tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53906241986713097942024-03-05T15:43:45.419-08:00Reboot & Renovate the NBATriple Crown Season ~ Split the 82-game season into a 16-game group-play tournament, an 8-game division cup series and a 58-game regular season ~ Replace the preseason & first part of season w/ World Cup-style group-play followed by 18 team tournament ~ Division Cup games in Jan & Feb (w/in reg. season) leading to Division Cup Finals Weekend ~ Regular season starts Xmas ~ teams play each other twice, home & away, overall top 16 qualify for standard best-of-7 playoffsUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5390624198671309794.post-78709604219075287092016-10-04T08:06:00.000-07:002016-10-04T09:58:43.872-07:00Bullet Points<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">#TripleCrownSeason</span></b></i> </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Season
Opening 16 Game Group Play Tournament</span></span></span></b></div>
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"></span></span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">6 Groups of 5 Teams Begin Play in October</span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Groups Determined by Previous Season's Standings</span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">2 Home & 2 Road Games vs Each Team w/in Group</span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Top 3 In Each Group Qualify for 18 Team Tournament</span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Reseed 1-18 According to Wins & Statistics</span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">2 Play-In Games (Beginning Thanksgiving Week)</span></span></span></li>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">15th v 18th (winner plays 1st seeded Team)</span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">16th v 17th (winner plays 2nd seeded Team)</span></span></span></li>
</ul>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Standard 4 Round, Single Game Elimination</span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Crown NBA Tournament Champions</span></span></span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Intra-Season 8 Game Division Cup Qualifiers</b></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">6 Regional Based Divisions of 5 Teams</span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">1 Home & 1 Road Game vs Each Team w/in Division</span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Games to be Played Once a Week in January & February</span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">All Games to be Played on Same Day</span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">All Intra-Divisional Games to be Played Simultaneously</span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Top 2 Teams in Each Division Qualify</span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">One Weekend of 6 Divisional Championship Games</span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Crown 6 Division Champions</span></span></span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Regular Season 58 Game Playoff Qualifier</b></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"> 1 Home & 1 Road Game vs Every Team in League</span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Begin Season Around Christmas</span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Overall Top 16 Teams Qualify for Playoffs</span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Seed According to Wins, Matchups & Statistics</span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Standard 4 Round, Best-of-7, Playoffs</span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Crown NBA Playoff Champions</span></span></span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5390624198671309794.post-88918522297447925552015-09-08T09:40:00.001-07:002015-09-08T09:49:24.407-07:002015 NBA Tournament<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Are all 82 games necessary to determine playoff positions? </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Can the beginning of the season be as compelling as the playoffs are at the end of the season? </span></span>Why wait until Christmas for a marquee match-up? After a quarter of the season has been played and most of the playoff teams have been established. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">One of the NBA's many inadequacies is the lack of any kind of season </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">opening </span></span>tradition, part of the <b>Triple Crown Season</b> idea is to open with a group-play tournament along the lines of the FIFA World Cup and the NCAA March Madness Tournament as one part of a three part 82-game schedule.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Each group in t</span></span>he <b>2015 NBA Tournament</b> would have been determined as soon as the last game of the previous season had finished. The simple method is to split the teams into six groups according to how they finished the previous season without regard to conferences and divisions (which elevates OKC, who should have had BRK's playoff spot). Thank you <a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/" target="_blank">basketball-reference.com</a>.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;"><style type="text/css"><!--br {mso-data-placement:same-cell;}--></style><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" dir="ltr" style="font-family: arial,sans,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; table-layout: fixed;"><colgroup><col width="61"></col><col width="43"></col><col width="41"></col><col width="100"></col><col width="69"></col><col width="62"></col><col width="39"></col><col width="39"></col></colgroup><tbody>
<tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"teams"]" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000; border-left: 1px solid #000000; border-top: 1px solid #000000; font-weight: bold; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: normal; word-wrap: break-word; wrap-strategy: 4;">teams</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"wins"]" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000; border-top: 1px solid #000000; font-weight: bold; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: normal; word-wrap: break-word; wrap-strategy: 4;">wins</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"srs"]" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000; border-right: 1px solid #000000; border-top: 1px solid #000000; font-weight: bold; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: normal; word-wrap: break-word; wrap-strategy: 4;">srs</td><td style="border-right: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;"></td><td style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000; border-top: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;"></td><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"teams"]" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000; border-top: 1px solid #000000; font-weight: bold; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom;">teams</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"wins"]" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000; border-top: 1px solid #000000; font-weight: bold; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom;">wins</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"srs"]" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000; border-right: 1px solid #000000; border-top: 1px solid #000000; font-weight: bold; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom;">srs</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"1. GSW"]" style="border-left: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: left; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: normal; word-wrap: break-word; wrap-strategy: 4;">1. GSW</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,67]" style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: normal; word-wrap: break-word; wrap-strategy: 4;">67</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,10.01]" style="border-right: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: normal; word-wrap: break-word; wrap-strategy: 4;">10.01</td><td style="border-right: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;"></td><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"GROUP A"]" style="font-weight: bold; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom;">GROUP A</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"1. GSW"]" style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: left; vertical-align: bottom;">1. GSW</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,67]" style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom;">67</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,10.01]" style="border-right: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom;">10.01</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"2. ATL"]" style="border-left: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: left; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: normal; word-wrap: break-word; wrap-strategy: 4;">2. ATL</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,60]" style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: normal; word-wrap: break-word; wrap-strategy: 4;">60</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,4.75]" style="border-right: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: normal; word-wrap: break-word; wrap-strategy: 4;">4.75</td><td style="border-right: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;"></td><td style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;"></td><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"7. CLE"]" style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: left; vertical-align: bottom;">7. CLE</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,53]" style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom;">53</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,4.08]" style="border-right: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom;">4.08</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"3. LAC"]" style="border-left: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: left; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: normal; word-wrap: break-word; wrap-strategy: 4;">3. LAC</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,56]" style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: normal; word-wrap: break-word; wrap-strategy: 4;">56</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,6.8]" style="border-right: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: normal; word-wrap: break-word; wrap-strategy: 4;">6.8</td><td style="border-right: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;"></td><td style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;"></td><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"13. OKC"]" style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: left; vertical-align: bottom;">13. OKC</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,45]" style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom;">45</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,2.47]" style="border-right: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom;">2.47</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"4. HOU"]" style="border-left: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: left; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: normal; word-wrap: break-word; wrap-strategy: 4;">4. HOU</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,56]" style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: normal; word-wrap: break-word; wrap-strategy: 4;">56</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,3.82]" style="border-right: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: normal; word-wrap: break-word; wrap-strategy: 4;">3.82</td><td style="border-right: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;"></td><td style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;"></td><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"19. IND"]" style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: left; vertical-align: bottom;">19. IND</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,38]" style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom;">38</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,-0.23]" style="border-right: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom;">-0.23</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"5. SAS"]" style="border-left: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: left; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: normal; word-wrap: break-word; wrap-strategy: 4;">5. SAS</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,55]" style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: normal; word-wrap: break-word; wrap-strategy: 4;">55</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,6.34]" style="border-right: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: normal; word-wrap: break-word; wrap-strategy: 4;">6.34</td><td style="border-right: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;"></td><td style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;"></td><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"25. SAC"]" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: left; vertical-align: bottom;">25. SAC</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,29]" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom;">29</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,-3.07]" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000; border-right: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom;">-3.07</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"6. MEM"]" style="border-left: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: left; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: normal; word-wrap: break-word; wrap-strategy: 4;">6. MEM</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,55]" style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: normal; word-wrap: break-word; wrap-strategy: 4;">55</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,3.62]" style="border-right: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: normal; word-wrap: break-word; wrap-strategy: 4;">3.62</td><td style="border-right: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;"></td><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"GROUP B"]" style="font-weight: bold; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom;">GROUP B</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"2. ATL"]" style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: left; vertical-align: bottom;">2. ATL</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,60]" style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom;">60</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,4.75]" style="border-right: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom;">4.75</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"7. CLE"]" style="border-left: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: left; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: normal; word-wrap: break-word; wrap-strategy: 4;">7. CLE</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,53]" style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: normal; word-wrap: break-word; wrap-strategy: 4;">53</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,4.08]" style="border-right: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: normal; word-wrap: break-word; wrap-strategy: 4;">4.08</td><td style="border-right: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;"></td><td style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;"></td><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"8. POR"]" style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: left; vertical-align: bottom;">8. POR</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,51]" style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom;">51</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,4.41]" style="border-right: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom;">4.41</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"8. POR"]" style="border-left: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: left; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: normal; word-wrap: break-word; wrap-strategy: 4;">8. POR</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,51]" style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: normal; word-wrap: break-word; wrap-strategy: 4;">51</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,4.41]" style="border-right: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: normal; word-wrap: break-word; wrap-strategy: 4;">4.41</td><td style="border-right: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;"></td><td style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;"></td><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"14. NOP"]" style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: left; vertical-align: bottom;">14. NOP</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,45]" style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom;">45</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,1.13]" style="border-right: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom;">1.13</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"9. DAL"]" style="border-left: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: left; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: normal; word-wrap: break-word; wrap-strategy: 4;">9. DAL</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,50]" style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: normal; word-wrap: break-word; wrap-strategy: 4;">50</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,3.36]" style="border-right: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: normal; word-wrap: break-word; wrap-strategy: 4;">3.36</td><td style="border-right: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;"></td><td style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;"></td><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"20. BRK"]" style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: left; vertical-align: bottom;">20. BRK</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,38]" style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom;">38</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,-3.13]" style="border-right: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom;">-3.13</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"10. CHI"]" style="border-left: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: left; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: normal; word-wrap: break-word; wrap-strategy: 4;">10. CHI</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,50]" style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: normal; word-wrap: break-word; wrap-strategy: 4;">50</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,2.54]" style="border-right: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: normal; word-wrap: break-word; wrap-strategy: 4;">2.54</td><td style="border-right: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;"></td><td style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;"></td><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"26. ORL"]" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: