A question about running up the score

[SabresRule]

Why is it when football teams run up the score on bad opponents, people call it classless, yet when NBA teams win by 30-40 points, nobody says a thing?

Here are some examples that BillDel84 can understand

When the Patriots routed the Bills (56-10) and Redskins (52-7), fans and writers from coast-to-coast reacted with disgust, calling them bullies and poor sports.

HOWEVAH (to quote Stephen A. Smith),

when the Celtics beat the Knicks by 45 points (104-59) and demolished the Atlanta Hawks in each of the four playoff games in Boston (104-81, 96-77, 110-85, 99-65), nobody said a word?

In football, it's considered classless, yet in hoops, it's perfectly reasonable?

I don't understand why in one sport, it's bad, yet in another, it's fine.

 

[Jimbo]

Why is it when football teams run up the score on bad opponents, people call it classless, yet when NBA teams win by 30-40 points, nobody says a thing?

Here are some examples that BillDel84 can understand

When the Patriots routed the Bills (56-10) and Redskins (52-7), fans and writers from coast-to-coast reacted with disgust, calling them bullies and poor sports.

HOWEVAH (to quote Stephen A. Smith),

when the Celtics beat the Knicks by 45 points (104-59) and demolished the Atlanta Hawks in each of the four playoff games in Boston (104-81, 96-77, 110-85, 99-65), nobody said a word?

In football, it's considered classless, yet in hoops, it's perfectly reasonable?

I don't understand why in one sport, it's bad, yet in another, it's fine.

IF all of these you point out are in PLAYOFF games, I don't see it being classless, seeing they are both PLAYOFF teams.
If it was a 13-3 tream against a 3-13 team, then I would say YES.

What IS classless is during the regular season and your getting blown out/ or doning the blowing out, to have a huge lead and the ball going in to score and make sure you drive it in in the last few minutes.

Classy, Big lead and driving and take a knee in the final minutes (although, the opponent may or not agree)

Jimbo

 

[Ramy]

Because the two sports are totally different. Are they just supposed to give the basketball the opponent everytime down the floor. Yes they should take the starters out but not score, no. In football you can run the ball and take time off the clock instead of passing.

 

[Paul Wozniak]

But how do you stop the third string, Ramy? For some of these kids, it's the only playing time they get in four years. You can't tell them not to play hard, can you? I don't feel it's running up the score unless your starters are still on the field. That would be classless.

 

[Ramy]

It's hard not to run up the score in college with the second and thrid string players if they are good too. In the pros though it is a different story.

 

[satjay]

I dont have a problem with teams continuing to execute there offense and defense in football. You keep playing hard, if more scoring come the defense needs to step it up and keep playing hard. Especailly if you decide to move to your second and third teams. They are in because its a big lead and there are there to excute plays.

 

[Spatch]

I hate when people complain when a team keeps playing. Isn't that the whole point of competition. It hurts when it is your team that is taking the spanking, but great when they are giving it. These guys get paid a lot of money to show results. So, why get upset when they do. I look at it as the losing teams fault ie... coaching. If the fans want to be upset with anyone let them look at the losing team.
Can you tell I am a Philadelphia sports fan.

 

[stevenl]

Its professional ball. These men are pro athletes they can handle getting beat bad. This is not a peewee football or basketball game or little league. In those groups they have mercy rules. in the pros theres to much money at stake to stop the game early.

 

[Spatch]

I play Adult "beer" league hockey. It is non-check and we usually hang out and toss a few back with the other team after our games. It is competitive and we do have playoffs and championship games, but it is all for fun and a bit of exercise. Since it is the summer season some teams don't play because of vacations and such. So we picked up a couple of guys from other teams. These additions have our team undefeated and (knock on wood) unstopable.

We generally will lay off the other team if we have them beat by 5 goals. D will move up and play forward, stupid plays are made and fancy shots are tried, instead of trying to embarrass the other team. Until the other night. The team we were playing started to curse, slash, trip and check the hell out of us. So we turned it up and the final score was 15-1.

