If you were commissioner.....

[Gino]

What changes would you make to the league?

Lets say ANYTHING goes. Rule changes, schedule changes, playoff seedings etc.

Personally, I would extend the age limit from 19 to 21. The NBA has lost its minor league system and both the collegiate and professional games have suffered because of it.

Secondly, I would propose a radical change to the schedule and to how many teams make the playoffs.

It makes no sense to include so many teams when all the series are seven games.

I propose we follow the MLB/NFL format.

You play every team in your division 8 times. Everyone else, you play only twice. This is still an 82 game season.

Second, only four teams from each conference make the playoffs. Each division winner and one wild card team.

This would greatly change the amount of weight each team puts into every game. Especially if three or four teams are in a wild card/division race.

Of course, less games means less money so the owners would probably fire me as commissioner, but this all just for fun.

Anxious to hear what others would like to see.

[remingtonbo2001]

You should add a wild card game for seeds 4 and 5. The winner of this one game series goes on to play a 7 game series against the 1 seed.

That would be cool. The NBA and Owner would completely reject this idea.

Playoffs= MORE MONEY.

[BonnerDynasty]

I Would Demand Consistency From My Refs And Fire Any I Thought Had Major Biases Or ty Officiating.

[Gino]

I Would Demand Consistency From My Refs And Fire Any I Thought Had Major Biases Or ty Officiating.

Yeah, thats a good one.

How about Refs work as crews?

I don't know why the NBA uses its current system. But I would think refs should work as three man units.

[Allanon]

Personally, I would extend the age limit from 19 to 21. The NBA has lost its minor league system and both the collegiate and professional games have suffered because of it.

I kind of like this one, college is suffering big time...where are all the college legends now? There is one KG, there is one Kobe, there is one Lebron. The rest probably should have gone to college.

It makes no sense to include so many teams when all the series are seven games. ...basically fewer games played

As a basketball fan, I love watching any great game, regardless of which team it is whether it's Mavs vs Spurs, Lakers vs Utah, etc. So I'd like to see as many games as possible. As it is, I get NBA withdrawal during the summertime, I don't know about you all. Fewer games means a much shorter season and more time with nothing to watch on TV. I'm not into Baseball obviously.

My Suggestion is the 16 Team regardless of Conference Playoff Format. This ensures that no matter what, every Playoff series will be watchable. I mean who is going to watch Celtics vs Hawks? With a 16 team noConference Playoff, Celtics would be playing the Nuggets in the First Round...I would Pay to see that.

Of course the league wouldn't go for this because that means only 3-4 Eastern teams will make the Playoffs this year

[Gino]

I kind of like this one, college is suffering big time...where are all the college legends now? There is one KG, there is one Kobe, there is one Lebron. The rest probably should have gone to college.

Not to mention how good would the tournament be right now if Durant and all the others who came out after only one year were still in college?

[baseline bum]

I'd only make one change: technical fouls should be penalized by two shots and the ball for the other team.

[LakeShow]

I kind of like this one, college is suffering big time...where are all the college legends now? There is one KG, there is one Kobe, there is one Lebron. The rest probably should have gone to college.


As a basketball fan, I love watching any great game, regardless of which team it is whether it's Mavs vs Spurs, Lakers vs Utah, etc. So I'd like to see as many games as possible. As it is, I get NBA withdrawal during the summertime, I don't know about you all. Fewer games means a much shorter season and more time with nothing to watch on TV. I'm not into Baseball obviously.

My Suggestion is the 16 Team regardless of Conference Playoff Format. This ensures that no matter what, every Playoff series will be watchable. I mean who is going to watch Celtics vs Hawks? With a 16 team noConference Playoff, Celtics would be playing the Nuggets in the First Round...I would Pay to see that.

Of course the league wouldn't go for this because that means only 3-4 Eastern teams will make the Playoffs this year

I think the traveling would be too much to make that work. That would probably mean more days off between games in the playoffs. I can't say that I would be thrilled about that.