left; vertical-align: bottom;">26. ORL</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,25]" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom;">25</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,-5.87]" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000; border-right: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom;">-5.87</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"11. TOR"]" style="border-left: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: left; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: normal; word-wrap: break-word; wrap-strategy: 4;">11. TOR</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,49]" style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: normal; word-wrap: break-word; wrap-strategy: 4;">49</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,2.45]" style="border-right: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: normal; word-wrap: break-word; wrap-strategy: 4;">2.45</td><td style="border-right: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;"></td><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"GROUP C"]" style="font-weight: bold; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom;">GROUP C</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"3. LAC"]" style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: left; vertical-align: bottom;">3. LAC</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,56]" style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom;">56</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,6.8]" style="border-right: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom;">6.8</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"12. WAS"]" style="border-left: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: left; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: normal; word-wrap: break-word; wrap-strategy: 4;">12. WAS</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,46]" style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: normal; word-wrap: break-word; wrap-strategy: 4;">46</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,0.17]" style="border-right: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: normal; word-wrap: break-word; wrap-strategy: 4;">0.17</td><td style="border-right: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;"></td><td style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;"></td><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"9. DAL"]" style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: left; vertical-align: bottom;">9. DAL</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,50]" style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom;">50</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,3.36]" style="border-right: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom;">3.36</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"13. OKC"]" style="border-left: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: left; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: normal; word-wrap: break-word; wrap-strategy: 4;">13. OKC</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,45]" style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: normal; word-wrap: break-word; wrap-strategy: 4;">45</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,2.47]" style="border-right: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: normal; word-wrap: break-word; wrap-strategy: 4;">2.47</td><td style="border-right: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;"></td><td style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;"></td><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"15. MIL"]" style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: left; vertical-align: bottom;">15. MIL</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,41]" style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom;">41</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,-0.09]" style="border-right: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom;">-0.09</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"14. NOP"]" style="border-left: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: left; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: normal; word-wrap: break-word; wrap-strategy: 4;">14. NOP</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,45]" style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: normal; word-wrap: break-word; wrap-strategy: 4;">45</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,1.13]" style="border-right: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: normal; word-wrap: break-word; wrap-strategy: 4;">1.13</td><td style="border-right: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;"></td><td style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;"></td><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"21. MIA"]" style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: left; vertical-align: bottom;">21. MIA</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,37]" style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom;">37</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,-2.92]" style="border-right: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom;">-2.92</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"15. MIL"]" style="border-left: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: left; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: normal; word-wrap: break-word; wrap-strategy: 4;">15. MIL</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,41]" style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: normal; word-wrap: break-word; wrap-strategy: 4;">41</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,-0.09]" style="border-right: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: normal; word-wrap: break-word; wrap-strategy: 4;">-0.09</td><td style="border-right: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;"></td><td style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;"></td><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"27. LAL"]" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: left; vertical-align: bottom;">27. LAL</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,21]" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom;">21</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,-6.17]" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000; border-right: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom;">-6.17</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"16. BOS"]" style="border-left: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: left; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: normal; word-wrap: break-word; wrap-strategy: 4;">16. BOS</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,40]" style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: normal; word-wrap: break-word; wrap-strategy: 4;">40</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,-0.4]" style="border-right: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: normal; word-wrap: break-word; wrap-strategy: 4;">-0.4</td><td style="border-right: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;"></td><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"GROUP D"]" style="font-weight: bold; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom;">GROUP D</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"4. HOU"]" style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: left; vertical-align: bottom;">4. HOU</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,56]" style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom;">56</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,3.82]" style="border-right: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom;">3.82</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"17. PHX"]" style="border-left: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: left; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: normal; word-wrap: break-word; wrap-strategy: 4;">17. PHX</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,39]" style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: normal; word-wrap: break-word; wrap-strategy: 4;">39</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,-0.38]" style="border-right: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: normal; word-wrap: break-word; wrap-strategy: 4;">-0.38</td><td style="border-right: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;"></td><td style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;"></td><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"10. CHI"]" style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: left; vertical-align: bottom;">10. CHI</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,50]" style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom;">50</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,2.54]" style="border-right: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom;">2.54</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"18. UTA"]" style="border-left: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: left; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: normal; word-wrap: break-word; wrap-strategy: 4;">18. UTA</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,38]" style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: normal; word-wrap: break-word; wrap-strategy: 4;">38</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,0.71]" style="border-right: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: normal; word-wrap: break-word; wrap-strategy: 4;">0.71</td><td style="border-right: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;"></td><td style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;"></td><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"16. BOS"]" style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: left; vertical-align: bottom;">16. BOS</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,40]" style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom;">40</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,-0.4]" style="border-right: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom;">-0.4</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"19. IND"]" style="border-left: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: left; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: normal; word-wrap: break-word; wrap-strategy: 4;">19. IND</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,38]" style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: normal; word-wrap: break-word; wrap-strategy: 4;">38</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,-0.23]" style="border-right: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: normal; word-wrap: break-word; wrap-strategy: 4;">-0.23</td><td style="border-right: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;"></td><td style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;"></td><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"22. CHA"]" style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: left; vertical-align: bottom;">22. CHA</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,33]" style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom;">33</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,-3.44]" style="border-right: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom;">-3.44</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"20. BRK"]" style="border-left: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: left; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: normal; word-wrap: break-word; wrap-strategy: 4;">20. BRK</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,38]" style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: normal; word-wrap: break-word; wrap-strategy: 4;">38</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,-3.13]" style="border-right: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: normal; word-wrap: break-word; wrap-strategy: 4;">-3.13</td><td style="border-right: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;"></td><td style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;"></td><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"28. PHI"]" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: left; vertical-align: bottom;">28. PHI</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,18]" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom;">18</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,-9.04]" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000; border-right: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom;">-9.04</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"21. MIA"]" style="border-left: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: left; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: normal; word-wrap: break-word; wrap-strategy: 4;">21. MIA</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,37]" style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: normal; word-wrap: break-word; wrap-strategy: 4;">37</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,-2.92]" style="border-right: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: normal; word-wrap: break-word; wrap-strategy: 4;">-2.92</td><td style="border-right: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;"></td><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"GROUP E"]" style="font-weight: bold; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom;">GROUP E</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"5. SAS"]" style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: left; vertical-align: bottom;">5. SAS</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,55]" style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom;">55</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,6.34]" style="border-right: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom;">6.34</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"22. CHA"]" style="border-left: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: left; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: normal; word-wrap: break-word; wrap-strategy: 4;">22. CHA</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,33]" style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: normal; word-wrap: break-word; wrap-strategy: 4;">33</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,-3.44]" style="border-right: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: normal; word-wrap: break-word; wrap-strategy: 4;">-3.44</td><td style="border-right: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;"></td><td style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;"></td><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"11. TOR"]" style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: left; vertical-align: bottom;">11. TOR</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,49]" style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom;">49</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,2.45]" style="border-right: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom;">2.45</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"23. DET"]" style="border-left: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: left; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: normal; word-wrap: break-word; wrap-strategy: 4;">23. DET</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,32]" style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: normal; word-wrap: break-word; wrap-strategy: 4;">32</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,-1.39]" style="border-right: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: normal; word-wrap: break-word; wrap-strategy: 4;">-1.39</td><td style="border-right: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;"></td><td style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;"></td><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"17. PHX"]" style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: left; vertical-align: bottom;">17. PHX</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,39]" style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom;">39</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,-0.38]" style="border-right: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom;">-0.38</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"24. DEN"]" style="border-left: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: left; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: normal; word-wrap: break-word; wrap-strategy: 4;">24. DEN</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,30]" style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: normal; word-wrap: break-word; wrap-strategy: 4;">30</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,-3.07]" style="border-right: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: normal; word-wrap: break-word; wrap-strategy: 4;">-3.07</td><td style="border-right: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;"></td><td style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;"></td><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"23. DET"]" style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: left; vertical-align: bottom;">23. DET</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,32]" style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom;">32</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,-1.39]" style="border-right: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom;">-1.39</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"25. SAC"]" style="border-left: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: left; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: normal; word-wrap: break-word; wrap-strategy: 4;">25. SAC</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,29]" style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: normal; word-wrap: break-word; wrap-strategy: 4;">29</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,-3.07]" style="border-right: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: normal; word-wrap: break-word; wrap-strategy: 4;">-3.07</td><td style="border-right: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;"></td><td style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;"></td><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"29. NYK"]" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: left; vertical-align: bottom;">29. NYK</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,17]" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom;">17</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,-9.5]" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000; border-right: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom;">-9.5</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"26. ORL"]" style="border-left: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: left; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: normal; word-wrap: break-word; wrap-strategy: 4;">26. ORL</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,25]" style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: normal; word-wrap: break-word; wrap-strategy: 4;">25</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,-5.87]" style="border-right: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: normal; word-wrap: break-word; wrap-strategy: 4;">-5.87</td><td style="border-right: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;"></td><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"GROUP F"]" style="font-weight: bold; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom;">GROUP F</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"6. MEM"]" style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: left; vertical-align: bottom;">6. MEM</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,55]" style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom;">55</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,3.62]" style="border-right: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom;">3.62</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"27. LAL"]" style="border-left: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: left; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: normal; word-wrap: break-word; wrap-strategy: 4;">27. LAL</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,21]" style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: normal; word-wrap: break-word; wrap-strategy: 4;">21</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,-6.17]" style="border-right: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: normal; word-wrap: break-word; wrap-strategy: 4;">-6.17</td><td style="border-right: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;"></td><td style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;"></td><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"12. WAS"]" style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: left; vertical-align: bottom;">12. WAS</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,46]" style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom;">46</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,0.17]" style="border-right: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom;">0.17</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"28. PHI"]" style="border-left: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: left; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: normal; word-wrap: break-word; wrap-strategy: 4;">28. PHI</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,18]" style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: normal; word-wrap: break-word; wrap-strategy: 4;">18</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,-9.04]" style="border-right: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: normal; word-wrap: break-word; wrap-strategy: 4;">-9.04</td><td style="border-right: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;"></td><td style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;"></td><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"18. UTA"]" style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: left; vertical-align: bottom;">18. UTA</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,38]" style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom;">38</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,0.71]" style="border-right: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom;">0.71</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"29. NYK"]" style="border-left: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: left; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: normal; word-wrap: break-word; wrap-strategy: 4;">29. NYK</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,17]" style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: normal; word-wrap: break-word; wrap-strategy: 4;">17</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,-9.5]" style="border-right: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: normal; word-wrap: break-word; wrap-strategy: 4;">-9.5</td><td style="border-right: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;"></td><td style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;"></td><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"24. DEN"]" style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: left; vertical-align: bottom;">24. DEN</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,30]" style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom;">30</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,-3.07]" style="border-right: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom;">-3.07</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"30. MIN"]" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000; border-left: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: left; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: normal; word-wrap: break-word; wrap-strategy: 4;">30. MIN</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,16]" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: normal; word-wrap: break-word; wrap-strategy: 4;">16</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,-8]" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000; border-right: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom; white-space: normal; word-wrap: break-word; wrap-strategy: 4;">-8</td><td style="border-right: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;"></td><td style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;"></td><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"30. MIN"]" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: left; vertical-align: bottom;">30. MIN</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,16]" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom;">16</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,3,null,-8]" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000; border-right: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom;">-8</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The group-play portion will be 16 games where teams within each group play a four-game series, two home and two away, and then allow only the top three in each group (18 total) to qualify for the single game elimination tournament.</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The NBA</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> will hold a unique value no other league can claim</span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> as these games will likely generate playoff caliber intensity to open the season</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">.</span></span> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Without considering off-season changes, Group A would likely be the Group of Death and should provide immediate must-see games to start every season. And, after considering this off-season, all the Group C games should be even more compelling.</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Once the top three teams in each of the six groups have qualified, the tournament would then reseed 1 through 18 overall, according to wins, points scored, three-pointers, whatever statistics the official NBA Tournament Competition Committee prioritizes, as there will likely be several teams with the same win-loss record. (Just imagine the drama on twitter.)</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Please note the 16 </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">group-play </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">games would take place at each team's respective arena (</span><span style="font-size: small;">under the <b>Triple Crown Season</b> concept </span><span style="font-size: small;">all 30 teams keep all their 41 home games) and the tournament would be held, ideally, at a predetermined neutral location(s), like Seattle and Vancouver or London and Paris.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Then it is time for the big dance starting with a couple of play-in games. The 15th and 18th ranked teams play each other to face-off against the 1st ranked team while the 16th and 17th ranked teams play to face-off against the 2nd ranked team.</span></span><br />
<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" dir="ltr" style="font-family: arial,sans,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; table-layout: fixed;"><colgroup><col width="100"></col><col width="100"></col><col width="100"></col><col width="100"></col><col width="100"></col></colgroup><tbody>
<tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"Play-In"]" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000; font-weight: bold; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom;">Play-In</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"First Round"]" style="font-weight: bold; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom;">First Round</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"Quarter Finals"]" style="font-weight: bold; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom;">Quarter Finals</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"Semi Finals"]" style="font-weight: bold; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom;">Semi Finals</td><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"Final"]" style="font-weight: bold; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom;">Final</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"15 v 18"]" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000; border-left: 1px solid #000000; border-right: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom;">15 v 18</td><td style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;"><br /></td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td></tr>
<tr style="height: 21px;"><td style="border-right: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;"><br /></td><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"1 v (15 or 18)"]" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000; border-right: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom;">1 v (15 or 18)</td><td style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;"><br /></td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td></tr>
<tr style="height: 21px;"><td style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;"><br /></td><td style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000; border-right: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;"><br /></td><td style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000; border-right: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;"><br /></td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td></tr>
<tr style="height: 21px;"><td style="border-right: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;"><br /></td><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"5 v 13"]" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000; border-right: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom;">5 v 13</td><td style="border-right: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;"><br /></td><td style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;"><br /></td><td><br /></td></tr>
<tr style="height: 21px;"><td style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;"><br /></td><td style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;"><br /></td><td style="border-right: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;"><br /></td><td style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000; border-right: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;"><br /></td><td><br /></td></tr>
<tr style="height: 21px;"><td style="border-right: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;"><br /></td><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"7 v 10"]" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000; border-right: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom;">7 v 10</td><td style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000; border-right: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;"><br /></td><td style="border-right: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;"><br /></td><td style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;"><br /></td></tr>
<tr style="height: 21px;"><td style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;"><br /></td><td style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000; border-right: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;"><br /></td><td style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000; border-right: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;"><br /></td><td style="border-right: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;"><br /></td><td style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;"><br /></td></tr>
<tr style="height: 21px;"><td style="border-right: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;"><br /></td><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"3 v 14"]" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000; border-right: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom;">3 v 14</td><td><br /></td><td style="border-right: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;"><br /></td><td style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;"><br /></td></tr>
<tr style="height: 21px;"><td style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;"><br /></td><td style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;"><br /></td><td><br /></td><td style="border-right: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;"><br /></td><td style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000; border-right: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;"><br /></td></tr>
<tr style="height: 21px;"><td style="border-right: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;"><br /></td><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"4 v 13"]" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000; border-right: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom;">4 v 13</td><td style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;"><br /></td><td style="border-right: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;"><br /></td><td style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;"><br /></td></tr>
<tr style="height: 21px;"><td style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;"><br /></td><td style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000; border-right: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;"><br /></td><td style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000; border-right: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;"><br /></td><td style="border-right: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;"><br /></td><td style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;"><br /></td></tr>
<tr style="height: 21px;"><td style="border-right: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;"><br /></td><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"8 v 9"]" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000; border-right: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom;">8 v 9</td><td style="border-right: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;"><br /></td><td style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000; border-right: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;"><br /></td><td style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;"><br /></td></tr>
<tr style="height: 21px;"><td style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;"><br /></td><td style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;"><br /></td><td style="border-right: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;"><br /></td><td style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000; border-right: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;"><br /></td><td><br /></td></tr>
<tr style="height: 21px;"><td style="border-right: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;"><br /></td><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"6 v 11"]" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000; border-right: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom;">6 v 11</td><td style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000; border-right: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;"><br /></td><td style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;"><br /></td><td><br /></td></tr>
<tr style="height: 21px;"><td style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;"><br /></td><td style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000; border-right: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;"><br /></td><td style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000; border-right: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;"><br /></td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td></tr>
<tr style="height: 21px;"><td style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000; border-right: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom;"><br /></td><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"2 v (16 or 17)"]" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000; border-right: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom;">2 v (16 or 17)</td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td></tr>
<tr style="height: 21px;"><td data-sheets-value="[null,2,"16 v 17"]" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000; border-left: 1px solid #000000; border-right: 1px solid #000000; padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom;">16 v 17</td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td><td><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Furthermore the NBA Tournament can exploit Thanksgiving Weekend better than the NFL. Open on Monday with the two Play-In games and then hold four games each on the Thursday and Friday (First Round), two games each on Saturday and Sunday (Quarter Finals) and finish with the Semi Finals games on the following Thursday with the Final Tournament Championship on Saturday or Sunday. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">There are other ways an NBA tournament can be developed, it can be put on later in the season, groups can be created differently and the group-play games can be mixed in with the regular playoff-qualifying games, but major changes and sacrifices need to be made either way. The overall length of the entire season would have to be extended with additional breaks in-between as well as modifying the preseason and training camps</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">, like schools changing to a year-round format</span></span>. These changes add significant value for all parties involved, players, coaches, owners, fans, media, sponsors, etc. by generating championship moments from the very beginning of the season.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Show support with <b>#TripleCrownSeason</b> & <b>#NBATournament</b>.</span></span><br />
