There are 82 games in standard, lockout-free NBA season, and most of the time the playoff seeds are determined long before the 82nd game, aside from maybe the seventh and eighth seeds. Only one instance in my lifetime can I recall an eight seed making it to the finals, most of the time these teams don't even really matter. Unlike the college format in which anything can happen, the best team always wins in the NBA playoffs because it is a seven-game series.
So with the playoff spots being essentially locked up weeks before the final regular season games, teams often don't even try down the stretch. Players like Derek Rose, Kobe Bryant, Dwight Howard and Dwayne Wade have been sitting out games just so they can get healthy, knowing their respective teams are already in the playoffs. Similarly, the Spurs have been sitting all of their veteran players lately just because they are older and need to be fresh for the playoffs. So what's the point of playing 82 games when the players aren't even trying right now, aside from those teams fighting for the last couple of playoff spots, which don't really matter anyway.
The answer to that question is probably money, so this isn't something that is going to change.
Regardless, I think the quality of the play would be far better if the season were only 50 games. Maybe players would actually play every game, actually play defense every night, and actually care about winning each game. People complain there's no defense in the NBA. Just watch the playoffs, these guys are freakishly good defenders, but only when they choose to be. If the season were shorter, maybe more games would be played like playoff games.
While the competition might get a little better if the season was shortened to 50 games, I don't know how well that would go over with owners who are raking in profits from people attending their games, as well as TV contracts. Plus, even in this current season (shortened by 16 games) many teams seem to just go through the motions unless they're playing higher caliber opponents. If the season was shortened to 50 games, would it really change the Chicago Bulls' or Miami Heat's mentality when playing against the Charlotte Bobcats?
ReplyDeleteI think it is true. When players have a good enough lead they sit out they're superstars or the better players to keep them healthy and fresh. I don't think shortening the games would go over with owners well, but that is a good suggestion. And I do think that you see better players in the playoffs than you do in regular season because thats when it counts.
ReplyDeleteI think the NBA season length is appropriate. Having grueling schedules like the NBA and MLB adds to their sport. It takes someone who is a gifted athlete physically and mentally to play at the highest level. Playing games everyday or every other day takes the best athletes in the world.
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