What is the point of the regular season?

[Marchesk]

Other than for generating revenue, of course.

You hear it all the time how regular season records, beyond making the playoffs, don't matter and regular season performances and awards are less important than playoff accolades.

Would you rather have your team go 47-35 but win the title, or 70-12 and lose? Would you prefer your favorite player win an MVP but not make the finals, or FMVP?

The most games a team can play in the postseason is 28 (4 series x 7). That's only 34% of the regular season. Yet it determines the best team.

But it's worse than that. One team might have the fortune of playing in a relatively weak the conference. They may only have to beat two good teams in a series to win the title.

So he's my fix. The regular season should be a warm up. Say 20 games. Then the playoffs start. The first team to win a series against every other team deserves to be crowned champions. Still generates the revenue, and games mean a whole lot more. We could disqualify shitty teams like the Knicks if they need to tank. But otherwise, everyone gets a shot.

[ButterFace]

Entertainment, money, playoff positioning/entry. Maybe training as well.

[LoneyROY7]

Other than for generating revenue, of course.

:coleman:

Does there need to be another reason?

[ISHGoat]

Other than for generating revenue, of course.

You hear it all the time how regular season records, beyond making the playoffs, don't matter and regular season performances and awards are less important than playoff accolades.

Would you rather have your team go 47-35 but win the title, or 70-12 and lose? Would you prefer your favorite player win an MVP but not make the finals, or FMVP?

The most games a team can play in the postseason is 28 (4 series x 7). That's only 34% of the regular season. Yet it determines the best team.

But it's worse than that. One team might have the fortune of playing in a relatively weak the conference. They may only have to beat two good teams in a series to win the title.

So he's my fix. The regular season should be a warm up. Say 20 games. Then the playoffs start. The first team to win a series against every other team deserves to be crowned champions. Still generates the revenue, and games mean a whole lot more. We could disqualify shitty teams like the Knicks if they need to tank. But otherwise, everyone gets a shot.

http://i.ytimg.com/vi/1IkGj5Ghgm4/hqdefault.jpg

[ButterFace]

So he's my fix. The regular season should be a warm up. Say 20 games. Then the playoffs start. The first team to win a series against every other team deserves to be crowned champions. Still generates the revenue, and games mean a whole lot more. We could disqualify shitty teams like the Knicks if they need to tank. But otherwise, everyone gets a shot.

You hate basketball, don't you?

[Marchesk]

You hate basketball, don't you?

I'm just left wondering about the value of regular season games. I got excited when the Heat beat the Cavs last night, and then some poster had to remind me that it's wasn't the playoffs, so it doesn't matter. And he's right.

Also, if you had to beat every other team in a series (disqualifying the crappiest teams first), then you can still have a butt load of games to generate revenue.

Imagine if winning the West involved having to beat the top 10 teams in a series (be the first anyway).

[smoovegittar]

I'm just left wondering about the value of regular season games. I got excited when the Heat beat the Cavs last night, and then some poster had to remind me that it's wasn't the playoffs, so it doesn't matter. And he's right.

Also, if you had to beat every other team in a series (disqualifying the crappiest teams first), then you can still have a butt load of games to generate revenue.

Imagine if winning the West involved having to beat the top 10 teams in a series (be the first anyway).

He's not right. Come June when there's sweet FA going on 'cept Baseball, I'd kill for a decent NBA game. I disagree with this post.

Sure, there's a lot of crappy games. But my children still love to watch them.

[KungFuJoe]

http://www.tabdeportes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/lebron-voodoo.jpg

[Budadiiii]

I'm just left wondering about the value of regular season games. I got excited when the Heat beat the Cavs last night, and then some poster had to remind me that it's wasn't the playoffs, so it doesn't matter. And he's right.

Also, if you had to beat every other team in a series (disqualifying the crappiest teams first), then you can still have a butt load of games to generate revenue.

Imagine if winning the West involved having to beat the top 10 teams in a series (be the first anyway).
Seems a bit complicated and anti-climatic

[Spurs m8]

LOL 20 games.

