Should the NBA shorten their season?

[NeedChapmans]

Originally Posted by fabiani12333

How many games at the end of the regular season matter that much? Maybe for a few teams on the bubble of not making the play-in, or one of the top 6 teams.

The point being that all 82 matter the same. NBA offices and players have reserved themselves to the idea that seeding and home court really don't matter enough to go out and grind for a full season. Golden State / LAC is a perfect example of how far load management has gone. You have two teams whose record does not reflect their talent level and who are content with sliding into a 5-9 seed if that means keeping miles off of everyone.

While the power in the league has shifted a ton from management to player, the realized value in the regular season has also shifted. These things will not shift back; only become more prevelant with each passing season.

[fabiani12333]

Originally Posted by NeedChapmans

The point being that all 82 matter the same. NBA offices and players have reserved themselves to the idea that seeding and home court really don't matter enough to go out and grind for a full season. Golden State / LAC is a perfect example of how far load management has gone. You have two teams whose record does not reflect their talent level and who are content with sliding into a 5-9 seed if that means keeping miles off of everyone.

While the power in the league has shifted a ton from management to player, the realized value in the regular season has also shifted. These things will not shift back; only become more prevelant with each passing season.

All regular season games matter only if a team is at risk of not making the play-in or one of the top 6 spots. Otherwise a team can pace themselves during the season and be confident they'll get into the tournament.

The problem is there are too many playoff spots. If they reduce the number of playoff spots, the regular season becomes more competitive.

[NeedChapmans]

Originally Posted by fabiani12333

All regular season games matter only if a team is at risk of not making the play-in or one of the top 6 spots. Otherwise a team can pace themselves during the season and be confident they'll get into the tournament.

The problem is there are too many playoff spots. If they reduce the number of playoff spots, the regular season becomes more competitive.

Reduce playoff spots, reduce playoff games, reduce revenue. It's kind of the same idea as fewer regular season games ... doesn't acheive what the goal appears to be, which is night in and night out star involvement.

The goal, as I see it, is unattainable in today's NBA. Once the load management cat came out of the bag, it's not going back in. Guaranteed contracts will not change, thus the reason to rest players because of physical and mental health will never be seriously questioned or challenged. Unlimited vacation time has found it's way to the NBA.

[KhalDrogo]

Originally Posted by NeedChapmans

The point being that all 82 matter the same. NBA offices and players have reserved themselves to the idea that seeding and home court really don't matter enough to go out and grind for a full season. Golden State / LAC is a perfect example of how far load management has gone. You have two teams whose record does not reflect their talent level and who are content with sliding into a 5-9 seed if that means keeping miles off of everyone.

While the power in the league has shifted a ton from management to player, the realized value in the regular season has also shifted. These things will not shift back; only become more prevelant with each passing season.

Correct. Teams have realized that you basically just need to get into the playoffs. If you’re as good as you think you are, you’re going to run into a top seed at some point anyway. Does it matter if you play Memphis or Denver in the first round or in the WCF? Nope. The Warriors are going to rest their stars for a quarter to third of the season so that they’re fresh for the playoffs.

This might make the playoffs higher quality, but it makes the regular season unwatchable as far as I’m concerned. If the teams aren’t really trying to win on any given night, I’m not trying to watch either. It’s a complete waste of time. This will be my last season with League Pass.

[fabiani12333]

Originally Posted by KhalDrogo

Correct. Teams have realized that you basically just need to get into the playoffs. If you’re as good as you think you are, you’re going to run into a top seed at some point anyway. Does it matter if you play Memphis or Denver in the first round or in the WCF? Nope. The Warriors are going to rest their stars for a quarter to third of the season so that they’re fresh for the playoffs.

This might make the playoffs higher quality, but it makes the regular season unwatchable as far as I’m concerned. If the teams aren’t really trying to win on any given night, I’m not trying to watch either. It’s a complete waste of time. This will be my last season with League Pass.

If you're talking about the Warriors, Draymond has played 41 of 46 games. He's in a walk year and trying to build his value. Klay's workload has been managed by the team due to his previous Achilles tear. He hates not playing as much. Curry missed 3 weeks due to a shoulder subluxation. He's also 34 years old and naturally needs more rest, especially because he runs around so much and has such a large workload.

[KhalDrogo]

Originally Posted by fabiani12333

If you're talking about the Warriors, Draymond has played 41 of 46 games. He's in a walk year and trying to build his value. Klay's workload has been managed by the team due to his previous Achilles tear. He hates not playing as much. Curry missed 3 weeks due to a shoulder subluxation. He's also 34 years old and naturally needs more rest, especially because he runs around so much and has such a large workload.

