This season was a bit of a wash starting late and being condensed with several back to backs and game cancellations with covid, but in the future what would be your optimal NBA season length. Some have made it a matter of Quality over quantity. Some have talked about the value of fresh legs and not playing back to backs for a better entertaining experience with far too many unimportant games throughout the season Some have mentioned the travel also does the same issue. Some have mentioned to have practice inserted back int o the nba, which is all but eliminated with the current schedule, and preparation, match ups, can raise the bar even more. Some have said, they've done it this way and got by fine, keep it rolling as was.
This is a good question -- less than 60 games seems like a major positive -- the playoffs take way too long as well basically 2 months definitely needs to be half that time.
I agree going back to 5 game series 1st round would be ideal. I'm not what else could be done to shorten the playoff though, maybe less off days between games? But you don't want back-to-backs in the playoffs.
58 games, meaning teams play everyone twice. single elimination playoff games with only top 4 making it from each conference.
60 - 72 range sounds fine. *They also need to start the season later, like around Christmas. *Cut down on back to back games * The season would still end around June - July
I said 82 but I'm fine with going down to 76: 4 games against division, 3 games against rest of conference and 2 games against other conference.
I think divisions are becoming more obsolete then ever. Arguably as are conferences. I think most of the nba is a bit tired to see the weak teams in the east often have an easier path to the playoffs, I'd be fine to keep the reg season as it is but reshuffle in playoffs with more time for travel and practice and just make it a 1-16 reseeding for the entire nba.
58 games, eliminate conferences and divisions It would immediately fix all power imbalance, strength of schedule would not exist, unfair all star selections wouldn’t exist, unfair playoff seeding wouldn’t exist. Back to backs wouldn’t exist, players would be fresher, less load management, less injuries. Each game becomes more important. Idk about messing with the playoff format (16 teams, 7 game series), I could make the argument for 12 teams and or 5 game series. 40 minute games would also be interesting, would shorten rotations, lower minutes, higher percentage of the games would be played by the best players.
Considering all the injuries we are getting, I'd say 58 or 60 games, but I'd settle for 72 as more realistic if there was to be reform. I'd also say no back to backs, and I would continue the two game series between teams, to reduce travel. Also I'd keep the play in games (for 9th and 10th) and would have a best of three first round, to put some pressure on the higher seeds. And, since we are talking unrealistic but common sensical reforms, I'd use the All Star Game scoring format, but just for OT games. First to 16 in OT wins, to ensure no Double/Triple OT games ever.
LOL, you're forgetting the first law of American professional sports, which is that the amount of games can only ever increase in order to line owners' pockets.
I like double OT games, I love triple Ot games. They are rare, but my whole thing is for more meaningful games, more hieghtend and intense game play. Thats playoffs. And arguably also in the OT as well. I think most people agree we don't want the worst quality of back to backs. To game series might make sense as well. Yea 72 is more realistic, 58/60 is ideal if nba is willing to do a rehaul reform to make the regular season less of a grind with so many unimportant uninspired games. NFL has great finances and profits with just 12 games, march madness is a killer. Having important hyped games is important. Preseason has a purpose, which seems to have been lost. Players just go through a light scrimmiage, fans for some reason pay for it, rookies might get a run, but all in all its a waste of tv time, its a waste of 2 horus to go see and they also deflate some marquee opening night matchups or to see vets come back in the jersey in that way. Maybe make preseason just for rookies and bench players to show out.
Make the regular season 42 games until the Rockets are good again. Move up the lotto drawing to next week as well please.
It's not that I don't like double or triple OT. I'm thinking of the accumulation of minutes for players, considering the injuries. It's true that they are not that common, but I think you can do without them. As far as ties - no, that works for soccer, but not for basketball. You can only mess with the sport's tradition so much. To me, that would be going too far.
Yea thats a fair arugment, the sports tradition. All of a sudden we are thinking of long term records and precedent. Theres always room to improve the product, the player experience, the fan experience and you have to weight it with the history and precedent of the league as well. In any case it should absolutely be part of the argument and Silver is a new commisioner but one who is open and willing to progress much faster than most. I'd still be they have to be conservative with changes, no matter the change someone will be happy and unhappy when it affects them. Like lebron james in 2020 was happy, 2021...not so much
You can make the 2OT 3mins long, 3OT and beyond all 2mins long. extra 5min every OT serves no purpose
Or go like NHL and decrease 1 player from the court every OT. So 1st OT has 4 vs 4, 2nd OT has 3 vs 3...
I am for eliminating the whole regular season. Just do a 30-team playoffs from the start. Solve the tanking problem. Every game counts. Bad teams go home after a few games so we don't have to see them again.
So I guess completely random brackets and double elimination? You would have 2 byes, so the past years NBA finals teams get those. First 2 rounds in normal bracket are best-of-fives. First round in elimination bracket are best-of-threes, then the 2nd and 3rd round in the elimination bracket are best-of-fives.
86 4 against each conference opponent (2 home, 2 away) and 2 against each opponent from the other conference (1 home, 1 away). Make the season a week or so longer to accommodate the extra 4 games.
