This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2017, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Fastbreaks? Fun. Game breaks? Not as much fun.

The NBA moved to increase the pace of play on Wednesday morning with a slate of changes that will decrease the number and (in some cases) the length of timeouts.

The biggest change is that the maximum number of timeouts per game will shrink from 18 to 14. Each team will have seven timeouts per game, with no restrictions per half.

Here's the other changes passed by the http://pr.nba.com/nba-rules-changes-2017-18/";>NBA's Board of Governors:

• All team timeouts will be 75 seconds. In the previous format, "full" timeouts were 90 seconds and "20-second" timeouts were 60 seconds. Both "full" and "20-second" timeouts have been replaced by team timeouts.

• All four periods will have two mandatory timeouts, which will take place after the first stoppage under the seven- and three-minute marks.

• The under-nine-minute mandatory timeouts in the second and fourth periods will be eliminated.

• Each team can enter the fourth period with up to four team timeouts.

• Each team will be limited to two team timeouts after the later of (i) the three-minute mark of the fourth period or (ii) the resumption of play after the second mandatory timeout of the fourth period.

• Each team will have two team timeouts per overtime period; previously teams had three.

• Referees will assess a delay-of-game violation if a free throw shooter ventures beyond the three-point line between attempts.

• Halftime will last 15 minutes for all games, beginning immediately upon expiration of the second period. A delay-of-game penalty will be issued if a team is not ready to start play at the expiration of the halftime clock.

The NBA is hopeful that the changes help limit stops and starts within games and improve the fan experience.

Two other items were announced Wednesday related to the NBA calendar.

Commissioner Adam Silver said the season will begin Oct. 17 this year, more than a week before previous seasons (Utah's first game last year was played on Oct. 25). The league is lengthening the schedule in part to limit the crunch of back-to-backs, http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/18210509/2017-18-schedule-start-7-10-days-earlier";>which was negotiated in the last collective bargaining agreement.

The Board of Governors also announced that the NBA trade deadline will be moved up to 10 days before the All-Star game. The league previously had a deadline the Thursday after the All-Star game, but decided to move it earlier to avoid awkward situations similar to https://www.sbnation.com/nba/2017/2/19/14666240/demarcus-cousins-trade-pelicans-kings-nba-rumors";>Sacramento's trade of Demarcus Cousins this past season, in which he was dealt during the weekend.

kgoon@sltrib.com
Twitter: @kylegoon