The playoffs will probably go for the same amount of time, regardless of reg season, so OP, how about you hibernate between July and April and we'll see ya then,

Cheers

Smh

[Sarcastic]

People enjoy watching the sport of basketball. Contrary to popular belief, the major sports leagues (NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL) exist to make money off of the peoples' enjoyment of watching basketball. Crowning a champion of each league is just the cherry on top. They run those leagues to make money off playing the games, not to crown a champion.

[smoovegittar]

LOL 20 games.

The playoffs will probably go for the same amount of time, regardless of reg season, so OP, how about you hibernate between July and April and we'll see ya then,

Cheers

Smh

:oldlol:

[Marchesk]

Seems a bit complicated and anti-climatic

Obviously. But I've always had the feeling that playoffs don't really determine the champion, unless the team is clearly better than everyone else, which would have been seen during the regular season. The Giants winning the SB in 07 is clearly a case where the best team that year didn't win, even though it was a beautiful thing.

So Kentucky winning the tournament is one thing, but UConn last year was just a case of a team getting hot. But that's a one and done deal.

Miami going to four straight finals with only having to play one Western team in a series a year feels like they get a free pass.

[Marchesk]

People enjoy watching the sport of basketball. Contrary to popular belief, the major sports leagues (NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL) exist to make money off of the peoples' enjoyment of watching basketball. Crowning a champion of each league is just the cherry on top. They run those leagues to make money off playing the games, not to crown a champion.

This is the actual truth. And playoffs are done in a format to make them exciting. I'm pretty sure a mathematician or scientist would come up with a better format to determine the champion.

What kills me is how a 3-4 game conference tournament in the NCAAs gets the winner an automatic bid. Sometimes in a smaller mid-major, you get a team with a losing record into the tourney over a team that has like 25 wins. But it's all for the excitement and revenue.

[Budadiiii]

Obviously. But I've always had the feeling that playoffs don't really determine the champion, unless the team is clearly better than everyone else, which would have been seen during the regular season. The Giants winning the SB in 07 is clearly a case where the best team that year didn't win, even though it was a beautiful thing.

So Kentucky winning the tournament is one thing, but UConn last year was just a case of a team getting hot. But that's a one and done deal.

Miami going to four straight finals with only having to play one Western team in a series a year feels like they get a free pass.
NBA is arguably the one league that truly determines the 'best team' consistently.

I can understand thinking there's too many regular season games but it all comes down to money.

I think the NBA system does a fine job of determining the best team even if one conference is noticeably weaker than the other.

Heat got bitch slapped in the finals last year despite having a free ride.

Are there any years you can think of that the best team didn't win the championship?

[ButterFace]

Seems a bit complicated and anti-climatic

This.

[FKAri]

I agree with one thing: There's too many games in a season.

[ButterFace]

I agree with one thing: There's too many games in a season.

http://mybroadband.co.za/news/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Moar-Angry-Baby-demotivational.jpg

[Marchesk]

I agree with one thing: There's too many games in a season.

At least it's not like baseball. Baseball seems to stretch for an eternity, but I hate that sport.

I have a more reasonable solution. 21 teams, 60 games (play every team 3 times), no divisions or conferences, top 8 teams are in the playoffs, reseed for each round. That's the most fair way to determine a champion without proposing crazy ideas like in the OP.

[Sarcastic]

At least it's not like baseball. Baseball seems to stretch for an eternity, but I hate that sport.

I have a more reasonable solution. 21 teams, 60 games (play every team 3 times), no divisions or conferences, top 8 teams are in the playoffs, reseed for each round. That's the most fair way to determine a champion without proposing crazy ideas like in the OP.


NBA would lose probably over a billion dollars in revenue, and would have to cut over 100 roster spots. Not only would the owners not want this, but the players would hate it too.

Again, the sport does not exist to crown the most worthy champion. It exists to make money.

[ButterFace]

At least it's not like baseball. Baseball seems to stretch for an eternity, but I hate that sport.



Finally we agree on something.

[Marchesk]

Again, the sport does not exist to crown the most worthy champion. It exists to make money.