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5390624198671309794.post-39752860680694985482015-05-19T06:21:00.001-07:002015-09-08T09:53:32.863-07:00End Tanking with Draft Relegation<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">One the most unique aspects of the NBA are teams actively and intentionally parading sub-standard lineups throughout the 82-game season in order to lose games and potentially gain higher draft status -- tanking. When last place teams are rewarded top draft picks in MLB, NHL or the NFL the rookies chosen become part of a 40, 23, or 53-man roster, respectively, however a rookie on a NBA 15-man roster can have an extraordinary impact, hence the unprecedented tanking tactics of general managers and coaches.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">In fact the NBA practically encourages all 14 non-playoff teams to tank since they all have a lottery chance to win the top pick, whereas in other leagues only the few teams closest to the last place team are competing to lose for the top pick. This culture of tanking followed by a hoping-for-the-lottery-to-bailout-the-franchise strategy is competitively destructive to the season, insulting to the fans and should be disgraceful to league.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">It is long overdue for the NBA to chuck its current draft process and embrace that it is not like other leagues and last place teams do not deserve top draft picks in basketball. Unfortunately American sports' anti-Darwinian belief in rewarding failing teams takes true relegation off the table.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The bottom-14 teams of the league are draft-lottery eligible, <b>the Draft Relegation proposal is to eliminate the bottom four teams from any top-10 draft pick and simply give the remaining 10 teams an equal chance for the top pick.</b> The last place team will automatically get the 14th pick, second-to-last
gets the 13th, third-to-last gets the 12th and the fourth-to-last place
team will get the 11th pick. Contingencies to keep teams from repeated top picks will invariably create fewer than 10 teams eligible for the top pick but those teams would all have an equal chance to win, whether it is 1-in-7 or 1-in-10, therefore eliminating the incentive to lose games. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">This should spur non-playoff teams to improve without having to hope the league's conspiratorial-laden draft process will provide a top pick to bailout the franchise. If finishing fifth-to-last provides the same chances for winning the top pick as finishing 14th-to-last then the teams that finish higher should have a better chance to exploit their pick in the following season than teams that finish lower. Teams must out-perform rather than under-perform the bottom-4 teams, possibly putting general managers and coaches in the proverbial hot seat if they cannot find and/or motivate players. It also puts the 16th overall place team in a precarious spot since one place down would be out of the playoffs and eligible for the top pick. The end of the season should be as compelling for the bottom-rung teams to stay out of the relegation zone for the draft as it is for the top-rung teams to earn home-court advantage for the playoffs.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Another aspect of the draft lottery is the inequality gap between large and small market teams. The Collective Bargaining Agreement has fixed the salaries for players where wages are relatively the same whether they play in New York City or Oklahoma City. This is an incredibly huge advantage for large markets teams whose payroll can be the same as any small market team yet whose off-court opportunities can rival those of any A-list movie star. This inequality puts small market teams at a significant disadvantage to attract top tier free agents which then relegates them to improve only through the draft. This perpetual dependence on tanking for the draft lottery for small market teams is, again, competitively destructive, insulting and disgraceful. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Details have to be worked out to mitigate
redundant top picks by the same team within a certain period of time in
order to spread the top picks around within the mechanics of the
lottery, but with an equal chance for the top pick teams have equal hope and must compete to win on the court and in both management and scouting for non-top tier signings and trades to capitalize on whichever top pick they receive. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">True reform will require fundamental changes to the CBA, to make the league more conducive to trades and revenue sharing so small market teams can compete, but also necessitates reinvigorating honest competition in the regular season. Conspiracy theories and controversies will linger and perpetuate until the league acknowledges the defect in the draft process to the season and an inequality gap that extinguishes any notion of team meritocracy within the league.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">#DraftRelegation</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">@Reboot_the_NBA</span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5390624198671309794.post-55728375132242485662014-06-13T10:26:00.001-07:002015-09-08T09:54:30.140-07:00The 82 Game Alternative - #TripleCrownSeason<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Since the </span><span style="font-size: small;">NBA was <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=4912384" target="_blank">nearly on the brink of ruin</a> in 2010 it has regained its financial footing with a new Collective Bargaining Agreement and the league has been revitalized with several new ownership groups so it is time to consider a bold structural reorganization for the following reasons:</span></span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">82-game season is too long with too few compelling games</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">reliance on division rivalries impedes global growth</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">lacks any grand opening season tradition </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">tanking is the unofficial strategy to rebuilding teams</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">conference-dependent playoff format is competitively unjust</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">NBA has the most popular (marketable) athletes</span><span style="font-size: small;"> yet NFL & MLB generate more revenue & fan interest (hope) </span></span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Everyone and their mother have written about the 82-game regular season being too long and/or not compelling. ESPN's NBA writers like <a href="http://espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmons/070411" target="_blank">Bill Simmons</a>, <a href="http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/post/_/id/65500/too-many-games-hurt-nbas-regular-season" rel="" target="_blank">Henry Abbott</a>, <a href="http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/post/_/id/32787/a-shot-at-shorter-seasons" rel="" target="_blank">J.A. Adande</a>, and <a href="http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/post/_/id/32294/why-is-there-an-82-game-schedule" rel="" target="_blank">Kevin Arnovitz</a>, CBS writer <a href="http://www.cbssports.com/nba/writer/ken-berger/24477834/three-fourths-of-an-nba-season-is-enough-lets-stop-here" rel="" target="_blank">Ken Berger</a>, and even Business Insider <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-fix-the-nba-regular-season-2014-4" rel="" target="_blank">Tony Manfred</a> as well as basketball devoted bloggers like <a href="http://www.hickory-high.com/abolish-useless-nba-divisions-stepping-closer-towards-restructure/" target="_blank">Zachary Bennett</a> have chimed in with solutions. The reasons are universal to basketball fans:</span></span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">it's too predictable - most of the same teams succeed every year</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">no urgency required </span></span></li>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">no urgency to opening the season well - see 2013-14 Brooklyn Nets</span></span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">no urgency to finishing the season well - see 2013-14 Indiana Pacers</span></span></li>
</ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">diminishes value of season tickets - why buy 41 games when only a dozen will be worth watching</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">diminishes value of TV schedule - not must-see-TV when half the teams play each other four times a season</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">too many games too fast - back-to-back games, 4 games in 5 nights - </span><span style="font-size: small;">causes excessive injuries and/or </span><span style="font-size: small;">compels coaches to sit players</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">too many bad games - losing teams vs losing teams, teams struggling with injured and/or aging players</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">"scheduled losses" - teams allow for and accept losses based solely on travel & game scheduling </span></span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">There are more reasons but the focus here is on a solution.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>82 Games Too Many</b> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">First let us start with the fact that NBA owners are not going to reduce the 82-game schedule. Games equal money and owners are not in the league for charitable reasons. Any solution has to make more money using an 82-game architecture.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The proposal (outlined in the heading) is to split those 82 games into three separate stand-alone contests: a 16-game group-play tournament, an 8-game division cup series and a 58-game round-robin regular season. It could work as an 8-game </span><span style="font-size: small;">group-play tournament and 16-game division </span><span style="font-size: small;">cup series as well.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Even if owners, players, media and fans do not agree with these contests specifically, hopefully </span><span style="font-size: small;">they can accept the principle where multiple stand-alone contests within a singular season can make for a more </span><span style="font-size: small;">entertaining</span><span style="font-size: small;"> and </span><span style="font-size: small;">profitable</span><span style="font-size: small;"> product.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The 58-game regular season is straight forward (details to follow). The 30 teams play each other twice, home and away, and the overall top 16 teams qualify for the standard four rounds, best-of-7 playoffs. There are no divisions or conferences to consider with this format.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Eliminate the preseason and the 16-game preliminary group-play could begin in October and the final tournament </span><span style="font-size: small;">(again, details to follow) </span><span style="font-size: small;">could be played over Thanksgiving and the following weekend or </span><span style="font-size: small;">could be played to fill the void left by NCAA Football in December. The regular season could begin around Christmas concluding as it currently does, similar to the 2011-12 strike-shortened season. Within the regular season an 8-game division cup series could be scheduled. It would look like a 66-game schedule but 58 will count towards playoff qualifications and 8 will help determine division champs.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">This may sound confusing but European soccer teams play multiple contests every season. </span></span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Manchester United FC played 54 games last season</span></span></li>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">38 games for the Premier League</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">10 games for the European Champions League Cup (UEFA)</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">remaining games for the FA Cup, League Cup and misc. games</span></span></li>
</ul>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Barcelona FC played 61 games last season</span></span></li>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">38 games for La Liga</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">10 games for the European Champions League Cup (UEFA)</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-size: small;">remaining games for the Copa del Rey and Super Cup</span></span></li>
</ul>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">last place Cardiff City FC of the Premier League played 43 games</span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></li>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">38 games for the league & 5 Games for FA & Capital One Cup </span></span></li>
</ul>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Splitting the 82-game schedule into multiple stand-alone contests provides honest and compelling match-ups </span><span style="font-size: small;">well before the playoffs</span><span style="font-size: small;"> in addition to the media</span><span style="font-size: small;">, sponsorship and other revenue growth and sharing opportunities. This new architecture creates relevant appointment-viewing events sponsors and fans want to watch and be associated with.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Underachievers</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The
NBA suffers from a major contradiction -- it has the most popular
players in the world but fails to earn the assumed corresponding revenue. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Below are two graphs comparing the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_professional_sports_leagues_by_revenue" target="_blank">top ten sports leagues in overall revenue</a> and then in per team revenue. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqSde73o2aN5dkYXh-lUT_U4J04zOkiw3ff64RNKV8z3R1G1i6eD3JTHejID609kh5swVsP3XqCM8pz77lgayxcDatSJDgUDL8FaoD-uyM-JHid_DQOGBCwkwAa2iDjcnIN5_ctJ0kDtLp/s1600/revenue.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqSde73o2aN5dkYXh-lUT_U4J04zOkiw3ff64RNKV8z3R1G1i6eD3JTHejID609kh5swVsP3XqCM8pz77lgayxcDatSJDgUDL8FaoD-uyM-JHid_DQOGBCwkwAa2iDjcnIN5_ctJ0kDtLp/s1600/revenue.png" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The third graph represents the money earned in <a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/kurtbadenhausen/2014/02/17/the-nbas-endorsement-all-stars-2014/" target="_blank">endorsements for the top ten players</a> in each sport.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg9n6UEowS7DiLocQkFtvfukmh8IDfhHprLJi3EKiAQPOVTcOZg-iRicXjz3E1p52hbXXCb49y-7zzw4ItfQR3yjTcTDbfP3dsOF1Co6LwWwM3CxQc0HEYM8oI9-UK2F-zl5ZP_WKb2qeb/s1600/endose.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg9n6UEowS7DiLocQkFtvfukmh8IDfhHprLJi3EKiAQPOVTcOZg-iRicXjz3E1p52hbXXCb49y-7zzw4ItfQR3yjTcTDbfP3dsOF1Co6LwWwM3CxQc0HEYM8oI9-UK2F-zl5ZP_WKb2qeb/s1600/endose.png" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">It
is not difficult to see the NBA underachieves.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Corporations
earn tremendous endorsement value by effectively going around the NBA
directly to the players. For the league to earn that revenue it needs
high-profile, ritual-viewing events where the athletic excellence and
tribal loyalty that
corporations and fans want to be associated with is on full display
annually.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">(In contrast the EPL
(English Premier League) with 2/3rds the number of teams and games and half the number of games in a country 1/5th the size earns roughly the same in total revenue
<b><u>without</u></b> any playoff games.)</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">According to Tom Van Riper of Forbes <a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/tomvanriper/2014/03/18/march-is-for-corporate-madness-too/" target="_blank">there are untold </a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" target="_blank">riches</a> awaiting the league if it held an annual tournament in corporate ticket, suite and hospitality sales alone. </span><span style="font-size: small;">An NBA Tournament Cup and NBA Division Cup Series can create both the drama </span><span style="font-size: small;">and the revenue of multiple Super Bowls annually</span><span style="font-size: small;">.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The
Super Bowl can thrive even if there are no major stars or cities
involved while the NBA Finals needs at least one of the two. Creating
and marketing genuinely compelling events would begin to close the
contradiction without requiring specific players or cities.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">And these events can occur without </span><span style="font-size: small;">adding or taking away any teams' home games.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Division Cup Glory</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">In the Division Cup Series teams would play each team in their division twice and the overall top two would play a final cup game. The league could schedule these division cup qualifying games concurrent to the regular season and then market a Division </span><span style="font-size: small;">Cup </span><span style="font-size: small;">Finals Weekend event with the top two teams from each division playing. </span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Imagine the NBA using the NFL's Sunday-ritual-viewing format. Since each of the six divisions have five teams there would two games played for each division giving 12 total division games every Sunday for ten weeks. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">(One team from each division would not be playing however they can play other non-division opponents as part of the 58-game regular season as special Saturday and/or Monday night games.)</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">This new tradition offers significant value to </span><span style="font-size: small;">geographic rivalries since there will be actual spoils that go to the victor (champagne celebrations & shiny hardware). The league simply has to provide some distinction to those 8 division games</span><span style="font-size: small;"> and</span><span style="font-size: small;"> create a weekend of six Division Cup Final games.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Currently divisions offer little value for either fans, teams or sponsors.
For a team to succeed or fail within their division carries no
consequences other than to a team's overall record. Furthermore the
league's dependence on division rivalry match-ups to drive regional interest has a low ceiling of growth and is counter productive
to making the league a globally marketable product. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Inside or outside the United States,</span><span style="font-size: small;"> f</span><span style="font-size: small;">ans are not clamoring for more</span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-size: small;">games between </span><span style="font-size: small;">MIL v CHI, SAC v GSW or PHI v DET. </span><span style="font-size: small;"> Even big market match-ups like
