2013-14 NBA Thread part 1

[LongTimeListener]

 

[heyabbott]

Nets challenging the Knicks for dysfunctionality:

Brooklyn Nets coach Jason Kidd allegedly used "a 13-letter word" against assistant Lawrence Frank during a blow-up at some point following the team's loss in Orlando on Nov. 3.

In an expletive-laced rant, Kidd told Frank to sit down and be quiet.

"I'm the coach of this [13-letter word] team," Kidd said, according to NBA.com.

The argument ultimately led to Frank getting "reassigned" to a reduced role where he would produce "daily reports."

http://espn.go.com/new-york/nba/story/_/id/10112168/jason-kidd-brooklyn-nets-used-13-letter-word-assistant-rant

Shocking that Jason Kidd, so well-known for the self control he exhibits in his personal life, would swear at an assistant coach.

fortunately for his assistant coach he's not married to Kidd so there was no threat of physical harm, unless kidd was drinking and driving

Amazing isn't it, a drunken wife beater couldn't get a job at Sonics but can coach the Nets, sort of.

 

[Bob Cook]

Just to ram home the idea to myself regarding the abyss that is the Eastern Conference, I followed Pacers-Heat (looks like another seven-game series in June) by catching the end of Bulls-Bucks. Because of injury and draft circumstance, I suspect the level of play wouldn't have been much different if the game had been the Fort Wayne Mad Ants vs. the Delaware 87ers.

 

[Cosmo]

Adam Silver talked the other night about the NBA doing away with divisions, which would be smart. Teams essentially play a balanced schedule now anyway. Divisions only make sense if you a) play way more games against division opponents than other opponents in your conference and b) you set the playoffs up like the old NHL and do true divisional playoffs, leading to a conference championship, etc.

I could live with a two-division setup in each conference, though they'd be unbalanced unless you moved a team so you have a 16-14 setup like you do in the NHL. (Easy fix, move Memphis or Minnesota east, I'm sure they wouldn't complain.) But otherwise, just run an Eastern and Western Conference and keep the playoffs the way they are.

 

[LongTimeListener]

Adam Silver talked the other night about the NBA doing away with divisions, which would be smart.

If you eliminate divisions, you have removed one-third of the league (and its paying and TV-watching fans) from contention by the middle of January.

Never happen.

 

[heyabbott]

if Stern and the NBA had a smidgen of self respect it would be embarrassing that the current #3 seed in the East would be the 10th seed in west.

 

[Cosmo]

Here's the conversation:

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/2013/12/09/david-stern-adam-silver-interview-sirius-xm-radio-conferences-divisions/3926529/

I don't know, LTL. With a straight conference setup this year, everyone in the East is still within four games of the eight seed right now, even 5-16 Milwaukee. I'm not sure it would change a whole lot. If you get rid of conferences, then I think you run into the issue you're talking about. I don't think the radical talk of seeding the tournament 1-16 rather than by conferences will ever take hold.

 

[Stoney]

if Stern and the NBA had a smidgen of self respect it would be embarrassing that the current #3 seed in the East would be the 10th seed in west.

Why? How is that Stern and the league office's fault? Was he supposed to rig the system to ensure conference equality?

 

[Bob Cook]

Former King of the White Dunkers and current Suns broadcaster Tom Chambers popped for DUI, but not before he provides an awesome quote.

When asked to perform a sobriety test, Chambers refused, saying, "I can't even do the nose thingy-muh-bobber sober."

http://www.azcentral.com/community/scottsdale/articles/20131211phoenix-suns-tom-chambers-dui-arrest.html

 

[JakeandElwood]

That's amazing.

 

[Starman]

Adam Silver talked the other night about the NBA doing away with divisions, which would be smart. Teams essentially play a balanced schedule now anyway. Divisions only make sense if you a) play way more games against division opponents than other opponents in your conference and b) you set the playoffs up like the old NHL and do true divisional playoffs, leading to a conference championship, etc.

I could live with a two-division setup in each conference, though they'd be unbalanced unless you moved a team so you have a 16-14 setup like you do in the NHL. (Easy fix, move Memphis or Minnesota east, I'm sure they wouldn't complain.) But otherwise, just run an Eastern and Western Conference and keep the playoffs the way they are.

You can't sell games between 13th and 15th-place teams. Why not do away with divisions completely and just have one league and have games between the 28th and 30th-place teams?

The solution is for a lot of the teams that suck to quit sucking.


Maybe there should be a rule that if a team declines more than 10 wins in 3 consecutive seasons, wins fewer than 30 games for 4 consecutive seasons, or wins fewer than 20 in any single season, every single person in the coaching staff and front office must be fired.

 

[Bob Cook]

Well, this year a lot of teams are trying to suck hard because of the deep draft coming up. So you get ridiculousness like this column -- which I think is serious -- that Brad Stevens is forking up the Celtics by being a good coach.

http://ftw.usatoday.com/2013/12/brad-stevens-amazing-coach-boston-celtics/