Would less be more? When it comes to the NBA schedule, Warriors coach Steve Kerr believes so. He’d like to see the NBA cut its regular season from 82 games to 72, Monte Poole of NBC Sports Bay Area writes. That would encourage coaches to play their regulars more often, instead of giving them nights off, particularly as the season winds down.
“What makes the most sense is cutting back to maybe a 72-game schedule,” Kerr said. “Take 10 games off and get more time to rest in between games. I think you’ll get buy-in from the teams to play their guys more often.”
We have more tidbits from around the basketball world:
- Magic forward Admiral Schofield was fined $20K, while Magic center Robin Lopez and Hornets center Montrezl Harrell were fined $15K for their roles in an on-court altercation on Thursday, the NBA announced (Twitter link). All three were ejected during the fourth-quarter scuffle (video link).
- Commissioner Adam Silver likes the way the play-in tournament has encouraged teams on the playoff bubble to remain competitive but might tweak it in future years, Mike Vorkunov of The Athletic tweets. Executive VP of basketball strategy and analytics Evan Wasch suggested the league would consider a scenario where the ninth- and 10th-place finishers in each conference would have to win a certain number of games to qualify for the play-in.
- Guard Mac McClung was named NBA G League Rookie of the Year after averaging 21.6 PPG and 7.6 APG for the South Bay Lakers, the league tweets. The Lakers rewarded McClung with a two-way contract on Saturday.
- Free agent guard Shaquille Harrison has been named G League Defensive Player of the Year, according to a league press release. Harrison averaged 1.93 steals per game for the Delaware Blue Coats.
Why can’t the league just extend the timeframe of the season? Still encompass 82 games but during a longer duration so there no back to backs. Start in the beginning of october or end at the end of April. The league would lose money if they if they cut down on the games so that is not going to happen.
Why doesn’t 7 play 10 and 8 play 9?
Instead of 7v8 and 9v10 and the loser of 7v8 then has another game against the winner of 9v10?
Just play 2 games instead of 3 and it’s a lot more simple.
Another idea could be for draft seeding. They tried to stop teams from tanking to get the number 1 spot. It has worked to a certain degree by lowering the odds and things but why not have a play in series for the top draft picks aswell.
For example, in this case it would be the Thunder vs Pistons for first in the draft, Rockets vs Magic for third in the draft, etc etc
Gives young guys that miss the playoffs, playoff like scenarios to step up and see what they can do. Also stops rumours of draft fixing and stops situations where a team with the 5th worst record somehow gets the first overall pick.
Have a weekend of play in games 7v10, 8v9 in both divisions and play in for top draft spots.
Would make a interesting lead in for the playoffs.
Steve Kerr obviously is forgetting that revenue is tied to # of games. Every single advertiser would be revised deals if it’s not already built into their contracts. 12% haircut.
Yeah, no way it happens. Defensible idea in theory, but no way anyone involved takes that big of a paycut.
At best, maybe you could shave off, say, 4 games but then it’s like what’s the point?
Exactly top team get reward of rest before the playoffs. Teams 7-10 get to battle for a playoff spot. The worst teams/rebuilding teams get 1 last game with some meaning to it.
Would also work well in reducing the regular season and adding these extra games that’ll get more views.
Would the players take a 10% paycut if they go to 72 games?
Eliminate back to back on the road games. Not that hard for the NBA to do that but of course they don’t want to take time and do a good schedule. They are trying too much on having games of the week and only thinking of TV dollars.
Play 82 like it always has been. Take pride like every single player before you did in the history of the NBA. They get paid way more today. Get rid of the play in tournament. These players couldn’t last against the old heads
Ok, Boomer.
Agree w Kerr, 72 is the number