2016-17 Running NBA Thread

An obvious solution to this problem is one that the NBA, the NBAPA and their media partners won't consider is a reduction of the season. 82 game is too long. A healthy player playing about 10 games a month from October to April should be able to play every game. No more than 3 games a week, no less than 2. Preferably 2 days between games. Reduce the season from 82 to 62-70 games. Adjusting the rights fees and contracts downward is impossible. But players are paid based on 82 games, even if they voluntarily withdraw from 5-10 games a year. This way they are paid based on what a healthy superstar would play. They could have longer careers based on shorter seasons.
so, give the top 2 seeds in each conference a bye, or have the bottom four seeds have play-in series.

The solution isn't de facto forfeiting of games, but reducing the season to make it meaningful at the same time keeping players healthy. But its about the money. It's only about the money.

 

It's been 80 or more games forever, at least since I was a kid, which is damn near forever.

 

I don't know how the ticket obligations are written, but if the primary condition is to provide a professional event, they could resolve the issue by having everyone suit up.

Then play a rousing game of Red Rover. If one side ends with fewer players than needed to play an NBA game, a forfeit is declared. But the fans still get to see LeBron playing Red Rover. Everyone goes home happy.

 

Every time a healthy player sits out, take away 1/82nd of his salary.

Of course, they'll just make up an injury.

 

Kareem played 78 games or more a season and 5 times 80 games from age 31 to age 41. And LeBron never had to drag Walton and Lanier up and down the court for 48 minutes!

 

I distinctly remember in the late 80s the Lakers getting fined by the NBA because Riley sat several of his veterans for one or two meaningless late-season games. I remember Riley sitting his guys being news and the NBA fining the team being news. Or maybe I imagined the whole thing.

 

Last day of the '84-'85 season, Lakers played the last game at Kemper (Kings would move after the season) and were down 9 with 2 minutes to play but came back and won. Listened on the radio. Thrilling comeback. Everyone played. Well, except Magic, Worthy, Kareem, and Wilkes.

Los Angeles Lakers at Kansas City Kings Box Score, April 14, 1985 | Basketball-Reference.com

 

The Kings should go back to KC.

 

Cincinnati

 

3 weeks earlier, Bernard King blew out his knee at Kemper ... when he's down they start playing the Flashdance song by Michael Sembello.

 

A year earlier, Magic had a triple-double at Kemper. Loved that font on the floor.

 

Rochester.