BOS v NYK, LAC v LAL and DAL v HOU offer limited appeal </span><span style="font-size: small;">considering they already play each other four times a season and the games decide nothing</span><span style="font-size: small;">. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Instead the NBA could promote these same games as divisional qualifiers </span><span style="font-size: small;">within the US </span><span style="font-size: small;">while at the same time, </span><span style="font-size: small;">from an international perspective,</span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-size: small;">it is marketed as a</span><span style="font-size: small;">n intriguing series of cup </span><span style="font-size: small;">qualifiers </span><span style="font-size: small;">that is familiar in most leagues</span><span style="font-size: small;">.</span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">For example the Atlantic Division did not have any contending teams this year. At the start of the season New York and Brooklyn thought they could win but that hope died rather quickly. However with only 8 games to play against 4 familiar teams a division trophy should be something non-contending teams would focus on. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Imagine New York, Brooklyn, Toronto, Philadelphia and Boston playing division cup qualifier games on Sundays in January and February culminating with the two best teams fighting for an actual trophy to rub in the opposing city's face </span><span style="font-size: small;">(currently division winners are awarded a banner without any celebration).</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Also
young, up and coming teams could see the </span><span style="font-size: small;">division cup games as a
stepping stone to prove they are legitimate contenders. </span><span style="font-size: small;">If Miami were determined to rest players and focus solely on the championship then Washington and Charlotte might have been competing for the Southeast Cup (better trophy names are needed) to put a feather in their cap. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Overall general managers, coaches and players would compete knowing it maybe their only opportunity for glory that year. It presents a serious chance to collect more tournament/finals appearances and trophies to better define and expand career legacies. And</span><span style="font-size: small;"> it offers an opportunity to evaluate players under one-game, winner-take-all conditions. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Using games already scheduled</span><span style="font-size: small;"> the NBA could grow their global market share following the blueprint of international cup contests and expand its domestic fan base </span><span style="font-size: small;">with a more focused exploitation of </span><span style="font-size: small;">the tribal rivalries between cities</span><span style="font-size: small;"> with trophies and celebrations.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Opening Season Hope</b> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Sports leagues are in the business of selling hope (or hype depending on your cynicism). </span><span style="font-size: small;">The beauty is that hope is an easily manufactured product and leagues that sell hope on multiple levels are
successful. The NFL sells hope</span><span style="font-size: small;"> to win a championship,</span><span style="font-size: small;"> to win a division,</span><span style="font-size: small;"> to simply beat a division rival, and, most importantly, the hope</span><span style="font-size: small;"> to beat superior talent -- that any team can win on any given day.</span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The NBA sells hope to win a championship or the draft lottery</span><span style="font-size: small;">.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Sales of hope</span><span style="font-size: small;"> is</span><span style="font-size: small;"> seen easily at the beginning of a season. The NFL and MLB have great </span><span style="font-size: small;">opening </span><span style="font-size: small;">season traditions when fans happily buy into the notion their team has a legitimate chance to contend. The NBA's opening season seems to go in the opposite direction</span><span style="font-size: small;"> and their <a href="http://www.sportsmediawatch.com/2013/10/final-ratings-mixed-for-nba-openers-bullsheat-strong-clipslakers-hits-low/" target="_blank">TV ratings</a></span><span style="font-size: small;"> show it. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I</span><span style="font-size: small;">t is also seen by ESPN's lack of NBA-related programming. ESPN devotes more programing to the opening weeks of the NFL and
MLB (and opening week MLB games) while most NBA shows won't begin until a quarter of the season is
completed</span><span style="font-size: small;">. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The NBA needs a spectacle to start the season.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">An annual opening season group-play tournament, similar to the FIFA World Cup Tournament format, is a product that can</span><span style="font-size: small;"> give every fan and team hope to win something, it can attract new fans with unique, urgent, playoff-intense games, it would provide professional and social media with numerous and legitimate narratives, it would drive substantial and sustainable revenue growth for sponsors, owners and the league. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The opening season tournament could be an exclusive, unprecedented annual event that separates the NBA from all other leagues. (Unless the NHL gets to it first.)</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">First requirement is to establish the groups teams would play in, with a 30 team league and 16 games available it has to be </span><span style="font-size: small;">6 groups of 5 like the current division format which will give each team four opponents to play four times each.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The second requirement is to establish how to fill the groups so there is a constant variety bringing originality to every new season. There are two primary methods: a lottery method or a competitive method.</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The lottery method would be similar to the draft lottery process, teams are ranked and grouped according to success and location, </span><span style="font-size: small;">so that groups are reasonably mixed with good and bad teams without excessive travel, and </span><span style="font-size: small;">then are put into a drawing. This could be a likely possibility since the draft lottery night is one of the NBA's most highly rated events (fans buying hope).</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The competitive method is to have teams determine their own group. The simplest way is to group teams according to the final season standings. The 2013-14 final season standings provides the following groups for a 2014 NBA Tournament:</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiog09p9mYCNKBjs7-apsJyxW5CNr2oXmvu46A9C8Jcq6FAcMXpyH06LgH1akywbhvPM2vqGJOyG7Wxwucyl8AA_BH4dvC81LMAHv4CtsdyoE47YLjYGvwQX0HnglPUtRWoFg2EdLcA0mDj/s1600/group+play.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiog09p9mYCNKBjs7-apsJyxW5CNr2oXmvu46A9C8Jcq6FAcMXpyH06LgH1akywbhvPM2vqGJOyG7Wxwucyl8AA_BH4dvC81LMAHv4CtsdyoE47YLjYGvwQX0HnglPUtRWoFg2EdLcA0mDj/s1600/group+play.png" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The main benefit of the competitive determined groups is the added intrigue of what teams will be in which groups </span><span style="font-size: small;">in addition to the standard playoff seeding drama </span><span style="font-size: small;">as the season draws to a close over several weeks,</span><span style="font-size: small;"> rather than a one-night lottery event</span><span style="font-size: small;">.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">A perceived flaw is the groups are progressively weaker, Group A will have a stronger set of teams than Group F. But this flaw is a marketing advantage since it makes for tougher competition within the top seeded groups and allows non-contending </span><span style="font-size: small;">teams, </span><span style="font-size: small;">from the weaker groups, a better chance at qualifying for the tournament.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">A realistic flaw is the time and travel requirements to ensure competitive balance. This is readily seen in Group A for the New York Knicks where their closest competitor is the San Antonio Spurs. Coastal teams have a disadvantage when grouped with teams from the opposing coast. Another potential nightmare group for the NBA's scheduling department is if a perimeter group occurred, for example: Portland, Minnesota, Boston, Miami, San Antonio. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Depending on time given to play the games and some creative thinking these are obstacles that can be overcome. For example teams within plus or minus two or three seeds could trade groups, so that #19 New York could trade with the #17 Minnesota if both teams agreed. Or division cup winners could trade groups with a division rival without mutual agreement. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Teams would play each team within their group four times, two games at home and two on the road. In the interest of competitive balance and revenue growth the top three teams from each group should qualify for the tournament but would be ranked overall 1-18 when seeded for the tournament.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Group-play is starting the season
with playoffs -- 5 teams go in, 3 teams get out.</span> It would provide clutch evaluations of rookies and open marketing possibilities for teams with early season success and energy. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Allowing the top 3 teams from each group removes any perceived penalty for being placed in a difficult group as well as providing more teams and two more play-in games to market. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Additionally with only 16 games to measure teams against there would conceivably be several identical win-loss records so additional team statistics will have dramatic and marketable results in terms of overall rankings.</span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-size: small;">(As well as within the 8 games of division cup qualifiers.)</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">There could be groups of teams with 12-4, 9-6 or 7-9 records, within and outside of their group, so rarely determinable stats such as</span><span style="font-size: small;"> home wins vs. road wins and points scored vs. points allowed (or any other statistical criteria) could become acutely decisive in qualifying and ranking the tournament. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">An NBA Competition Rules Committee could rival any leagues' committee in determining opening season intrigue, group placement, relevant statistics, and even change the rules for the betterment of the traditional regular season. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">For example </span><span style="font-size: small;">the goal-tending rule can be changed </span><span style="font-size: small;">in</span><span style="font-size: small;"> the tournament</span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-size: small;">to the international standard where once the ball touches the rim it is a free ball. If the rule change adds to the entertainment value without taking away from the traditional feel of the game then the committee can consider changing the rule for the 58-game regular season knowing there is a body of work to back up their decision.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">An active and creative competition committee could be a </span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">potential sports laboratory where different
incentives, rules and regulations can be tested</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"> and ultimately possess the capacity to add substantial marketable value to the tournament, division cup series, regular season and playoffs</span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">The final tournament would consist of 18
teams in 2 play-in games, a first round of 8 games, quarter-finals, semi-finals
and a final championship game. The last
4 teams would have to compete in play-in games to round-out the brackets
properly. The winner of the 15th
versus 18th seeded match-up would play the 1st seed and
the 2nd seed would play the winner of the 16th versus 17th
seeded match-up, these last four teams would play an extra game to win
the tournament.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Assuming the groups remain in order, their rankings remain the same as well and all the top seeds win their games then the 2014 NBA Tournament would play out like so:</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIFTLGlJIuHI3WBWQk6lG72hZ63_rJi7iKNtaik5a9uZ0DiguFvM53jhQadS1-Sa5eRWG3-yrNu_o0LB4RmOHh8DDG3fhUvbegI5YzerpAmujElap3p7sq7U9wEl9IZEBTX2n3_KHLiQCz/s1600/tourney.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIFTLGlJIuHI3WBWQk6lG72hZ63_rJi7iKNtaik5a9uZ0DiguFvM53jhQadS1-Sa5eRWG3-yrNu_o0LB4RmOHh8DDG3fhUvbegI5YzerpAmujElap3p7sq7U9wEl9IZEBTX2n3_KHLiQCz/s1600/tourney.png" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">These events represent a multilevel treasure trove</span><span style="font-size: small;"> with substantial revenue potential for the NBA. In addition to new media rights, corporate sponsorships and ticket packages there is now an opportunity to predetermine </span><span style="font-size: small;">tournament </span><span style="font-size: small;">locations (</span><span style="font-size: small;">as well as the Division Cup Finals) in the same way the NFL awards the Super Bowl and the Olympics award a host city. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">There are several options, they can split it between a few arenas or have each round in a different arena. For example, the two play-in games could be held in Denver, two first-round games in Dallas, San Antonio, Houston and New Orleans, then the Quarterfinals in Los Angeles and Golden State, the Semifinals in New York and the Finals wherever the newest arena is located. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The permutations are endless but it is not difficult to imagine the NBA would act on the most growth and revenue friendly option.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Also the fantasy of every NBA executive since the Dream Team crashed the 1992 Olympics can finally be realized by taking the entire tournament abroad. The league can follow in the wake of the Olympics and World Cup and take all 18 teams abroad to compete in 17 meaningful, playoff-quality games wherever there are a couple of arenas and the host needs to see those facilities filled (and, again, without taking away anyone's home games). </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The Division Cup Series and the Tournament Cup are the type of ritual-viewing, marquis events that showcase the league's talent and create the opportunity to fill the gap between its underachieving financial standing and the outsized popularity of its players.<b> </b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Honesty is the Best Policy</b> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">With a new structure of multiple contests there will be no necessity to hype middle of the season playoff rematches like Miami versus Indiana, Oklahoma City versus San Antonio or Miami versus San Antonio. Those games will be either a part of the tournament, division cup or regular season and their significance will depend on each teams' level of commitment to each contest and will nearly market themselves.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">For example veteran teams could allow bench players to play tournament and division cup games while resting starters for the regular season and playoffs. Tanking teams could find the opposite tactic in their favor, with only 8 or 16 games to game-plan for, coaches could devise short-term strategies to win meaningful games in an otherwise meaningless season.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">While these new contests do not eliminate tanking they do allow an opportunity for coaches and players to win as well as give management the opportunity to lose in the regular season without having to pretend they never competed.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The 58-game regular season, without any division or conference contrivances, would be the league's centerpiece event. Teams would only play each other in one home and one away game making the games both urgent for the teams and players and unique for ticket-buying and TV-watching fans. </span><span style="font-size: small;">The
overall top 16 teams would qualify for the standard four rounds of
best-of-7-game playoff series as it is currently constructed. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The simplicity and honesty of this format is standard in most leagues around the world and would further assist in efforts to increase global market share. It is much easier, without knowledge of the NBA's traditions and history, to relate to a standard home-and-away format rather than wondering why the schedule allows an equal number of games played between some non-division opponents and not others. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />Currently the league's 82-game regular season is a convoluted non-division and non-conference driven schedule yet the playoffs are specifically conference and division dependent. The NBA's allegiance to this
<a href="http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/post/_/id/67090/abolish-the-nbas-conference-system" target="_blank">conference playoff format</a> is competitively destructive -- superior
(western) conference teams either fail to qualify and/or are put under </span><span style="font-size: small;">instant pressure while inferior (eastern) conference teams are handed a
smoother path.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Below is a chart comparing the various leagues' schedules.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKhtRkzUKeMGXDbX12kCBKsit7PFIcOMHPtUGxNs52qaG3Zgsq_09VAJksh6iNzOM2Xyju0GeTf2_XdDyq3LCHeTas3sjI491grZ27vfXvmKqLWdBkVORSCT0_dzPVUc0-G2oaUFY4qSJ2/s1600/div+&+conf.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKhtRkzUKeMGXDbX12kCBKsit7PFIcOMHPtUGxNs52qaG3Zgsq_09VAJksh6iNzOM2Xyju0GeTf2_XdDyq3LCHeTas3sjI491grZ27vfXvmKqLWdBkVORSCT0_dzPVUc0-G2oaUFY4qSJ2/s1600/div+&+conf.png" width="400" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">1. Percentage of Division Games played</span></span></li>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">2. Percentage of Conference Games played</span></span></li>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">3. Percentage of Non-Division Games played</span></span></li>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">4. Percentage of Non-Conference Games played</span></span></li>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span></ul>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">MLB and NFL teams play 47% and 38% of games
within divisions and 88% and 75% within conferences, respectively, which justifies rewarding division winners and employing
conference standings for playoff seeding. By contrast the NBA's
sloppy attempt to impersonate these playoff structures fail because less
than 20% of games are within divisions and only 63% are within conferences.
Teams play each other too often in the regular season for the
playoffs to be limited by an ill-fitting conference format with division priorities. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Conferences
in the NBA provide no value and arguably perpetuate conspiracies
concerning the league's reliance on superstar players and big market TV ratings. Eliminating conferences and relegating divisions with their own contest allows for an overall playoff format that is equitable and just. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Knowing
the season and playoffs are not a
prefabricated event designed to exploit specific markets would bring
in both casual viewers looking for honest entertainment as well as the
sports fans who have moved on.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>23 Games & 3 Weekends</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">There are a variety of ways to divide an 82-game structure into multiple stand-alone events that add value for all parties involved -- owners, players, coaches, sponsors, media, agents, general managers, fans and the league. </span><span style="font-size: small;">If the NBA were to consider the principle behind splitting the season many more proposals would surely surface.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">An everyone-plays-everyone twice schedule (58 games) leaves the NBA
with 24 extra games. What can be done with these 24 games (12 home
games for each team) to improve the league? </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Under this proposal </span><span style="font-size: small;">there
are 17 additional tournament games and 6 additional division cup finals
games to schedule that would most likely require three additional
weekends, however </span><span style="font-size: small;">no team will play more than 6 additional games -- one division cup final and possibly 5 tournament games.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">These
dramatic changes in structure and format are modest compared to
potential windfall awaiting the league, its partners and customers.</span></span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The media, sponsors and the league would get:</span></span></li>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">greater fanatical followings</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">greater event-sponsored revenue </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">predetermined events with appointment-viewing potential</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">a grand opening season to rival the NFL's and MLB's</span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">to make itself an indispensable part of global culture and traditions</span></span></li>
</ul>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">General mangers, agents, coaches and players would get:</span></span></li>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">to win more trophies</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">to better define career legacies</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">to earn additional revenue and endorsements</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">to showcase alternative tactics and strategies</span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">more playoff-competitive games to shine in</span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></li>
</ul>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Team owners would get:</span></span></li>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">revenue sharing events </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">international team exposure</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">showcase events to highlight their team</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">to stay relevant under rebuilding conditions </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">to sell various ticket, sponsorship and broadcast packages</span></span></li>
</ul>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Basketball fans will get:</span></span></li>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">meaningful games that determine actual bragging rights</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">incalculable gambling and fantasy gaming opportunities</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">better game data to debate player, teams and coaches</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">to keep hope alive</span></span></li>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">to win a tournament cup trophy</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">to win a division cup trophy</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">to prevent a stronger or rival team from</span><span style="font-size: small;"> winning a trophy</span></span></li>
</ul>
</ul>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Scheduling and logistical impediments, such as adjusting for the All-Star Weekend and the trade deadline, are sure to arise as well as business
contracts, lease agreements and other financial considerations. </span><span style="font-size: small;">These
are the issues that can prevent any progress, it is difficult to imagine this exact architecture will find ultimate success, however the principle of selling multiple stand-alone contests to increase interest is worthy of consideration.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">For hockey fans these principles may help to improve the NHL as well. </span></span><br />
<br />
<ul><ul>
</ul>
</ul>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5390624198671309794.post-73172099893420229672014-05-07T10:52:00.000-07:002015-08-21T09:26:33.209-07:00The Playoffs Aren't What You Thought They Were<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">The general consensus has been the first round of NBA playoff games were exceptionally exciting but many also noticed an inordinate amount of sloppy play, specifically a "failure to execute down the stretch." Normally teams that hold leads are considered to be on the cusp of greatness, "defense wins championships." Regrettably an 82 game regular season provides little urgency and few opportunities to play clutch basketball (players/coaches say "it's only one game" after a loss). </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">No doubt by now you've seen the record breaking first round stats:</span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">8 Overtime Games</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">5 Games 7's</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">23 games decided by 5 points of less </span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPHyqpn_LpKUTn6qJ6YElWdAWEqvhJAQCKK4IkMb3X6rbNEngwdkuOtDuGkusY-u5KOmDnJEqa75apo2zYpHlbMD6PrMbV7QCd4i14sAgVLek3Hv0Wnnpp2GhZ5BaUUBuW83RV208fpdud/s1600/Bm4dBQPCEAAvOEm.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="348" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPHyqpn_LpKUTn6qJ6YElWdAWEqvhJAQCKK4IkMb3X6rbNEngwdkuOtDuGkusY-u5KOmDnJEqa75apo2zYpHlbMD6PrMbV7QCd4i14sAgVLek3Hv0Wnnpp2GhZ5BaUUBuW83RV208fpdud/s1600/Bm4dBQPCEAAvOEm.png" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">
</span>
<br />
<ul>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">A little introspection reveals these games have not been played at a high level. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">Of the 8 overtime games, 6 were the result of double digit leads lost --- better known as choke jobs. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">The most glaring example was game 5 of Memphis v Oklahoma City in which Memphis held a 20 point lead in the third quarter but finished with a 1 point victory. Only in game 2 did both teams play at a high level throughout. Below is a simple chart of games 2-5 that went in overtime, indicating the largest point lead at any given time, points choked away down the stretch and the final point difference. Memphis choked points away in games 2, 3 & 5 while Oklahoma City only choked points away in game 4.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnmSN9eRYssTanzMvXUp4rryBsp8HKmcPqjFOr-FNFjziOm0Z9cUlaxHcUp0WVZG8duFcohAPOigowXtu1ilhC8wtA7P0YqAqg0I10rWJpTplbC9EjGoNTbIFc2I74ZiayrOmBZ44h4xTb/s1600/mem+v+okc.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnmSN9eRYssTanzMvXUp4rryBsp8HKmcPqjFOr-FNFjziOm0Z9cUlaxHcUp0WVZG8duFcohAPOigowXtu1ilhC8wtA7P0YqAqg0I10rWJpTplbC9EjGoNTbIFc2I74ZiayrOmBZ44h4xTb/s1600/mem+v+okc.png" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"> game 2 game 3 game 4 game 5 </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">Fortunately they only choked points away and did not choke the game away. That job was left to Houston as they battled Portland. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPFZfwggkY-VhmTROIcI6Ipxo7aY9gYgUfUZToQW0899ziUjSjXCIM-pVbdcRVI95jHn9aDWH41hIhyphenhyphenZ2o1PELndH03ditizr7ZqmepnqU9dJizq9f2vW0S42FLGB2l6O0BormYE-6-MZH/s1600/hou+v+por.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPFZfwggkY-VhmTROIcI6Ipxo7aY9gYgUfUZToQW0899ziUjSjXCIM-pVbdcRVI95jHn9aDWH41hIhyphenhyphenZ2o1PELndH03ditizr7ZqmepnqU9dJizq9f2vW0S42FLGB2l6O0BormYE-6-MZH/s1600/hou+v+por.png" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"> game 1 game 3 game 4</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">In game 1, a 13 point lead was held by Houston but eventually lost by 2. In game 4 they lost by 3 points failing to hold a lead of 11. In game 3 Houston choked away only 7 of their 12 point lead and won by 5. The Houston Rockets looked like a three quarter team if there ever was one.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">The one overtime game in the Eastern Conference was game 2 of Washington v Chicago. Washington ultimately choked away 15 of their 17 point lead in that game to win by 2.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">Diuretic defense was not limited to overtime games, of the 23 games that were decided by 5 points or less:</span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">All 23 games had a team with a 9 point lead at some point</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">13 games had teams with a lead of 13 points or more</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">6 games had teams with a lead of 17 points or more </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">17 games saw teams choke away double digit leads</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">8 games saw the team with the largest lead lose </span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">In game 5 of Toronto v Brooklyn, Toronto choked away 24 of their 26 point lead in defeating Brooklyn and eventually lost the series consistently failing to defend in the second half. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">In averaging out those 23 games, teams built an average lead of 14 points and then choked </span><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">away </span><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">12 points. Not the type of record breaking basketball one would think. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">The first round saw streaky shooting and optional defense. Teams build a lead and collapsed under the pressure of maintaining it. These factors lead to closely contested outcomes but created drama as compelling as any high school or college game.</span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5390624198671309794.post-3130265234262405602014-04-30T13:30:00.000-07:002015-08-21T09:26:47.103-07:00A Sterling Make Up Call<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: small;">Basketball fans know fouls are called for many different reasons and not all of them are foul related. Fouls called early in the game are known as "setting the tone" calls. The prime example is in the playoffs when two teams have a history of physical play and referees want to get tight control early in the game. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: small;">One of the more infamous calls are "make-up calls". This occurs when a referee makes an incorrect foul call or fails to make an obvious call, which is then replayed for all to see. The referee will then make another incorrect call against the opposing team in an effort to balance the consequences of the previous call and thus make it up to the original player and team. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: small;">The Make Up Call mirrors exactly what </span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">NBA Commissioner </span>Adam Silver had to do in dealing with Clippers owner Donald Sterling. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: small;">Previous NBA Commissioner David Stern was the original referee with the original bad call. In this case the bad call was a no-call. Not only did Sterling have a history of shady dealings and racist remarks but many inside the NBA were aware of it (and would have found more if they ever bothered to investigate). Sterling had been sued by tenants, employees and the government and although he was never found technically guilty the sum of the parts raised red flags everywhere but inside the NBA's front office. David Stern not only did nothing to drive him out while learning of these incidents but actually facilitated him in the last several years. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: small;">Adam Silver must have realized this. The NBA had failed in dealing with Donald Sterling throughout his history in the league. The sins of the father, David Stern, had to be thoroughly vanquished for the sake of the league's respectability, Adam Silver did exactly what he had to do.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5390624198671309794.post-90176177566042345742014-04-23T22:21:00.003-07:002015-08-21T09:27:34.898-07:00Part 2: Eliminate Conferences for Competitive Balance<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">On April 11 Commissioner Adam Silver acknowledged the inequities of the NBA playoffs, unfortunately he said it would only be looked into. “I don’t know if there will be movement,” <a href="http://nba.si.com/2014/04/11/adam-silver-nba-playoffs-structures-format/">Silver said.</a> “My initial
thought is we should take a fresh look at it. When these conferences
were designed it was in the day of commercial travel. … It was very
different when we moved teams around the country. In this day and age,
where every team in the league is flying charter, it changes
everything.”</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">The league's regular season is a non-division and non-conference driven schedule, all the teams play each other.</span><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;"> As noted in the previous post the NBA's obsessive allegiance to the conference playoff format is competitively destructive -- superior (western) conference teams either fail to qualify and/or are instantly put under pressure while inferior (eastern) conference teams are handed a smoother path. </span><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">The
best records belong to San Antonio and Oklahoma City but the league believes fans want a fabricated East vs West finals
match-up rather than the two best teams. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">Currently the division winners are prioritized and the remaining top 5 teams in each conference qualify for the playoffs. This year's suckers are the Phoenix Suns with a 48-34 record -- a better record than all the teams in the </span><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">Eastern Conference except Indiana and Miami.</span><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;"> </span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">Last season the Utah Jazz were left out with a 43-39 record while the Milwaukee Bucks qualified with a 38-44 record. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">In 2009 and 2010 the Houston Rockets should have replaced the Chicago Bulls and the Indiana Pacers respectively. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">The Phoenix Suns were locked out of the 2009 playoffs with a better record than the 5th seeded Miami Heat. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">The 2008 playoffs should have included both the Golden State Warriors (48-34) and Portland Trail Blazers (41-41) over the Philadelphia 76ers (40-42) and Atlanta Hawks (37-45). </span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">And the list goes on. Only 9 of the last 30 seasons did NOT have such discrepancies.</span><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;"> (1) The Eastern and Western Conferences are not equal an</span><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">d seeding based on division winners invariably slants the match-ups even further</span><span style="font-size: small;">.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">This year the San Antonio Spurs are the NBA's version of Witchita State where the best record is rewarded with the toughest opponents. </span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">They get Dallas, </span><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">a first round opponent </span><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">that would have been ranked third in the east. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">Then both potential second round opponents have the same record as Miami and higher SRS ratings.(2) </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">Only potentially to have to defeat Oklahoma City, the second best team, to qualify for the league final. </span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">It is no wonder Spurs Coach Popovich rests his starters on nationally viewed games, the league does his team no favors. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">Imagine the outrage if the NCAA qualified a fixed number of teams from each conference regardless of their relative strength to other conferences. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">Since NBA teams play 66 of 82 games outside of their division and play all
teams, the seedings should correspond to the overall record. </span>Below is a chart comparing the various leagues' division and conference schedule.</span><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtTlUMD09ZrMeSpzLmr5_NxghtY_LwiRL1N3OVdKposwRwyU-ZsMWkVnd12Ql7hLJXe5jkpKzerl7Dh6Hc5-f0k9ZoiAIcINRIsByXEwDueazakhWG5laKlx9E8WD0sZUfJvICEoPwMK8d/s1600/div+&+conf.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtTlUMD09ZrMeSpzLmr5_NxghtY_LwiRL1N3OVdKposwRwyU-ZsMWkVnd12Ql7hLJXe5jkpKzerl7Dh6Hc5-f0k9ZoiAIcINRIsByXEwDueazakhWG5laKlx9E8WD0sZUfJvICEoPwMK8d/s1600/div+&+conf.png" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<ol>
<li><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">Percentage of Division Games</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">Percentage of Non-Division Games</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">Percentage of Conference Games </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">Percentage of Non-Conference Games</span></li>
</ol>
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">It is easy to discover the NBA plays the most non-division and non-conference games, yet </span><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">their playoff format</span><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;"> is determined within conferences and elevates division winners.</span><span style="font-size: small;"> <span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">MLB and NFL teams play 47% and 38% of games
