Why not make the "Entertaining as Hell" tourny a reality?

Hitman33 · Post #1 » by **Hitman33** » Sat Aug 13, 2011 8:43 pm

For a league that needs revenue, Bill Simmons' "Entertaining As Hell Tournament" idea makes absolutely perfect sense. Simmons' brought it up during his recent podcast with Stern and Stern kind of dismissed it? Why? Seriously...what is the downside of this? It would be a totally epic thing.

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Shorten the regular season by four games, guarantee the top six seeds in each conference, then have a double-elimination tourney for the seventh and eighth seeds between the remaining 15 teams. I suggest this for five reasons. First, it would be entertaining as hell. In fact, that's what we'll call it: the Entertaining-as-Hell Tournament. Second, I'm pretty sure we could get it sponsored. Third, the top 12 teams get a reward: two weeks of rest while the tournament plays out.

Fourth, a Cinderella squad could pull off some upsets, grab an eighth seed and win fans along the way. And fifth, with the Entertaining-as-Hell Tournament giving everyone a chance, no team could tank down the stretch without insulting paying customers beyond repair. That's the lamest thing about tanking: not that it's morally unsound, but that fans pay full price to see a depleted group of losers with dubious intentions.

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This would be wildy entertaining, make the regular season more meaningful, solve the problem of tanking and generate additional revenue.

What's not to love about this idea?

Dreamz · Post #2 » by **Dreamz** » Sat Aug 13, 2011 8:59 pm

It's one of those things that makes too much sense for them to even try.

Post #3 » by **Froob** » Sat Aug 13, 2011 9:10 pm

Unless I'm reading this wrong wouldn't this make the regular season less meaningful? Doesn't matter how crappy of a record you have you could make the playoffs if you win the tourny.

Hitman33 · Post #4 » by **Hitman33** » Sat Aug 13, 2011 9:14 pm

Froob wrote:Unless I'm reading this wrong wouldn't this make the regular season less meaningful? Doesn't matter how crappy of a record you have you could make the playoffs if you win the tourny.

No, because you would have to finish in the top 6 in your conference in order to make the playoffs.

Teams will not want to have to enter the "Entertaining As Hell" tournament, along with the other also rans of the league, in order to get into the playoffs.

There is no downside to this.