Will the 30-second shot clock benefit defenses more than offenses? Posted Jun 23, 2015 But the pessimist in me wonders if slowball is really on its deathbed, and if a new era of offense is truly upon us. I worry that an unintended consequence of the 30-second shot clock is that grind-it-out defenses will become even more popular—and successful—than they already are. The shot clock will be expiring sooner, and there's a distinct advantage in sending as many possessions as possible into panicked, end-of-shot-clock territory. (Sports Illustrated)