Suggested ways to make the NBA better

[US Egg]

Watched T-Wolves/Spurs 2nd half tonight. Wembanyama put on a show again.

 

NBA best start making him the face of the game now.

[GaryPinC]

9 hours ago, US Egg said:

Watched T-Wolves/Spurs 2nd half tonight. Wembanyama put on a show again.

 

NBA best start making him the face of the game now.

He'll definitely get there.  But then you have Jokic who's crazy good but the gorky, neanderthal white guy maybe isn't the best face for the league.😂

 

I think the NBA is in transition.  The old positional roles of center, point guard, etc are being heavily blurred as more teams expect their starters to develop their dribbling, passing, and shooting no matter their position.  Set offensive plays are becoming minimal.  The focus is becoming playing fast when getting the ball, whether transition of half court offense.  Each player being able to pass and shoot it in from anywhere in the half court.

 

Best example of this is the Cleveland Cavaliers.  Same roster the last two years.  JB Bickerstaff was and is an excellent coach but very traditional on offense, starters rule the minutes, have their role on offense and a lot of times it was a one or two man offense with little passing and people standing around.

 

Contrast to this year with Atkinson who maximizes each player's ability on offense and isn't afraid to go with the most effective lineup late in the fourth.  Plenty of passing and ball movement.  The Golden State philosophy, ball and people movement to break down the defense for open looks.  I feel like this will only grow as more and younger coaches realize it's the most effective way to play basketball.  But I enjoy watching 7 footers make crazy threes and think the execution of the game has never been higher.  

 

The one thing I think really hurts the NBA is TV accessibility in the home markets, actually both the NBA and MLB.  It seems harder and more expensive to tap into the FanDuel network (old Fox Sports), here in Cleveland even if you have the channel you have to specifically pay extra to the channel to see the all Cavs games.  Many of the announcers are also as exciting as drying paint and equally knowledgeable.  The NFL seems to understand that you can't limit the home market viewing ability too much.

 

This would help marketing the marquee players.  But I agree with others that the NBA has been keeping on with LeBron and Curry too long and really needs to push the kids more.  Talent and level of play are not the problem, IMO.  Look at the best teams like Boston and even past Golden State.  Just crazy good teams top to bottom and dangerous anywhere, anytime.

[Jauronimo]

On 12/26/2024 at 5:43 PM, May Day 10 said:

 

This is a problem with the nhl too.  Too many meaningless games.

 

Oddly, I'm ok with the 162 game schedule in baseball.  It's more of an individual sport and effort doesn't shine through as much.  

You need 162 games to determine who is good vs who is lucky but then you move into single elimination, best of 5, and best of 7 to determine the best?!?  It makes no sense.  The winner of the regular season should be champion or there should be vastly fewer games.  

[US Egg]

11 hours ago, GaryPinC said:

He'll definitely get there.  But then you have Jokic who's crazy good but the gorky, neanderthal white guy maybe isn't the best face for the league.😂

 

I think the NBA is in transition.  The old positional roles of center, point guard, etc are being heavily blurred as more teams expect their starters to develop their dribbling, passing, and shooting no matter their position.  Set offensive plays are becoming minimal.  The focus is becoming playing fast when getting the ball, whether transition of half court offense.  Each player being able to pass and shoot it in from anywhere in the half court.

 

Best example of this is the Cleveland Cavaliers.  Same roster the last two years.  JB Bickerstaff was and is an excellent coach but very traditional on offense, starters rule the minutes, have their role on offense and a lot of times it was a one or two man offense with little passing and people standing around.

 

Contrast to this year with Atkinson who maximizes each player's ability on offense and isn't afraid to go with the most effective lineup late in the fourth.  Plenty of passing and ball movement.  The Golden State philosophy, ball and people movement to break down the defense for open looks.  I feel like this will only grow as more and younger coaches realize it's the most effective way to play basketball.  But I enjoy watching 7 footers make crazy threes and think the execution of the game has never been higher.  