[Hemotivo]

no more defensive 3 sec.
more cheerleaders with new dress code
eliminate mandatory timeout
and an NBDL for Baseketball

[JamStone]

1. Contraction to 26 teams. Get rid of Seattle, Memphis, Milwaukee, and Atlanta

2. Automatic life bans for a criminal felony conviction.

3. Referee rating system that is made public on the web that allows fans to comment.

4. Automatic review of all three-point shots, not by the refs but by a third party official so it won't require stopping the game, just a video official to review any shot that may or may not be a three-point shot.

5. Get rid of the shot clock rule that stops a fast break for the defensive team.

6. Parity in scheduling in terms of back-to-back sets. There shouldn't be one team that has 15 back-to-back sets and another team that has 9 back-to-back sets.

7. League reviews flops and fines players if there is enough evidence of flopping (I know it's really subjective and very hard to tell, but something needs to be done to prevent at least some flopping). Maybe make a rule that allows referees to call flopping a foul on the flopper.

[Gino]

1. Contraction to 26 teams. Get rid of Seattle, Memphis, Milwaukee, and Atlanta

2. Automatic life bans for a criminal felony conviction.

3. Referee rating system that is made public on the web that allows fans to comment.

4. Automatic review of all three-point shots, not by the refs but by a third party official so it won't require stopping the game, just a video official to review any shot that may or may not be a three-point shot.

5. Get rid of the shot clock rule that stops a fast break for the defensive team.

6. Parity in scheduling in terms of back-to-back sets. There shouldn't be one team that has 15 back-to-back sets and another team that has 9 back-to-back sets.

7. League reviews flops and fines players if there is enough evidence of flopping (I know it's really subjective and very hard to tell, but something needs to be done to prevent at least some flopping). Maybe make a rule that allows referees to call flopping a foul on the flopper.

I think everyone would love that. But it would be a nightmare for officials.

[LakerMagic]

16 team playoff

[LakeShow]

1. Contraction to 26 teams. Get rid of Seattle, Memphis, Milwaukee, and Atlanta

2. Automatic life bans for a criminal felony conviction.

3. Referee rating system that is made public on the web that allows fans to comment.

4. Automatic review of all three-point shots, not by the refs but by a third party official so it won't require stopping the game, just a video official to review any shot that may or may not be a three-point shot.

5. Get rid of the shot clock rule that stops a fast break for the defensive team.

6. Parity in scheduling in terms of back-to-back sets. There shouldn't be one team that has 15 back-to-back sets and another team that has 9 back-to-back sets.

7. League reviews flops and fines players if there is enough evidence of flopping (I know it's really subjective and very hard to tell, but something needs to be done to prevent at least some flopping). Maybe make a rule that allows referees to call flopping a foul on the flopper.

You mean teams don't play the same amount of back to backs? That sucks! Definitely needs to be changed.

[nkdlunch]

-I would paint the court black and illuminate it with blacklight. then have all lines on court, ball and player's uniforms glow in the dark.
-at beginning of game, cheerleaders from opposing teams should mudwrestle for first possesion.
-Instead of foul shots, there should be a one play 1-1 between the fouler and the player fouled
-court should be elevated and slowly rotate like a rotating restaurant
-at halftime refs should be put up in dunk tanks and fans should be able to throw balls at it

[bdictjames]

-I would paint the court black and illuminate it with blacklight. then have all lines on court, ball and player's uniforms glow in the dark.
-at beginning of game, cheerleaders from opposing teams should mudwrestle for first possesion.
-Instead of foul shots, there should be a one play 1-1 between the fouler and the player fouled
-court should be elevated and slowly rotate like a rotating restaurant
-at halftime refs should be put up in dunk tanks and fans should be able to throw balls at it

[Gino]

-I would paint the court black and illuminate it with blacklight. then have all lines on court, ball and player's uniforms glow in the dark.
-at beginning of game, cheerleaders from opposing teams should mudwrestle for first possesion.
-Instead of foul shots, there should be a one play 1-1 between the fouler and the player fouled
-court should be elevated and slowly rotate like a rotating restaurant
-at halftime refs should be put up in dunk tanks and fans should be able to throw balls at it

But what happens when there's a foul during the one-on-one play.

