I'm watching the NHL all star game(s), and I like what they've done. 4 teams, games are 3-on-3, and there's 3 shortened games. Heres what I think the NBA could do. -For each conference, 16 players are selected (Fans vote for the top 5). They're then divided into 2 teams of 8. Teams could be divided by the league or some sort of draft. Top 2 coaches from each conference that didn't coach previous year would coach. -Games are still 5-on-5, but played over 8 minute quarters. The final game consists of 10 minute quarters -The two teams from the west play each other, same with the east. The winners face each other in the "championship". -The winning team gets $1.5M divided between the 8 players and coaches. Combined with shorter games, I think that's enough incentive to play defense (lol) Heres what the rosters could've looked like (*=Starter): NORTHWEST: Coach - Donavan G-Curry*, Westbrook*, Lillard, Thompson F-Cousins*, Hayward, Bryant*, Green* SOUTHWEST: Coach - Popovich G-Harden, Paul*, Rondo, Bryant* F-Durant*, Davis*, Leonard*, Aldridge CENTRAL: Coach - Dwayne Casey G-Lowry*, Derozen*, Thomas, Jackson F-Drummond*, George*, Millsap*, Gasol ATLANTIC: Coach - Tyronn Lue G-Wade*, Butler*, Wall*, Walker F-James*, Anthony*, Bosh, Horford Pros: More playing time for everyone, More games, shorter games with more incentive for harder play, no Lillard-level snubs, creates a very interesting dynamic Would you prefer this to how the ASG is formatted now?
Great idea Bones, I really only see one potentially insurmountable flaw. What you said above could work, but representing is always big. Can you find a way to make it so the players from each division only play for that division? NO draft required? Does that leave too many snubs because it's being filled by positional need, rather than true numbers? Or should it be best numbers and most impact players get in no matter what, so you could potentially see one division with 6-7 guards? Would that even fly? Id say it would be interesting, at least initially, to watch the smalls go against the bigs and see what happens, and I think if you went by the best players in each division you would see that. One division big dominated and another full of little guys... That might be really fun. Your splitting up players from the same team and putting them in different divisions. You have Durant in one and Westbrook in another. As much as I cant stand Westbrook. I don't think you can split up players from the same team. I'm pretty sure that would never fly and the players would say no way i'm playing against my teammate in the all star game. Figure out that hurdle and you have my vote.
I think they'd enjoy playing against a teammate to be honest. 6 teams for each division doesn't exactly work, and the talent would be too watered down. You could keep players on the same team, itd just need to be even teams. Can't put Curry, Westbrook, Durant, Paul, Harden, Davis, etc. on the same team.
