***Official 2024-2025 NBA Thread***

[KC_Connection]

Season starts tonight with Knicks and Celtics followed by Lakers and TWolves.

Will history be made early in the 2nd game?

[chiefzilla1501]

Id also add… change the playoffs. Stop giving participation trophies to bubble teams. Last years playoff was like a gladiator arena where the winner was the one who could survive the least injured. Only to watch Boston win because they played all hurt teams and then went into the finals fresh against a hurt and exhausted Mavs squad.

Make teams compete for less spots and put more at stake for the regular season. And let’s focus on fewer but better playoffs games

[UteChief]

I have said for years they need to reduce the number of games. Play same conference teams 3 times, 42 games. Play out of conference teams twice, 30 games. For a total of 72 games. Schedule games Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday or Sunday. Three games a week. I figured before if you started the games the same time, it would end the same time as an 82 game schedule. Eliminate back to backs, and four games in five nights. A max three game week allows for rest and practice time.

Owners and the players association would never do this because of lost revenue and media contracts. But I think it would improve the league. I guess you could alternate games Monday, Wednesday, and Friday or Saturday to keep media rights happy.

[BWillie]

Originally Posted by KC_Connection

Analytics nerds took control of basically every NBA organization in the quest for efficiency. Same thing happened in baseball over the course of several decades after Moneyball and it ruined the viewing experience (too many strikeouts/over shifting/massive reliever usage/far longer games, etc.).

MLB has begun the process of taking it back from them and the NBA now needs to do the same.

Bill Self still doesn't believe in any of this shit.

[BWillie]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

I do think it's funny that the 'analytics nerds' finally figured out what we knew 25 years ago playing video games.

I coulda told you after a season on NBA Live for my Super Nintendo that firing 3 pointers was the way to put up 130+ points. It's simple math.

The only thing that surprises me is that it took this long for the NBA decisionmakers to figure it out. Maybe it was just a shortage of shooters? And now, a generation later, all of us kids that learned to bomb away have kids we taught to shoot?

It took them 50 years in the NFL to go for it on 4th and 2 from the 40.

[UteChief]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

I do think it's funny that the 'analytics nerds' finally figured out what we knew 25 years ago playing video games.

I coulda told you after a season on NBA Live for my Super Nintendo that firing 3 pointers was the way to put up 130+ points. It's simple math.

The only thing that surprises me is that it took this long for the NBA decisionmakers to figure it out. Maybe it was just a shortage of shooters? And now, a generation later, all of us kids that learned to bomb away have kids we taught to shoot?

Which NBA Live? Yes it matters!

[BigCatDaddy]

And I'll also throw in that while the style of the game is just horrendous the NBA just either doesn't do a good job or marketing or doesn't have marketable stars. Guys just lack charisma anymore. Even taking MJ out of the equation, Barkley, Magic, Shaq, Kobe were all very marketable and unique personalities. They even made pretty boring guys like David Robinson and Olajawon seem cool to kids. Stern was very Vince McMahon like in that he was able to find things about guys and make that their gimmick so to speak. It created drama and build up for games. The team hopping shit doesn't help much either when it comes to rivalries.

[chiefzilla1501]

Great. Put money on Tatum and jimmy butler today and they get sick within minutes of the tipoff. Right… they just figured this out after the game started

Class action the living shit out of this league. This injury report nonsense has gotta stop. Disgusting slap in the face to fans. They deserve these tanking ratings.

[Sassy Squatch]

Quite frankly there's so much wrong right now with multiple aspects of the sport it just may not be fixable.

[chiefzilla1501]

Originally Posted by Sassy Squatch

Quite frankly there's so much wrong right now with multiple aspects of the sport it just may not be fixable.

Agreed. The injury reports, blowouts, three point chucking, minutes restrictions, pulling starters in the 4th quarter in comebackable games, college players coming from the g league instead of building their brand and game in college. So bad right now

[Sassy Squatch]

Accessibility is really bad too. Needs a complete overhaul. I just don't think the owners or the players either one will be willing to make the necessary sacrifices to get this under control and not be relegated to a complete niche sport.

[BWillie]

Originally Posted by BigCatDaddy

And I'll also throw in that while the style of the game is just horrendous the NBA just either doesn't do a good job or marketing or doesn't have marketable stars. Guys just lack charisma anymore. Even taking MJ out of the equation, Barkley, Magic, Shaq, Kobe were all very marketable and unique personalities. They even made pretty boring guys like David Robinson and Olajawon seem cool to kids. Stern was very Vince McMahon like in that he was able to find things about guys and make that their gimmick so to speak. It created drama and build up for games. The team hopping shit doesn't help much either when it comes to rivalries.

The problem is most of their stars are polarizing. Either due to politics or personality or both.

Mahomes is likable, apolitical and has an endearing personality. Thats all you have to do.

[BWillie]

Originally Posted by Sassy Squatch

Quite frankly there's so much wrong right now with multiple aspects of the sport it just may not be fixable.

I kinda think the style is exciting. I think less threes would be good but its fun watching the ball go in and the rapid ball movement. The ball doesn't stick as much as most years due to the spacing now.

The brutal ball of the 90s and 00s was tough to watch really. Shooting that little threes as well is not exciting. There needs to be a happy medium. The amount of dunks have also increased. Dont we want dunks? There are still mid range kings like Shai, too.

https://runrepeat.com/82-stats-on-dunks-in-the-nba

[Sassy Squatch]

That's subjective. What isn't is this load management fiasco they've created. It needs to be addressed.

[BWillie]

Originally Posted by Sassy Squatch

That's subjective. What isn't is this load management fiasco they've created. It needs to be addressed.

Completely agree. You make 50 million to run chase after a ball. If you get hurt you get hurt.

[KC_Connection]

Originally Posted by chiefzilla1501

Great. Put money on Tatum and jimmy butler today and they get sick within minutes of the tipoff. Right… they just figured this out after the game started

Class action the living shit out of this league. This injury report nonsense has gotta stop. Disgusting slap in the face to fans. They deserve these tanking ratings.

Butler has been “sick” for literally 3 games now, have him in fantasy. The guy regularly doesn’t play the games at this point (I expect he’s angling for a trade).