Now did we feel good about this? Yes. But, we wound up looking like a bunch of A-holes when you looked at the score. Now we have other teams gunning for us. We will most likely beat them but the risk of injury is higher now because they are playing us a lot harder.

So it may not always be the best idea to run up the score. But, it is damn entertaining to watch.

 

[Paul Wozniak]

It's hard not to run up the score in college with the second and thrid string players if they are good too. In the pros though it is a different story.

I thought Appalachian St. ran the score up against Michigan last season.

 

[SabresRule]

IF all of these you point out are in PLAYOFF games, I don't see it being classless, seeing they are both PLAYOFF teams.
If it was a 13-3 tream against a 3-13 team, then I would say YES.

What IS classless is during the regular season and your getting blown out/ or doning the blowing out, to have a huge lead and the ball going in to score and make sure you drive it in in the last few minutes.

Classy, Big lead and driving and take a knee in the final minutes (although, the opponent may or not agree)

Jimbo

Didn't your Buckeyes once scored 70 against Pittsburgh?

IMO, John Cooper was one of the biggest run-up-the-score coaches I can recall.

 

[Jimbo]

Didn't your Buckeyes once scored 70 against Pittsburgh?

IMO, John Cooper was one of the biggest run-up-the-score coaches I can recall.

I don't know if they did or not.

Back in the 70's -80's teams ran it up regularly , I remember Nebraska doing it on a weekly basis.

Jimbo

 

[HD MM]

Last night's NBA Championship Game 2 was the exact reason why it is not deemed illogical to "run up the score". In basketball, the deficit can be erased in no time whatsoever.

 

[Paul Wozniak]

Florida (in Spurrier's days). Those guys ran it up every week.

 

[jwfgeol]

Another issue with running up the score is if it will be a team you will face in the future. Payback is a....well, you know. In 2006, Tennessee throttled Cal 35-0 out of the gate but took the foot off the gas in the 3rd quarter because there was a return trip to Berkley looming the next year. The final score was 35-18.

 

[GoTribe]

I don't know if they did or not.

Back in the 70's -80's teams ran it up regularly , I remember Nebraska doing it on a weekly basis.

Jimbo

They were a running team.

What were they supposed to do to not run it up - throw the football?

 

[stevenl]

I don't know if they did or not.

Back in the 70's -80's teams ran it up regularly , I remember Nebraska doing it on a weekly basis.

Jimbo

Heck just what 2 years ago UF vs OSU.... and last year LSU vs OSU...... Teams do it all the time. no biggie.

 

[BillD1984]

Last night's NBA Championship Game 2 was the exact reason why it is not deemed illogical to "run up the score". In basketball, the deficit can be erased in no time whatsoever.

Ditto last night's Game 4.

 

[dishcomm]

Why is it when football teams run up the score on bad opponents, people call it classless, yet when NBA teams win by 30-40 points, nobody says a thing?

Here are some examples that BillDel84 can understand

When the Patriots routed the Bills (56-10) and Redskins (52-7), fans and writers from coast-to-coast reacted with disgust, calling them bullies and poor sports.

HOWEVAH (to quote Stephen A. Smith),

when the Celtics beat the Knicks by 45 points (104-59) and demolished the Atlanta Hawks in each of the four playoff games in Boston (104-81, 96-77, 110-85, 99-65), nobody said a word?

In football, it's considered classless, yet in hoops, it's perfectly reasonable?

I don't understand why in one sport, it's bad, yet in another, it's fine.

running up the score in an NBA game would be something like if a team was up 30 in the 4th and were still running fast breaks. In college footbal or hoops ,leaving the starters in well after the game is out of reach.. In baseball sacrificing runners over and stealing bases with an 8 run lead.
In Pro football, running fly patterns with a 30 point lead.
Not running up the score.. In NBA/NCAA hoops hitting layups wiht 2 seconds left on the shot clock..That can't be helped. You still have to try to score.. In football running an off tackle dive that results in a 40 yard TD due to good blocking/poor tacklling. That can't be helped.. In baseball. Hitting a grand slam on a 86 MPH fast ball down the middle even if your team is up 6 runs. That can't be helped. What's the batter supposed to do? Strike out on purpose?