Why do NBA games start later than scheduled?

[Jon_Koncak]

If a game's starting time is say 19.00 p.m. it'll normally start 10 or 15 minutes later.Is this an american thing,does it happen in other sports as well?.In Europe or in Olympics sporting events start on time.Not meaning to bash americans or anythin btw,just wondering.

[sodap]

it pisses me off too

[winwin]

ads=$

[Eric Cartman]

Great way to make revenue off commercials & to get casual fans up to date with what they are about to watch.

[Mr. Jabbar]

must be ads, but lets be honest, its the gayest thing ever.

[StroShow4]

NBA games always start precisely 10 minutes after they are scheduled to start unless they are on National TV. I have always assumed it's so the local TV channel can do their 10-minute pregame routine. Sometimes National TV games start a little closer to on time, or sometimes a little later.

[UtahJazzFan88]

This is one problem with TNT. TNT needs to start doing a 30 minute pregame show at 7:30 PM EST so the games can start and end on time without people complaining, unless TNT/Turner got smart and put the 2nd game on a sister Turner Sprots channel as an overflow feed.