ATL - Season Resumes page 87

[WeekapaugGroove]

My thought on baseball was they'd play all the games in shared stadiums in the Phoenix area and travel by bus. It wouldn't be as tight of a bubble as the NBA, as you guys noted because that wouldn't be possible.

EDIT: You've also got the benefit of not being a close proximity sport and the games could be played outdoors, unlike the NBA. You'd think MLB could've come up with something better than what they chose.

Part of baseballs problem is there's so much animosity between the owners and players they spent months fighting about **** where time and effort could have been dedicated to figuring out how to actually get this season done safely.

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[Perishable517]

Who cares that a 40-42 8th seed gets in while a 44-38 one doesn't? I don't really get the hand-wringing over conferences, especially in a sport where the 8th seed has only won a playoff series, what, once in the last 20 years? All of this stuff really only ever comes up because of the perceived "unfairness" to a handful of Western conference treadmill teams. In the NFL it only ever comes up when some 8-8 team makes the playoffs and then it's "abolish guaranteed playoff berths for division winners".

It's ok to keep certain traditional formats and not change things based on reactionary thinking. Conference balance realigns (it arguably already has swung back to the East) and if anything, the NBA should be doing more to make division and conference rivalries a thing.

Right on!

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[FrieAaron]

I stand by that no sports will happen this fall if they do not have a bubble. College, pro, doesn't matter. The only ones that will work are bubble ones, and even the bubble is suspect because it only takes one Lou Williams.

MLB teams are even travelling between cities, right? Seems like a good way to guarantee 14 of your players will get it if one has it, unless all players are travelling separately.

[dbrodz7]

I stand by that no sports will happen this fall if they do not have a bubble. College, pro, doesn't matter. The only ones that will work are bubble ones, and even the bubble is suspect because it only takes one Lou Williams.

MLB teams are even travelling between cities, right? Seems like a good way to guarantee 14 of your players will get it if one has it, unless all players are travelling separately.

Also, I read they're testing every other day in a sport that plays every day.

[awd4cy]

Who cares that a 40-42 8th seed gets in while a 44-38 one doesn't? I don't really get the hand-wringing over conferences, especially in a sport where the 8th seed has only won a playoff series, what, once in the last 20 years? All of this stuff really only ever comes up because of the perceived "unfairness" to a handful of Western conference treadmill teams. In the NFL it only ever comes up when some 8-8 team makes the playoffs and then it's "abolish guaranteed playoff berths for division winners".

It's ok to keep certain traditional formats and not change things based on reactionary thinking. Conference balance realigns (it arguably already has swung back to the East) and if anything, the NBA should be doing more to make division and conference rivalries a thing.

I support this message.

[WeekapaugGroove]

Who cares that a 40-42 8th seed gets in while a 44-38 one doesn't? I don't really get the hand-wringing over conferences, especially in a sport where the 8th seed has only won a playoff series, what, once in the last 20 years? All of this stuff really only ever comes up because of the perceived "unfairness" to a handful of Western conference treadmill teams. In the NFL it only ever comes up when some 8-8 team makes the playoffs and then it's "abolish guaranteed playoff berths for division winners".

It's ok to keep certain traditional formats and not change things based on reactionary thinking. Conference balance realigns (it arguably already has swung back to the East) and if anything, the NBA should be doing more to make division and conference rivalries a thing.

I support this message.

It is crazy that since 2000 there's literally only been 1 season (08-09) where the Eastern Conference won more games than the West. That's 20 f-ing years and more than one whole cycle of players. So the inequality is absolutely real. And this is with playing imbalanced schedules where west teams cannibalize themselves.

I think it's greatest impact is it's harder for smaller market bad teams to actually get good out west. They play harder schedules and have more good teams to jump over so it can create a cycle where even when they get some good players they can't get over the hump then those players force their way out and it starts the process again.

If you're one of those treadmill teams everyone **** on maybe if you played in a best 16 playoffs you win a series or two and use that momentum to attract a FA that gets you off the treadmill.

