10 significant rule differences between NBA and Olympics basketball and it's ramifications

#4 Alternating possessions on jump balls

The only jump ball we’ll see will be at the jump ball

Jump balls in-game situations always add to the unintentional hilarity in the NBA. If a point guard is grappling with a power forward for a loose ball, it is a foregone conclusion that the latter will win the jump ball. Awarding possession based on height and leaping ability might sound like it's keeping in with the basic premise of basketball, but that's not really the case.

The sport doesn't award one's height and vertical leap to the exclusion of all else, but the jump ball situations in-game during an NBA match does. In international play, teams are alternatively awarded possession on jump balls. The team which loses the opening tip gets the first possession in the event of a jump ball situation.

Ramifications:

There will be less of the confusion where a referee tries to throw the ball straight up and avoid getting hit. They’ll also duck having to explain why the ball wasn’t thrown straight up. Players often try to pin the opponent or jump up before the ball hits its peak. We won’t see any of that.