 

The one thing I think really hurts the NBA is TV accessibility in the home markets, actually both the NBA and MLB.  It seems harder and more expensive to tap into the FanDuel network (old Fox Sports), here in Cleveland even if you have the channel you have to specifically pay extra to the channel to see the all Cavs games.  Many of the announcers are also as exciting as drying paint and equally knowledgeable.  The NFL seems to understand that you can't limit the home market viewing ability too much.

 

This would help marketing the marquee players.  But I agree with others that the NBA has been keeping on with LeBron and Curry too long and really needs to push the kids more.  Talent and level of play are not the problem, IMO.  Look at the best teams like Boston and even past Golden State.  Just crazy good teams top to bottom and dangerous anywhere, anytime.

Great stuff. 
 

Loads of great young players that merit recognition as the future, but without championships we get James and Curry. Jokic, well…..but Wembanyama will get a pass on not having titles for that face of the league role. No doubt Golden State is the blue print. Kuminga and Davis have stepped in nicely. Cleveland’s big three were hurt a lot last year. Ironically, they’re playing each other now. 
 

I have the NBA pass, not the greatest streaming, games shudder and freeze. The local broadcasts, some are great, some not so, I don’t pay too much attention. The talent has never been better, may be because I watch more than ever, inconsistent intensity is what bothers me, but 82 games….when that’s on I don’t notice things like who’s sitting and too many threes, etc.

[Jay_Fixit]

The game is nothing but 3 pointers now. It's boring. No teams have identities.

 

So I propose a few things:

 

Get rid of the corner 3. 

Extend the line out to the benches. Or move the line back a foot. 

 

That should do it.

 

[Another Fan]

2 hours ago, Jay_Fixit said:

The game is nothing but 3 pointers now. It's boring. No teams have identities.

 

So I propose a few things:

 

Get rid of the corner 3. 

Extend the line out to the benches. Or move the line back a foot. 

 

That should do it.

 

Makes a lot of sense.

 

It was always seen as a specialist shot.  
 

But since everyone can shoot from out there today in the league totally defeats the purpose 

[Your Brown Eye]

I would love it if the players stopped doing that stupid snarl-face after making a basket

[Steve O]

4 hours ago, Jay_Fixit said:

The game is nothing but 3 pointers now. It's boring. No teams have identities So I propose a few things:

Get rid of the corner 3. 

Extend the line out to the benches. Or And move the line back a foot. 

 

That should do it.

 

Great idea, fixed now.

[Augie]

4 hours ago, Jay_Fixit said:

The game is nothing but 3 pointers now. It's boring. No teams have identities.

 

So I propose a few things:

 

Get rid of the corner 3. 

Extend the line out to the benches. Or move the line back a foot. 

 

That should do it.

 

 

Will that also make them try? Maybe just a little?  😊

 

They will never give up the money they get for having such bloated, generally meaningless regular seasons. 

[GaryPinC]

22 hours ago, US Egg said:

Great stuff. 
 

Loads of great young players that merit recognition as the future, but without championships we get James and Curry. Jokic, well…..but Wembanyama will get a pass on not having titles for that face of the league role. No doubt Golden State is the blue print. Kuminga and Davis have stepped in nicely. Cleveland’s big three were hurt a lot last year. Ironically, they’re playing each other now. 
 

I have the NBA pass, not the greatest streaming, games shudder and freeze. The local broadcasts, some are great, some not so, I don’t pay too much attention. The talent has never been better, may be because I watch more than ever, inconsistent intensity is what bothers me, but 82 games….when that’s on I don’t notice things like who’s sitting and too many threes, etc.

Yeah with the 82 games you get some stinkers.  Went to the Cavs/Wizards over a month ago and CLE held a 10 point or more lead the entire game so they kept the pace pretty sedate as much as they could.  Some athletic plays but a boring game.  

[US Egg]

11 hours ago, GaryPinC said:

Yeah with the 82 games you get some stinkers.  Went to the Cavs/Wizards over a month ago and CLE held a 10 point or more lead the entire game so they kept the pace pretty sedate as much as they could.  Some athletic plays but a boring game.  