Yes, of course. In my ideal pro basketball league, it would exist to crown a champion first, and make money second. My athletes wouldn't starve or have to get second jobs. But they don't also need to have 3 homes and 5 expensive cars. They can still be happy doing what they love for a living.

From a pure basketball scenario, 82 games is too long. There should be no back to back, and there are too many teams diluting talent. Divisions in sports never made sense to me (who gives a damn if you get a division crown?), and conferences can be unbalanced.

[Eric Cartman]

It's a business:

Commercials
Sponsors
TV deals
Nike
Adidas
Under Armour
Reebok
Sprite
Gatorade
Powerade
Merchandise
Tickets

[Marchesk]

It's a business:

Commercials
Sponsors
TV deals
Nike
Adidas
Under Armour
Reebok
Sprite
Gatorade
Powerade
Merchandise
Tickets

Yeah, I know. And that doesn't in some ways detract from the purity of the game? They're having a hard time getting rid of back to backs, even though players don't like them, and it leads to more crappy games. Verterans also hate preseason, but those are ticket sales too.

Things are done first for financial reasons, and second for basketball ones. Why is money never enough? You always have to keep growing the business empire. Until one day you're Bill Gates and realize it's pointless to have more billions so might as well do something good for a change.

/mini-rant

[Eric Cartman]

Yeah, I know. And that doesn't in some ways detract from the purity of the game? They're having a hard time getting rid of back to backs, even though players don't like them, and it leads to more crappy games. Verterans also hate preseason, but those are ticket sales too.

Things are done first for financial reasons, and second for basketball ones. Why is money never enough? You always have to keep growing the business empire. Until one day you're Bill Gates and realize it's pointless to have more billions so might as well do something good for a change.

/mini-rant

Let me elaborate a little more on the points made here:

Basketball wise it makes no sense, you don't need so many games to determine the top teams going into the postseason, from a purity of the game purposes, i'd say like 60 games completes the same purpose of 82.

That being said, those mothef*ckers don't give a shit about that, neither does the casual fan, just hardcore basketball fans like ourselves pay that much attention to detail.

Additionaly, having that many back to backs in the season is insanity, I'd like to see a season with no back to backs, so the quality of the product improves.

[Marchesk]

Additionaly, having that many back to backs in the season is insanity, I'd like to see a season with no back to backs, so the quality of the product improves.

You do that and there's less incentive for guys like Pop to rest star players. Although being Pop, he might do it anyway, but as a compromise for getting rid of back to backs, the league could crack down on resting star players unless there are legitimate injury concerns.

[Lebron23]

Without the regular season. Wilt won't be a top 10 player of all time.

https://40.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m09wdzFdji1qzb7vjo2_500.jpg

[Marchesk]

Without the regular season. Wilt won't be a top 10 player of all time.

Not everything I post is about Wilt, but thanks for the lulz.

[iamgine]

Other than for generating revenue, of course.

You hear it all the time how regular season records, beyond making the playoffs, don't matter and regular season performances and awards are less important than playoff accolades.

Would you rather have your team go 47-35 but win the title, or 70-12 and lose? Would you prefer your favorite player win an MVP but not make the finals, or FMVP?

The most games a team can play in the postseason is 28 (4 series x 7). That's only 34% of the regular season. Yet it determines the best team.

But it's worse than that. One team might have the fortune of playing in a relatively weak the conference. They may only have to beat two good teams in a series to win the title.

So he's my fix. The regular season should be a warm up. Say 20 games. Then the playoffs start. The first team to win a series against every other team deserves to be crowned champions. Still generates the revenue, and games mean a whole lot more. We could disqualify shitty teams like the Knicks if they need to tank. But otherwise, everyone gets a shot.
Because...there's demand? Many new york knicks fans still want to see their team play even though they suck. It provides entertainment just like watching opera or tv show that last all season.

[Mr. Jabbar]

to make lebron look good

[sd3035]

I like the system in place, the only thing I'd like to see changed is teams seeded overall, not by conference. The top 16 teams make it, that would eliminate the majority of the teams in the D league East