The NBA D-League is set to kick off the 2010-2011 tonight with Rio Grande Valley Vipers set to be ready to defend the title they won last season. This is the 10th season since the competitions began. The defending champions start the defense of their title against Texas Legends tonight.

The season is all that significant as it sees the implementation of new rules: one which deals on the goal-tending rules used in international games and the other shortening overtime periods. The first rule is used in international competitions and basically allows players to knock of the ball when on the rim. Prior to this rule coming into effect players in the NBA-league were not allowed to touch leave alone knock off the ball while it was in the cylinder. The overtime has been reduced from five minutes to three minutes in the new season kick off.

The season will also have something else to celebrate for the NBA-D league; TV coverage. For the first time in the history of the competitions NBA TV will break down all the teams on Thursday before the games commence. The league has only 16 teams, thus it will not be a huge task for the TV stations responsible for marketing the lucrative NBA.

To show proof of the new changes the TV station hosted NBA-D league president together with his vice president. The show will be half hour long and will feature highlights, recaps and interviews from players and officials from around the league.

The NBA TV will be airing 34 games from the league and the climax of the competition will be the live coverage of eight games from the NBA-D League in early January.
Image Credit: