jacobdrj
04-02-2008, 06:02 PM
Do you like the length of the NBA regular season?
If you could change it, how would you do it?
My View
I feel the season is far too long. I thought the lockout season was a lot of fun at 50 games, and made every game far more important.
I can't think of a truly equitable way to distribute the games, however, I think by at least following this scheme, the season can be more realistic.
First, I am a firm believer that every team should play every other team at least twice, so the fans can get their options. I also believe that conference should have some strong meaning, as should division.
Here is what my schedule would look like, and why it is that way:
NBA Setup
Keep the 15 * 2 Conference System.
Keep the 6 * 5 Division System.
Season Setup
Each team plays every other team 2 times = 2 * 29 = 58 games
Each team plays each division member an additional 1 time = 4 games
The additional division game would alternate year to year, as far as which venue they are played in.
Total: 62 games.
As scheduling allows, it should try and have games every other day. I know this is hard, and reality says this will not be a rule, but there should be incentive to do this from the L... I know some owners (Davidson, Buss as examples) likes avoiding Saturday games for doing other events, however, incentive will help alleviate this problem.
Rationale:
Division rivalries are important, in that each game determines a tie breaker, and you see them more often, breeding some kind of rivalries during the season. These are ultimately meaningless, but are fun, and keep some importance, along with the division winner still getting a guaranteed spot. Alternating year to year seems the most equitable solution without bloating the season too much.
The Conference is respected by still seeding based on your own conference, and because you play in the playoffs, often good teams will meet, assuming there is consistent excellence on given franchises. In a 1-16 seeding system, this would not occur.
The playoffs would have the teams seeded based on record, and would reseed every round. They would also go back to 1st round 5 game series. This would breed a more exciting 1st round, as well as limit silly early series to a max of 3 games for teams that have earned it, and both not risk as much injury, yet still keep them loose for their next opponents, as opposed to a 1st round break weak, as is in the NFL, which IMHO sucks royally, as it is a momentum killer. Playoff games must be as close to every other day as scheduling would allow.
I am against 1-16 seeds by record straight. It is a hassle in travel, and does not take into account the styles of play in the different conferences, as well as takes away from the conference fun. Conference fun and meeting teams a lot with player rivalries is what make the playoffs truly great. That would almost never happen in a 1-16 playoff system, as is in the NCAA. It works in the NCAA, because they are 1 and done. The thrill of elimination alone makes the tourney special.
I am fully aware that this will never happen, especially since games mean revenue, on TV and in the stadiums. This is purely hypothetical, and a means of exchanging some good ideas in light of the upcoming playoff race.
If you could change it, how would you do it?
My View
I feel the season is far too long. I thought the lockout season was a lot of fun at 50 games, and made every game far more important.
I can't think of a truly equitable way to distribute the games, however, I think by at least following this scheme, the season can be more realistic.
First, I am a firm believer that every team should play every other team at least twice, so the fans can get their options. I also believe that conference should have some strong meaning, as should division.
Here is what my schedule would look like, and why it is that way:
NBA Setup
Keep the 15 * 2 Conference System.
Keep the 6 * 5 Division System.
Season Setup
Each team plays every other team 2 times = 2 * 29 = 58 games
Each team plays each division member an additional 1 time = 4 games
The additional division game would alternate year to year, as far as which venue they are played in.
Total: 62 games.
As scheduling allows, it should try and have games every other day. I know this is hard, and reality says this will not be a rule, but there should be incentive to do this from the L... I know some owners (Davidson, Buss as examples) likes avoiding Saturday games for doing other events, however, incentive will help alleviate this problem.
Rationale:
Division rivalries are important, in that each game determines a tie breaker, and you see them more often, breeding some kind of rivalries during the season. These are ultimately meaningless, but are fun, and keep some importance, along with the division winner still getting a guaranteed spot. Alternating year to year seems the most equitable solution without bloating the season too much.
The Conference is respected by still seeding based on your own conference, and because you play in the playoffs, often good teams will meet, assuming there is consistent excellence on given franchises. In a 1-16 seeding system, this would not occur.
The playoffs would have the teams seeded based on record, and would reseed every round. They would also go back to 1st round 5 game series. This would breed a more exciting 1st round, as well as limit silly early series to a max of 3 games for teams that have earned it, and both not risk as much injury, yet still keep them loose for their next opponents, as opposed to a 1st round break weak, as is in the NFL, which IMHO sucks royally, as it is a momentum killer. Playoff games must be as close to every other day as scheduling would allow.
I am against 1-16 seeds by record straight. It is a hassle in travel, and does not take into account the styles of play in the different conferences, as well as takes away from the conference fun. Conference fun and meeting teams a lot with player rivalries is what make the playoffs truly great. That would almost never happen in a 1-16 playoff system, as is in the NCAA. It works in the NCAA, because they are 1 and done. The thrill of elimination alone makes the tourney special.
I am fully aware that this will never happen, especially since games mean revenue, on TV and in the stadiums. This is purely hypothetical, and a means of exchanging some good ideas in light of the upcoming playoff race.