Re: Should the NBA shorten it's schedule? I honestly think they should. I think the NBA should shorten it's regular season schedule to 70 games, and make the 1st and 2nd rounds of the playoffs 5 game series'. Here's why:1) Fans would get to see a better product. Since there would be less games players would always be working hard for a playoff spot. Also, the players would be a lot less tired, and would be able to give it their all most of the time. The product on the court would be alot better, and with more substance2) There would be less injuries. You hardly ever see a player playing all 82 games besides a select few. Players are playing too long, working too hard, and getting tired. Alot of those things cause more injuries. Players would play a better percentage of the games if they didn't have to play all 82.3) This one regards the playoffs. I think all 7 game series is just stupid. In 1st round play, there are alot of un-even matchups, thus there are hardly ever any great 7 game series' in the 1st and 2nd rounds(exception being Suns vs. Lakers, Cavs vs. Wizards, and Mavs vs. Spurs). With two 5 game series, it is alot more likely to be a close series in my opinion.4) Another one regarding the playoff system. Players on teams that make it really far usually get tired out after a ton of playoff games. One 5 game series would allow them to play their top game most of the time, and more of a show for the fans. Players that make it to the Finals rarely have enough energy left to give it their all, no matter how big the stage. Shaq is an example of this, last year.5) I know fans would want to see more games, but with less games fans would definately tune in to every one. This point is sort of hard for me to get across so I will use a football example. There is always only 1 game in all NFL series', but that just means that fans are more excited to watch the game, and that game usually would get alot more ratings than one game in a seven game series. The SuperBowl is the sports event of the year, whether NBA fans want to admit that or not, because it is simply only one game.6) Players complain about having to play so long. Give the players a break. They are the ones in the league. If they complain about something than the NBA should do their best to accomadate their demands, unless they are unneccisary.That's my opinion on the matter, now post yours! :happy0144:
Re: Should the NBA shorten it's schedule? I agree, season should be shortened. I feel it should start a bit later, like at end of November/early-December. Shortening the season would ensure fans would almost always be interested and would further keep people entertained in the end of football/beginning of baseball stage. It would also keep players more fresh for the playoffs, prevent some injuries, and increase ticket sales per game.The playoffs need the most drastic changes. 7 game series' make the playoffs FAR too long, make people less interested, and makes each game less important so teams don't give it 100% each game like in the NCAA tournament. I am fine with 3 game series' for first 2 series', then 5 games for CF and Finals.
Re: Should the NBA shorten it's schedule? I agree with Cb4 and i agree that we would see better basketball if the schedule was shorten. The owners would never do this though because all they care about is money and 12 less games in the regular season is 12 less games possibly having a high attendance and that would mean less money.
Re: Should the NBA shorten it's schedule? Its all about the money. They shorten the schedule and they have less revenue. The same goes for 7gm series in the playoffs. Its something they have to do to keep up with the huge salaries the players get.
Re: Should the NBA shorten it's schedule? I really think the length is fine, but if I were to shorten the season I wouldn't shorten it that dramatically. Maybe just 80 games instead of 82, 5 or 6 preseason games instead of 8, and change the first round back to a best-of-five.What they should do is reduce the amount of back-to-backs teams play. I know Philadelphia has around 27 sets of back-to-back games, which is UNREAL. Make the season and the games a little more spread out.
Re: Should the NBA shorten it's schedule? the only bad part about spreading the games out, is it may take longer to get the season finished.
