OT. why do basketball teams that are tied

[squidkid]

wait for the last second to take the shot?
i was watching a game the other day and the teams were tied. the one team had the ball with 24 seconds left to play. they dribbled and passed until the clock read 3 seconds until they took a shot. why didnt they try to shoot earlier?
maybe someone can help me, im not a basketball guy.

[papillon]

Well, teams that play for the last shot want to start the offense (usually) with about 10-12 seconds on the clock and get a good look with around 2-3 seconds left to allow for an offensive rebound and follow should the initial shot be missed and under normal circumstances 2-3 seconds is not enough time for the opponent to rebound and get a quality shot at the other end. Now, of course, basketball history is littered with teams that have rebounded a missed shot with 2-3 seconds on the clock, threw an outlet pass to a player who took a dribble and hits the game winner, but by and large, shooting with 2-3 seconds on the clock leaves you an opportunity for a put back, but not enough for a quality shot at the other end.

Pappy

[DukieBoy]

Ask Tomlin. He might know.

[SteelCrazy]

Ask Tomlin. He might know.

WRONG! Tomlin wouldnt take a shot and would hope for the best in OT

[DukieBoy]

Sarcasm was abit too subtle, apparently.

[eniparadoxgma]

The reason you play for the last shot in a tie game is that typically (barring the steal/rebound and long outlet pass play from the opposing team) is that it leaves you in a position in which the worst you can do is go to overtime. If you take a shot early on, say with 20 seconds left, you allow the opposing team to get a rebound if you miss and then take it to the other side of the court, hit a shot, and win.

This answer assumes, of course, that you weren't attempting to imply something else entirely and are not actually interested in serious answers.

[Iron Shiek]

You only take the shot immediately if theres snow on the court. Or if someone blocked one of your shots earlier in the game.