[samikeyp]

allow offensive goaltending
trapezoid lane
referees be made to answer reporters after the game, just like coaches and players.
no expansion outside North America per se, but European and Asian versions of the D-League.

[ancestron]

No fouls. No dribbling. Have players wear pads, helmets. Double the size of the hoop. Out of bounds will be lined with alligator pits.

[Mr.Bottomtooth]

Make shots from the top of the opposing 3point line and within a 4 pointer.

[Findog]

If you're going to go with the top 16 teams record-wise, regardless of conferences, then you need to do away with them and go with a balanced schedule where everybody plays everybody else 3 times, or whatever 82 games against 29 teams comes out to. I'm in favor of that, because the East has been decisively weaker for about 7 or 8 years now. It also probably aids the East champ in that they might only play one really tough series instead of the war that it takes to come out of the West.

I'd get rid of all the really ty refs like Salvatore, Joey Crawford and Steve Javie. As for flopping, I would just call techs on all flops period. Yeah, some legitimate spills to the deck would be unfairly punished, but all of the sudden guys would have an incentive to stay upright.

To discourage tanking, I'd freeze the standings at the All-Star break and determine lottery order from there. I'd tell Clay Bennett to go himself and keep the Sonics in Seattle. I would keep the 19 year old age limit - it's been good for both colleges and the NBA. Horse would be a feature at the ASG festivities. That's all I can think of for now, I have other ideas I'm sure.

[LakerMagic]

If you're going to go with the top 16 teams record-wise, regardless of conferences, then you need to do away with them and go with a balanced schedule where everybody plays everybody else 3 times, or whatever 82 games against 29 teams comes out to. I'm in favor of that, because the East has been decisively weaker for about 7 or 8 years now. It also probably aids the East champ in that they might only play one really tough series instead of the war that it takes to come out of the West.

I'd get rid of all the really ty refs like Salvatore, Joey Crawford and Steve Javie. As for flopping, I would just call techs on all flops period. Yeah, some legitimate spills to the deck would be unfairly punished, but all of the sudden guys would have an incentive to stay upright.

To discourage tanking, I'd freeze the standings at the All-Star break and determine lottery order from there. I'd tell Clay Bennett to go himself and keep the Sonics in Seattle. I would keep the 19 year old age limit - it's been good for both colleges and the NBA. Horse would be a feature at the ASG festivities. That's all I can think of for now, I have other ideas I'm sure.

I like your idea for discouraging tanking.

[Findog]

I like your idea for discouraging tanking.

Yeah, I understand playing rookies and 2nd-year players in April because you want to season them up, get some valuable experience and see what they can do. But Miami is not trying to win games with those players, they are actively trying to lose. Wouldn't it be better for those guys to be pushed to compete? It's the only incentive I can think of to get teams to play hard and to try. As bad as you are, would you really call it quits on a season in December?

[rAm]

Man, some of these ideas seem so legit.

[spurs_fan_in_exile]

Do away with "clear path fouls". The idea, as I understand it, is that it is supposed to discourage fouls to prevent breakaway dunks, speed up the game, and create some crowd pleasing highlights. It just seems like it never happens like that. For starters, I don't think any rule is going to be able to stop a player from following their instincts in a situation like that. Between the refs conferring and checking to see whether or not it was a CPF in the first place plus the additional two free throws (always a crowd pleaser) this just slows the game down even worse. Totally counterproductive in my opinion.

And to Jamstone's list, especially 4,5, and 6.

[Mr.Bottomtooth]

And screw the only 1st or 2nd year players can be sent to the D-League.