA draft), college standouts like Jimmer Fredette, and current and former professional athletes from the NBA and overseas. Not only that, but a number of teams, including favorites like Sideline Cancer, are playing for a cause.
“You’ve got teams with a cause that are using this platform to bring attention to ALS, the Sideline Cancer team, the Mental Toughness team, to obviously bring attention to the issue we have in our society with mental health,” Greenberg notes. “The [Americana for Autism] team that’s going to be playing in Rucker Park. Basically, the guys that are playing for these teams are selfless. They’re using the platform of TBT and the game of basketball to send a message. I think that’s one of the things that makes the TBT so special.”
With a unique talent pool and worthy causes, a $1 million dollar survive-and-advance tournament, and rules that create a thrilling finish to the game, TBT basketball is thriving. Just be sure to leave those marshmallows at home. Check out this week’s TBT schedule below and click here for more information on how to stream with Sling.