within divisions and 88% and 75% within conferences, respectively, which justifies rewarding </span><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">division winners </span><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">and </span><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">employing conference standings for playoff seeding. By contrast the league's sloppy attempt to impersonate these playoff structures fail because less than 20% of games are within divisions and only 63% within conferences. </span><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">They play each other too often in the regular season for the
playoffs to be limited by an ill-fitting conference format with division priorities. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">Conferences
in the NBA provide no value and arguably help to perpetuate myths and conspiracies
concerning the league's clunky administration skills. Divisions however
may be a necessary evil. Winning the division can be a simple qualifier for
the playoffs but </span><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">division winners</span><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;"> should not be elevated.</span><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">Divisions have little relevance other
than a way to format the regular season schedule in a palatable manner and should only
be used for that reason. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">If the division winners and remaining overall top 10 teams qualified for the playoffs the last weeks of the season would be dramatically different. Listed below are the overall true top 16 teams and then the NBA's conference driven top 16.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;"> True Top 16 Conference Top 16 </span><br />
<ol>
<li><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">San Antonio Spurs*........... (62-20)...(62-20) .....San Antonio Spurs*</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">Oklahoma City Thunder*.. (59-23)...(56-26) .....Indiana Pacers*</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">Los Angeles Clippers*...... (57-25)...(59-23) .....Oklahoma City Thunder*</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">Indiana Pacers*.................. (56-26)...(54-28) .....Miami Heat*</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">Miami Heat*...................... (54-28)...(57-25) .....Los Angeles Clippers* </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">Houston Rockets............... (54-28)...(48-34) .....Toronto Raptors*</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">Portland Trail Blazers........ (54-28)...(54-28) .....Houston Rockets</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">Golden State Warriors....... (51-31)...</span><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">(48-34) .....Chicago Bulls</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">Memphis Grizzlies............. (50-32)...</span><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">(44-38) .....Washington Wizards</span><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">Dallas Mavericks................ (49-33)...</span><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">(54-28) .....Portland Trail Blazers</span><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;"> </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">Toronto Raptors*............... (48-34)...</span><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">(44-38) .....Brooklyn Nets</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">Phoenix Suns...................... (48-34)...</span><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">(51-31) .....Golden State Warriors</span><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">Chicago Bulls..................... (48-34)...</span><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">(43-39) .....</span><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">Charlotte Bobcats</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">Washington Wizards.......... (44-38)...</span><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">(50-32) ......Memphis Grizzlies</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">Brooklyn Nets.................... (44-38)...(38-44) ......Atlanta Hawks</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">Charlotte Bobcats.............. (43-39)...(49-33) ......Dallas Mavericks</span></li>
</ol>
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">* Division Winner</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">If one did not think the league fixes playoff match-ups it would not be difficult to persuade them. </span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">Do the Atlanta Hawks deserve to be in the playoffs?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">Division winner Toronto Raptors are actually the 11th best team.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">Phoenix Suns are the 12th best team and are not included.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">Dallas Mavericks are the 10th best team and seeded last.</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">Another flaw of the conference playoff format is it diminishes the regular season, where individual games eventually carry little significance. Teams need only to compete within their conferences or relative to their conference opponents and if the conference is weak, as is the East, then teams are motivated to rest players and otherwise not fully compete. This convoluted and contrived playoff structure leads to unsavory and predictable end-of-season schemes that discredit the league's reputation. It seems only in the NBA</span><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;"> do teams tank. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">With a true and honest format </span><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">Indiana</span><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;"> and </span><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">Miami</span><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;"> would have been put under genuine pressure </span><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">before the playoffs </span><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">from Los Angeles, Houston and Portland contending for the weaker opponent </span><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">(as it should be in a professional league)</span><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">. </span><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">Establishing overall seeding will add legitimate intrigue and drama, t</span><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">he league will have playoff-atmosphere games finishing every season, higher caliber </span><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">teams qualifying, and more cutthroat regular season games</span></span><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">. </span><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">This is the simple incentive the league fails to provide but could easily rectify. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">And by the way, the Minnesota Timberwolves might have seen an easier opportunity in trying to catch up to the Charlotte Bobcats for the final seed, who finished only 3 games ahead, rather than competing against the Phoenix Suns who were 8 games ahead.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">One perceived flaw in overall seeding is one side of the country may not be represented in the finals. </span><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">The NFL and MLB regularly have finals that excluded half of the country and yet continue to create more enthusiasm and success than the NBA.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">Ultimately
this change would alter how the season is sold. The league
believes the big four teams are </span><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">San
Antonio, </span><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">Indiana, </span><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">Oklahoma City </span><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">and </span><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">Miami. The Los Angeles Clippers, with a better record than
Indiana and Miami, would be first to argue against that. It
should impact the MVP award -- would LeBron James be as strongly considered if his team were perceived as being 4th, 5th or 6th overall
rather than a 2nd seed? </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">Knowing the NBA season and playoffs are not a
prefabricated event designed to exploit regional markets would bring
in both casual viewers looking for honest entertainment as well as the sports fans who have moved on. Most coaches believe competition breeds more competition </span><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">(which is why Western Conference teams are more entertaining)</span><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">, that authentic competitive battle is what brings excitement and passion to the game for fans, players, coaches, broadcasters, sponsors, etc. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">If the NBA were to play </span><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">an honest </span><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">season followed by </span><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">straightforward </span><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">playoffs it</span><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;"> can be a league like none other with an impervious reputation to match</span><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">. It has the most popular players in the world and a game most people have played and understand but continues to languish well behind the NFL and MLB. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">Next post: 82 Games Too Many. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">(1) </span>If you're bored or at work go to <a href="http://www.basketball-reference.com/leagues/NBA_2014.html">www.basketball-reference.com</a><b> </b>click the Eastern Conference and Western Conference headings, it will
sort according to records, go back to previous seasons and compare the 8th
seeded Eastern Conference team to the 9th seeded Western Conference team
to see how often and egregious the seedings have been.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">(2) </span>SRS - Simple-Rating-System - calculated by average point differential and strength of schedule by basketball-reference.com</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5390624198671309794.post-4928832607418241962014-04-03T13:19:00.000-07:002015-08-21T09:27:54.301-07:00Eliminate Conferences for Competitive Balance<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">A brief study of the NBA's final season's standings during the David Stern Era (1983-2013) reveals that competitive balance never existed. First, only 9 different teams of the 30 NBA teams have won the championship during the past 30 years, the NFL has had 18 and the MLB has had 20 different teams over the same period. The same large market teams win continually and consecutively. The San Antonio Spurs are the exception since they have had three core players for over a decade, that consistency is not seen in any large or small market teams and not in any other league.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">The glaring injustice is readily seen by reviewing the season's standing and the playoffs' seeding format. The NBA </span><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">is organized </span><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">(two conferences containing three divisions with five teams in each) </span><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">so that the division winners and the remaining top 5 teams within each conference qualify for the playoffs. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">Longtime NBA fans have held that the Eastern and Western Conferences are not equal, are not balanced. Specifically that teams in the West are superior to teams in the East. The greatest injustice the NBA perpetuates is against Western teams who play a </span><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">preponderance</span><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;"> of their games against tougher competition </span><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">and are then punished for that excellence </span><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">(teams play a </span><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">majority</span><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;"> of their games within their conference)</span><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">. A 9th or 10th place Western team with a better record, having faced stiffer competition, will not qualify for the championship so that an inferior Eastern team can qualify, solely to maintain the dated notion of conference symmetry. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">The NBA would have you believe that this imbalance is either part of the natural order, that it will balance-out or that the balance shifts</span><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;"> over time</span><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">. This is largely a myth. Since 2000, 19 Western Conference teams have held superior records to the 8th seeded Eastern Conference team and failed to qualify for the playoffs. Overall during the 30 seasons of the David Stern Era:</span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">20 seasons finished with a minimum of one team failing to qualify for the playoffs even though it earned a better record than the 8th seeded team in the opposing conference </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">10 seasons finished with multiple teams failing to qualify for the playoffs even though they earned a better
record than the 8th seeded team in the opposing conference</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">14 seasons finished with Western teams failing to qualify for playoffs with better records than Eastern teams (most recently 2012-13 Dallas & Utah)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">6 seasons finished with Eastern teams failing to qualify for playoffs with better records than Western teams (most recently 1997-98 Washington Wizards</span><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">19 seasons finished with playoff-qualified teams who won less than half their games (under .500)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">Since 2000, 10 Eastern Conference teams, who won less than half their games, qualified for the playoffs while 14 Western Conference teams with better records failed to qualify in those same years</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">The NBA conference system is broke and has been for long time. However the most unfortunate aspect for NBA fans is that </span><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">the new commissioner, Adam Silver, has </span><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">no plans to alleviate this perpetual injustice of basic structure. The simplest solution is to eliminate the conferences all together. The conferences are an archaic and antiquated conception designed to mitigate travel and expenses and whose rationale deteriorates as time moves forward. Instead the NBA should <b>eliminate the conferences and have the division winners and the remaining overall top 10 teams qualify for the playoffs</b>.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">If these changes</span><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;"> were applied to last season, the first round playoff match-ups would be as follows:</span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">1. Miami Heat vs. 16. Boston Celtics</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">2. Oklahoma City Thunder vs. 15. Utah Jazz* </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">3. San Antonio Spurs vs. 14. Atlanta Hawks</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">4. Denver Nuggets vs. 13. Houston Rockets</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">5. Los Angeles Clippers vs. 12. Los Angeles Lakers</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">6. Memphis Grizzlies vs. 11. Chicago Bulls</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">7. New York Knicks vs. 10. Golden State Warriors</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">8. Indiana Pacers vs. 9. Brooklyn Nets</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">* Utah Jazz with a 43-39 record failed to qualify because they were in the Western Conference while the Milwaukee Bucks with a 38-44 record did qualify because they were in the Eastern Conference (also Dallas Mavericks had a 41-41 record).</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: small;">Finally t</span><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">hanks to www.basketball-reference.com for stats.</span><span style="font-size: small;"><br /> </span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5390624198671309794.post-60783364793120908982014-03-27T08:16:00.000-07:002015-08-21T09:28:19.077-07:00Part 2: Adding Back Divisional Games to Match 82-game Schedule<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Most all of the feedback I received instantly pointed out that fewer games is a non-starter. I had underestimated the significance of matching the current 82-game schedule, dismissing those 8 games (4 home games) is dismissing 10% of the schedule. That is obviously too much to ask for, my bad.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">So, while holding on to the tournament as previously outlined, the most simple option would be to add those 8 games to the regular season by exploiting the current divisional format (eliminating conferences). Teams would play their respective divisional opponents four times (16 games) and opponents outside the division only twice, home and away (50 games). Each division winner and then the overall remaining top 10 teams would go to the playoffs. This reaches the almighty 82-game destination exactly and precisely.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">So to summarize this post with the previous, my proposal for the NBA is to:</span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">scrap the preseason completely.</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">have each team to play 16 games of group-play (6 groups of 5 teams seeded according to final regular season's standing, see previous post). </span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">have top 3 teams in each group enter the tournament (similar to sweet 16, a.k.a. NBA Super Bowl, see previous post).</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">create a 66-game regular season with current divisions, leading to playoffs as is currently constructed. </span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">Finally I would like to thank the guys at Drive and Dish Podcast (driveanddish.podbean.com) and Steve Kyler (@stevekylerNBA) for
their feedback to the initial post.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5390624198671309794.post-3035648595583574722014-03-05T21:32:00.000-08:002015-08-21T09:20:33.662-07:00Reboot the NBA: Ditch the Preseason, Add a Tournament and Cut the Season to 58 Games <div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;">What
if players had more opportunity to win while playing fewer games? What if NBA owners could create substantially
more revenue, practically an additional season’s worth? What if fans had more to root for rather than the
polar extremes of a championship or a lottery pick? What if each team’s final position in the
season’s standings was made relevant for seeding in next season’s tournament? What if the NBA could be as grand as the
Olympics, as global as soccer, as frenetic as the NCAA, as fan-devoted as the
NFL while spreading more hope than the Pope?