Draymond is not a star.

Yes, Klay and Curry will miss at least a quarter of the season. Don’t care what the excuse is.

[Filthy]

OKC fan here. Season ticket holder for 10 years. When my squad first came to town, the arena would be packed to see guys like Kobe, and Lebron.

As OKC got better, I could give two shits who the other star players coming to town was. I just wanted “W” on the board, and see my team win. I mean, don’t get me wrong, as I enjoyed seeing KD and Russ dunking all
over peoples faces for several years, but I just wanted to see my team win it all.

As the team turns the corner back into the right direction, the last few seasons I have been more interested in seeing the other NBA stars come to town, as the product on court for OKC was pretty poor. Yet, this season it seems to me that every team that comes to town, rests their best player. Understood, as OKC hasn’t been a premiere matchup for several seasons now. But again…as a legit fan, I don’t mind going to the arena and watching them get better every night. But for a lot of the younger/more casual fan, I have seen time and time again, families at the arena somewhat dissapointed that the star player they had hoped to see play, doesn’t. To a young family that may have really worked hard, to afford to take their kids to a game, driving for 5-6 hours, or having to stay in a hotel, all their kid wants to see is their favorite star player.

Zion has never played in OKC. He is one, that I was hoping to see, but has never happened.

It sucks. I get it. But also as a fan of the game….I don’t want a shortened season.

[Arianny_Fan]

Athletes get paid $$$ millions, with that I say they should have more games.

[bkcardcollector]

Originally Posted by Arianny_Fan

Athletes get paid $$$ millions, with that I say they should have more games.

...It doesn't exactly correlate like that. But yeah I don't thinki droping from 72 games will make a difference.

I am surprised more sports or any other major sport doesnt try to emulate NFL which dominates the money and they only have 17 games. It is because those 17 games fans go crazy over and watch because everything is put into those games and everyone is giving it their all because each game is so important, well Aaron Rodgers may tell you different.

Lets have 17 games, one game a week, all on Saturday except 2 Wednesday and 2 Friday night games. How would we feel about that?

[spurs50fan]

Since their "freshness" is an issue, we can also shorten the playoffs to 1 game eliminations

[Arianny_Fan]

Originally Posted by bkcardcollector

...It doesn't exactly correlate like that. But yeah I don't thinki droping from 72 games will make a difference.

I am surprised more sports or any other major sport doesnt try to emulate NFL which dominates the money and they only have 17 games. It is because those 17 games fans go crazy over and watch because everything is put into those games and everyone is giving it their all because each game is so important, well Aaron Rodgers may tell you different.

Lets have 17 games, one game a week, all on Saturday except 2 Wednesday and 2 Friday night games. How would we feel about that?

Yeah, I know but sheesh! Maybe stop the back to back games and space them more apart, giving them more rest?

[tennelson55]

Originally Posted by fabiani12333

How many games at the end of the regular season matter that much? Maybe for a few teams on the bubble of not making the play-in, or one of the top 6 teams.

Right now if someone in the West misses 10 games you could drop 10 spots... 26 wins to 21 wins separates and a few misses could mean you drop significantly (10 spots). The East is a little wider. 26 wins to 20 wins drops you 6/7 spots.

Load management happens and standings are affected. Making the playoffs is the concern.

[msink28]

I'd like to see the play-in removed. I think that would help. I doubt you'd see GSW rest their guys so much if two spots were eliminated. Same with the Lakers and Clippers. Ten slots is too many.

I'd also like to see the first round go back to best-of-five. Make seeding more of a priority.

[tennelson55]

Originally Posted by msink28

I'd like to see the play-in removed. I think that would help. I doubt you'd see GSW rest their guys so much if two spots were eliminated. Same with the Lakers and Clippers. Ten slots is too many.

I'd also like to see the first round go back to best-of-five. Make seeding more of a priority.

It would help but do the players agree to let the NBA do it? Hell no. Everything is gearing up towards less games, more play in games, etc.

Personally, I'd love the league to have less games. Make the games worth playing, playing harder/better effort. A schedule revolving around 2/3 games each night would be the best outcome here. Eliminating scheduling conflicts between the NBA and NFL would optimize their TV ratings. Obviously the NBA can't beat the NFL, but the NBA can eek out as much as they can.