Kicked around going to a Cavs game last year. Wish I would have. Would think Cavs games are sold out and the secondary market prices through the roof.
 

Got any connections? 

[GaryPinC]

3 minutes ago, US Egg said:

Kicked around going to a Cavs game last year. Wish I would have. Would think Cavs games are sold out and the secondary market prices through the roof.
 

Got any connections? 

Not much sadly, my workplace has some kind of discount for March 30th so I could let you know about that if I'm not interested?  They play the Clippers at 3:30. 

 

Beyond that, If you target a date well in advance and really watch tickets something decent could turn up.  But right now, below upper deck on the straightaways are $200+.  Took my son for Xmas present and got 2 for $105 each 2nd row upper deck middle vs the Bucks.

 

[US Egg]

1 hour ago, GaryPinC said:

Not much sadly, my workplace has some kind of discount for March 30th so I could let you know about that if I'm not interested?  They play the Clippers at 3:30. 

 

Beyond that, If you target a date well in advance and really watch tickets something decent could turn up.  But right now, below upper deck on the straightaways are $200+.  Took my son for Xmas present and got 2 for $105 each 2nd row upper deck middle vs the Bucks.

Just checked for fun, lots of games with lower bowl corners at the bend are reasonable, no clue if they're decent seats. Though, I've done some winter trips there down the 90 from Buffalo, best laid plans....

[GaryPinC]

2 hours ago, US Egg said:

Just checked for fun, lots of games with lower bowl corners at the bend are reasonable, no clue if they're decent seats. Though, I've done some winter trips there down the 90 from Buffalo, best laid plans....

I'm no expert, but the arena seems pretty standard in terms of seating and view.  First couple bend sections are ok, I'm not a fan of being on the ends but that's just me.

[Sweats]

Bring in more white guys.

 

Whoa, whoa......hear me out.

 

The more diverse the players, the more diverse and expanse the fanbase. I'm not making this up, so put away your torches and pitchforks.

Look at hockey. It is primarily a white players game, so the fanbase is predominantly white.

 

I think if the NBA could broaden its fanbase, then it's a win/win for everybody.

[RkFast]

The NBA went to pot when they put in the "restricted area" underneath the basket. It took the physicality that everyone LOVED out of the game and really restricted defense, making the offensive game too easy and therefore, boring. Side note: The NFL is well on its way to doing the same thing, but thats a thread for another day. 

 

So, lose that stupid semi-circle under the hoop and let the forwards and centers go back to defending the basket, itself properly.   EVERYONE loved this aspect of the game and its just GONE now. Its akin to the running game being completely removed from the NFL.

 

Ewing discusses it here. "Get his butt in the block and let him go to work."

 

 

Edited Thursday at 09:30 PM by RkFast

[US Egg]

12 minutes ago, RkFast said:

So, lose that stupid semi-circle under the hoop and let the forwards and centers go back to defending the basket, itself properly.

I like the sentiment, but would that make Wembanyama unbeatable?

[Max Fischer]

On 12/26/2024 at 2:35 PM, Augie said:

Cut the season in half so guys might care at least a little bit. Too many games means they don’t matter very much. It will never happen ($$$), but if you go watch the Cav’s play in Charlotte on a Tuesday night in January the lack of effort can jump out at you. It jumped out to my son in the first couple minutes. “They’re not even trying!” Yep. I don’t even watch the NBA Finals anymore. 

 

They'll never reduce games, but I think this is the best answer.

 

Teams often play every other day for weeks on end, with the occasional back to back road games, and then three games in four days. Just brutal.  

 

About two thirds the way through the season the games are often sluggish as players are just worn out.  

 

By the end of the season, the good teams are able to rest players, cut down on minutes and get ready for the playoffs. All others are tired by the time they get to the postseason, making rest a an important factor in a series.  

 

[RkFast]

18 hours ago, US Egg said:

I like the sentiment, but would that make Wembanyama unbeatable?

 

Few things are gonna do that. 

[US Egg]

12 hours ago, RkFast said:

Few things are gonna do that. 

Just watched Wembanyama again. Nothing like him since Chamberlain….but with a jump shot.