Whenever I hear this declaration by an announcer when there is, say, 8, 10, or 12 minutes left in the game, I am dumbfounded. I can't imagine a more meaningless comment, unless the viewer doesn't realize that the game is fairly close.
Even if the comment is made when there is under two minutes to play, "What is the deficit, 4, 5, or 6 points?" Even a 4-point deficit could be a one-possession game if a shooter is fouled when draining a three-pointer, as would have been the case had the USC player made the free throw near the end of the Stanford game on Saturday. I prefer hearing that the lead or deficit always be expressed in terms of the point differential.
What do you think?
Even if the comment is made when there is under two minutes to play, "What is the deficit, 4, 5, or 6 points?" Even a 4-point deficit could be a one-possession game if a shooter is fouled when draining a three-pointer, as would have been the case had the USC player made the free throw near the end of the Stanford game on Saturday. I prefer hearing that the lead or deficit always be expressed in terms of the point differential.
What do you think?