[fabiani12333]

Cutting games won't increase competition because 20 of 30 teams already make the playoffs or play-in. If a team isn't trash, they're making the postseason.

You've got to cut in half the number of playoff/play-in spots. Some load management will still exist, but most teams will value regular season games a lot more.

[SupermanBrandon]

Pay players by games or minutes...and this load management crap will stop. The owners did this to themselves. They allowed the players to run the league.

[hche]

I always think players under load management get hurt more. LOL.

[fabiani12333]

If the issue is making sure stars don't sit out games on the road, get rid of back-to-backs.

If the issue is lack of competition, that's a much bigger nut to break.

[eastbayak]

Originally Posted by fabiani12333

If the issue is making sure stars don't sit out games on the road, get rid of back-to-backs.

If the issue is lack of competition, that's a much bigger nut to break.

Though that'll help, that won't solve the issue.

I don't even know if there's a remedy for the issue either.

Regular season games don't matter as long as your team's record is good enough to make the playoffs. Once good enough (or predicted to be good enough), resting your players for the games that matter (playoffs) is always going to be the move until players/teams are incentivized enough not to do so during the regular season (or punished enough when doing so).

[mvp]

There are too many games. I don't know the solution, but there are too many games.

I will note that after moving back to Australia and starting to watch the NBL, I really like 10 minute quarters. I thought I'd hate it, but I don't. Also FIBA time-out rules are way better. More action, less dawdling about.

It'll never happen, but instead of cutting back the number of games, you could cut back the number of minutes *shrugs*

[eastbayak]

Originally Posted by mvp

There are too many games. I don't know the solution, but there are too many games.

I will note that after moving back to Australia and starting to watch the NBL, I really like 10 minute quarters. I thought I'd hate it, but I don't. Also FIBA time-out rules are way better. More action, less dawdling about.

It'll never happen, but instead of cutting back the number of games, you could cut back the number of minutes *shrugs*

No way.

People pay good money to attend games (not just playoffs but regular season too).

Cutting the total minutes from 48 to 40 (excluding any OT) means less entertainment (duration) and overall bang for buck.

[mvp]

Originally Posted by eastbayak

No way.

People pay good money to attend games (not just playoffs but regular season too).

Cutting the total minutes from 48 to 40 (excluding any OT) means less entertainment (duration) and overall bang for buck.

Duration != entertainment. One could argue you'd get a higher quality game (more entertainment) in 40 minutes with less stoppages over 48 with loads of stoppages.

But in general, I don't disagree that the argument you make is the same argument others would make (especially those that need the airtime for advertising $$). There would also be other less money-driven reasons such as setting records askew etc.

Like I said, it will never happen. But if this was the compromise to keeping 82 games and cutting down player loads, I think I'd support it.

[eastbayak]

Originally Posted by mvp

Duration != entertainment. One could argue you'd get a higher quality game (more entertainment) in 40 minutes with less stoppages over 48 with loads of stoppages.

But in general, I don't disagree that the argument you make is the same argument others would make (especially those that need the airtime for advertising $$). There would also be other less money-driven reasons such as setting records askew etc.

Like I said, it will never happen. But if this was the compromise to keeping 82 games and cutting down player loads, I think I'd support it.

You misinterpreted my entertainment value comment. I was strictly talking about quantity (duration) and not quality.

To address your point though, I personally don't see a significant difference in game quality between the two (10 vs. 12 minute quarters). If we were talking about 10 vs. 15 minute quarters though, I could definitely see a significant difference between the two. Regarding stoppage, there'd be less (as one would expect in a 8-minute shorter game) but I don't think it'd be significantly less either.

In addition to your point about advertising, there'd be a loss of food/drink/team store revenue (unsure of the magnitude) within the basketball arena (as well as outside of it, e.g., bars/restaurants/etc). An extra 8-minutes in game length is vital, it's an extra few shots/beers/cocktails for some!

[fabiani12333]

Will load management begin to hurt the ticket resale market:

Most available tickets are caught in the vortex of a secondary market that can send prices soaring by more than 400%. Tickets for all but seven teams cost more than twice the original price upon resale, according to SeatGeek, pushing that average cost for a family of four closer to $1,000 a night. That is more than twice what it cost the same family on the same secondary market inside a decade ago.

https://sports.yahoo.com/nba-fact-or...201947753.html

[pingbling23]

Originally Posted by fabiani12333

Will load management begin to hurt the ticket resale market:


https://sports.yahoo.com/nba-fact-or...201947753.html

Nba needs to get control of that before all else.