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;">Of
course let me get out of the way the subjects of arena lease agreements,
broadcasting rights, revenue contracts, the CBA and all the legal and financial
business arrangements of the NBA and the players’ union that I have no
knowledge of and will attempted to maintain my distance from. The focus (and assumption these obligations
are based on) of this article will revolve around the current parameters of an 82
game regular season.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;">First
eliminate the preseason. Second start the
regular season later and reduce it to where teams play each other twice, at
home and on the road. Next is to remove all
notions of conferences and divisions and then allow the overall top 16 teams to
qualify for the playoffs, which would play out as is currently constructed. Going from an 82 to a 58 game regular season would
add substantial value and urgency to games throughout the season and especially
going into the playoffs. My proposal is
to replace the 24 games lost with a 20 game group-play tournament, similar to
world cup soccer, to be held annually prior to the regular season. This tournament will create unimaginable new
life for basketball fans, players and owners while setting NBA apart from all
other leagues. </span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Similar to the current
divisional format, the tournament begins with 6 groups of 5 teams, seeded
according to the previous season’s standing, where each team would play each
other four times (group-play) to qualify and to establish seeding for the
tournament. Based on the win-loss
percentage of teams in the 2012-13 season, the following groups would’ve
competed in a 2013 NBA Tournament:</span></span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
<span style="color: #666666;"><u>Group A</u> <u>Group B</u> <u>Group C</u></span></span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><b>1. Miami Heat</b> <b>2. Oklahoma City Thunder</b> <b>3. San Antonio Spurs</b></span></span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><b>7. New York Knicks</b> <b>8. Indiana Pacers</b> <b>9. Brooklyn Nets</b></span></span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><b>13. Chicago Bulls</b> <b>14. Atlanta Hawks</b> <b> 15. Utah Jazz</b></span></span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><b>19. Philadelphia 76ers</b> <b>20. Toronto Raptors</b> <b>21. Portland Trailblazers</b></span></span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><b>25. Sacramento Kings</b> <b>26. New Orleans Hornets</b> <b>27. Phoenix Suns</b></span></span></span></b></div>
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<b>
<span style="font-size: small;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"> <span style="color: #999999;"> <span style="color: #666666;"><u>Group D</u> <u>Group E</u> <u>Group F</u></span></span></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"> 4. Denver Nuggets 5. Los Angeles Clippers 6. Memphis Grizzlies</span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">10. Golden State Warriors 11. Los Angeles Lakers 12. Houston Rockets</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">16. Boston Celtics 17. Dallas Mavericks 18. Milwaukee Bucks</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">22. Minnesota Timberwolves 23. Washington Wizards 24. Detroit Pistons</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">28. Cleveland Cavaliers 29. Charlotte Bobcats 30. Orlando Magic</span><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></span></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Please
note the teams in each group will change each year according to where they
finish in the overall regular season’s standings, providing further intrigue in
addition to playoff and lottery seeding as the season finishes.</span><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large; font-weight: normal;">In group-play, teams will play each team in their group four times, two at home
and two on the road, for a minimum of 16 games and a maximum of 21 games, going
through tournament-play. Following 6
weeks of group-play the top 3 teams in each group would advance according to
win percentage, point differential, points scored or whatever the competition
committee decides to rank them by and then (after qualifying) seeded 1-18
accordingly. There could be several
identical records so whatever criteria are used it should readily translate to
the court, thus providing a potential basketball laboratory where different
incentives, rules and regulations can be tested. Group-play is basically starting the season
with playoffs -- 5 teams go in, 3 teams get out. The final tournament would consist of 18
teams in 2 play-in games, a first round of 8 games, quarter-finals, semi-finals
and a final championship game. The last
4 teams would have to compete in play-in games to round-out the brackets
properly. The winner of the 15<sup>th</sup>
versus 18<sup>th</sup> seeded match up would play the 1<sup>st</sup> seed and
the 2<sup>nd</sup> seed would play the winner of the 16<sup>th</sup> versus 17<sup>th</sup>
seeded match up, these last four teams will have to play an extra game to win
the tournament. It is possible to go
with the top 16 teams but that could punish teams in difficult groups
considering they only play within their respective groups. The overall brackets
would look something like this:</span><b><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span></span></b></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">1. v (15. v 18.) ________ </span></span></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">7. v 10. ________ > ________ </span></span></b></span></span></div>
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</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">3. v 14. ________ > ________ </span></span></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">5. v 12. ________ > ________ \</span></span></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">2. v (16. v 17.) ________ __________ <b>></b> Champion </span></span></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">8. v 9. ________ > ________ /</span></span></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">4. v 13. ________ > ________ </span></span></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">6. v 11. ________ > _______</span></span></b><span style="font-weight: normal;"><b>_</b> </span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Logistically
group-play is impossible to consider as simple replacement to a month long
preseason. Time and travel are large
obstacles since 16 games for each of the 30 teams means 480 total games. Currently the regular season consists of each
team playing 82 games over 26 weeks, however with a new 58 game regular season played
over the course of 20 weeks (playoffs stay the same) and then taking the 4
weeks of now-defunct preseason games it is simple to locate the 10 weeks or so needed
to conduct the tournament.</span></span><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Travel
and competitive balance are another obvious consideration to make. As intriguing as the groups are, having teams
travel coast-to-coast constantly in a short time frame does not bode well for
competitive balance. However it can be
mitigated as the current NBA format routinely allows for competitive imbalance
with back-to-back games where it is not unusual for teams with significant
differences in rest to play each other. For
example near-coastal teams could play consecutive games against each other at
their respective home games. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Finally
tournament-play would be conducted over two weekends much like the NCAA
tournament from the sweet 16 onward and interest will also be generated in selecting
the locations of the tournament which should rotate much like the All-Star game
and Super Bowl. A minimum of two arenas
are required for the first weekend, 12 games over 4 days, hosting an afternoon
and evening game on the Thursday and Friday and quarter-final games over each
Saturday and Sunday afternoon or evening. The final three games can held in one arena
over the next weekend with the semi-final games on a Friday and the final on a
Sunday. I predict the schedule will be
constructed to maximize interest, viewership, revenue, etc. This is where it is easy to imagine the NBA
taking the tournament overseas every now and then once it matures.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">The
new NBA season would have group-play begin in October so that the first weekend
of the tournament could be played over Thanksgiving weekend finishing the next
weekend. The regular season would begin
around Christmas running through April as it currently does with All-Star
weekend and the playoffs following normally as well. The draft process in June and the free agency
period beginning in July would remain untouched as well. It is my hope the tournament, group-play
specifically, will both test and allow for better evaluation of players than
the preseason. An added incentive for
teams not to treat the tournament like the preseason would be to reward a team winning
all three, the tournament, regular season and playoffs, in a single season with
induction directly into the NBA Hall of Fame as a triple-crown winning team.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Another
impediment is time off for players and teams.
A championship team would have less than three months off before
beginning to prepare for the tournament and possibly only two weeks off before
beginning the regular season. Previously
I identified 24 games for each team as the primary difference to compensate for, which means
12 home games, unfortunately the 16 group-play games leaves us with 8 home
games and thus I am short 4 home games. However the value this tournament will add can
restore any economic casualties related to those lost games. The issues of making up lost games and off-season
rest, much like the time, travel and competitive balance considerations made in
group-play, are not impossible to mitigate but could be an easy obstacle for
detractors to point to as there are no absolute and equitable answers.</span></span><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">There it is -- an
epic, annual tournament in addition to the regular season and playoffs -- putting the NBA
where no league has gone before. Greatness
can be redefined with more trophies for teams and players to chase and possibly
a third could be created for winning the regular season. With further differentiation between the regular
season, the playoffs and now the tournament, the legacy of players and teams
will be further analyzed with added statistical ammunition, debating who can excel
in which format. For fans there will be a
ton of fantasy type games and gambling opportunities, new rivalries between
cities and added hope that your team or player could “shock the world”. Finally for owners it is a new product to sell,
exercising the same mechanisms already in existence to establish new
broadcasting deals, new licensing and sponsorship rights, etc. For all parties involved, fans, players,
coaches and owners it sounds too good to be true. What if?</span></span></span> </span></div>
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