[shusaku]

On the contrary, the clock management makes American football games more exciting, because you know if your team can just get one first down you will win. The tension heightens because you see the finish line.

But it does lead to unsatisfying situations where a person layer intentionally goes down instead of scoring because he doesn’t want to give the ball back to the other team.

I agree with your basketball complaint. The worst is that a team up 3 also has incentive to foul the losing team because they can only score 2 at the line.

[freetime2]

> But it does lead to unsatisfying situations where a person layer intentionally goes down instead of scoring because he doesn’t want to give the ball back to the other team.

I even like this part because it shows situational awareness, and the willingness of a player to put team goals ahead of their own stats. But I could see how it would be disappointing for fantasy football players, for example.

[kodt]

I don't think anyone rooting for the losing team in that situation likes it though. They want them to go for a play and hope for the miracle turnover.

[freetime2]

Having been in the situation of rooting for the losing team many times, it's fine with me. Fans understand how the clock works (and commentators also keep people informed) - and that if their team doesn't get a stop on the next play, the game is effectively over. And the rules are the rules - sometimes they work out in your favor, sometimes they work against you. As long as they are applied fairly, I'm happy.