Re: Should the NBA shorten it's schedule? This is from TrueHoop<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>For a number of reasons, I am a huge (and, as far as I know, the only) advocate of shortening the NBA season. Not for FIBA-reasons. For NBA reasons. I feel the product has been cheapened by the reality that 82 games is too many games to play all-out, 100%, all the time. You go to a game in early December, and you can practically guarantee several of the players just won't be playing all that hard. And plenty of our greatest playoff heroes--Robert Horry, Shaquille O'Neal--famously coast for as much of the season as possible. (And don't you wish you could see Yao Ming well rested? So many games he just looks like he's running on nothing but fumes and willpower.) If you're not in the bloom of your youth, it's arguably a good tactic to take it easy for several months of the season.What's more, with an 82-game regular season, no one regular season game really matters. 1/82nd of a season, in any sport, just is never that important. It shows in the play.I also think this is important: fewer regular season games means more people (as opposed to corporations) who can afford season tickets. That means more passion in the stands, more fun at the games, and more kids.It also means each ticket itself is more precious. There are times when I am offered NBA tickets at the last minute, by some friend, and not only can't I go, but I can't find anyone who wants to go. On some level, you just know that there will be plenty more games, and tickets will be available. In the NFL, with its eight home games, you can always find someone who's ready to drop everything.I can't tell you how often some old-timer tells me that he loves basketball but doesn't watch the NBA anymore because he can't stand the... (insert something that more than likely has racial overtones). If every player is killing himself playoff-style to win every game, that argument goes away. It just does. If you're digging out loose balls in crunch time, people tend not to question your character, your clothes, or your choice of music. No one cared, for instance, that Michael Jordan was a trash-talker. You can do almost whatever you want in a winning context. But if you're taking it a little easy, and the team loses, people start looking for something to blame, and your clothes, your music, and your big mouth might enter the discussion. Coasting is a problem in the NBA, and a shorter season might fix it.Of course, I know why the season is long: every game is a TV and ticket revenue opportunity. But that doesn't mean my proposal to shorten the season is a money-loser. First of all, what's the cost of a diluted product and a somewhat damaged brand? If I'm right, you could make the basketball better. You could increase the excitement level at every NBA game. You could improve TV ratings. You could sell more merchandise. You could take regular people and convert them into fans. And, you could at least experiment with the idea of saving money by having a little bit shorter bench (paying 12 salaries again, instead of 15, for instance), because fewer games has to mean fewer injuries.</div>
Re: Should the NBA shorten it's schedule? I woulden't mind if the season lasted for ever but those fans who are not die hard fans may forget about playoff games if it took to long.
Re: Should the NBA shorten it's schedule? I dont think theres any problem with the amount of games they have now. The system is good IMO, 4 meetings w/division teams, 3-4 with conference, and 2 with the opposing conference.
Re: Should the NBA shorten it's schedule? I like the 82 game schedule. But a shorter one would mean that teams would have to play each other more often. That I think would not only be a good thing, but it may also raise the quality of play and competition as well.
Re: Should the NBA shorten it's schedule? 82 games is fine. People would get tired in a 70 game season too. People are bound to get hurt either way, so I wouldn't see much of a difference.
Re: Should the NBA shorten it's schedule? i don't think they should shorten the season, but i'm all for shortening the first round of the playoffs.
Re: Should the NBA shorten it's schedule? <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (nba dogmatist @ Sep 5 2006, 05:55 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>i don't think they should shorten the season, but i'm all for shortening the first round of the playoffs.</div>Yeah, I like having 82 games in the season...It shows a team's true character because they get to play so many games. Also, I am also for the first round only having three games. The playoffs are too long now.
Re: Should the NBA shorten it's schedule? the playffs should be NFL format IMO and they should have 2-3 games a week
Re: Should the NBA shorten it's schedule? <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (nba dogmatist @ Sep 5 2006, 07:55 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>i don't think they should shorten the season, but i'm all for shortening the first round of the playoffs.</div>I can only agree on that. I understand it's a money thing, but still.... it should be brought back to best-of-five
Re: Should the NBA shorten it's schedule? <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (pmac34 @ Sep 5 2006, 08:12 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>the playffs should be NFL format IMO and they should have 2-3 games a week</div>no way. there's much more that goes into a series than football. one game eliminations could result in like New Orleans and New Jersey in the Finals. the ratings would be sh*t.
Re: Should the NBA shorten it's schedule? I love having 82 games. Anything less than 80 would be too short. I do wish they would make 1 or 2 playoff series 5 games though. The playoffs are WAY too long and I really like 5 game series a lot. Chances for an upset go up(but not too much like if it was single elimination) and I like to see that.
Re: Should the NBA shorten it's schedule? They shouldnt shorten the season but maybe the playoffs because its about 2 months I think. I think its too long and maybe make the 1st round best of 5