Now the real way to create a more competitive league is no max salaries and a hard cap, basically the NFL model but neither the players or big market owners will go for that.

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[FlagsFlyForever]

Props to the NBA for doing the bubble.

Thought MLB was stupid to try and do things outside one.

Of course the NBA may still have a “Lou Williams” ruin it for everyone.

To be fair, it's a lot harder to do a bubble with baseball and the two places that could make it work are COVID hotspots. But yes the idea that MLB was going to get through the season with players being allowed to go wherever the **** was dumb and par for the course for Manfred.

I don't think it's fair to blame Manfred when he was dealing with a very hostile players union that refused his attempts at a contained bubble.

Read on Twitter

[jschligs]

Read on Twitter

This d-bag jeopardizes the bubble, lies about it, then gets caught and back tracks and has the audacity to call out a talking head? Yea, Perk is a joke, but what Lou did was 100% in the wrong. Lost a lot of respect for Lou in this. For once Perk was right.

[Licensed to Il]

Not sure “I was only getting take out” is the worst excuse ever given for going to a strip club. But it certainly is not a good enough one for Lou Williams to be claiming the moral high ground.

[Dick Tate]

Props to the NBA for doing the bubble.

Thought MLB was stupid to try and do things outside one.

Of course the NBA may still have a “Lou Williams” ruin it for everyone.

To be fair, it's a lot harder to do a bubble with baseball and the two places that could make it work are COVID hotspots. But yes the idea that MLB was going to get through the season with players being allowed to go wherever the **** was dumb and par for the course for Manfred.

I don't think it's fair to blame Manfred when he was dealing with a very hostile players union that refused his attempts at a contained bubble.

Read on Twitter

A 115 degree bubble would've been a blast!

[paulpressey25]

I don't think it's fair to blame Manfred when he was dealing with a very hostile players union that refused his attempts at a contained bubble.

Falls on both parties, no doubt.

That said, I recall a couple months ago that it was suggested they use Arizona as the bubble (this was when they had few cases). However the regional sports networks with the big TV deals all balked at that. They felt that their local ratings would be far superior if the MLB games were played in home stadiums, even if sparsely populated. The networks think that having a "local game" or series would bring more fan interest in said game, and more would watch.

Because MLB gets so much of their revenues from the local TV contracts, they agreed to play home games and no bubble site. Recall this being discussed in detail on a pod with Passan, etc. back in May.

[WeekapaugGroove]

Read on Twitter

Jesus Christ Larry lol

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[emunney]

Read on Twitter

This d-bag jeopardizes the bubble, lies about it, then gets caught and back tracks and has the audacity to call out a talking head? Yea, Perk is a joke, but what Lou did was 100% in the wrong. Lost a lot of respect for Lou in this. For once Perk was right.

I think he's telling the truth, I just still think it was an unnecessary risk.

[H2tObes]

Just stopped on by to take pictures with celebrities for the gram, dude is so full of it. Strongly dislike the "analysis" of Perk but he is on the money here

[FlagsFlyForever]

https://sports.yahoo.com/miami-marlins-players-reportedly-went-222515897.html

During an appearance on 93.7 The Fan in Pittsburgh, USA Today baseball insider Bob Nightengale said, "I think a couple guys went out in Atlanta. That's what happened. I don't think it was any kind of fluke, from the bus driver or a pilot, any of that. I believe some guys got careless, at least one guy did for sure, he went out, and came back positive and spread it around."

At least 17 Miami Marlins players tested positive for COVID-19 between Friday and Tuesday.

This is how quickly the virus can spread. I think if there is a hole in the NBA's plan, it's the reentry protocol for people who left the campus. A minimum quarantine of four days is not enough to ensure somebody didn't bring the virus in.

[brettski]

https://sports.yahoo.com/miami-marlins-players-reportedly-went-222515897.html

During an appearance on 93.7 The Fan in Pittsburgh, USA Today baseball insider Bob Nightengale said, "I think a couple guys went out in Atlanta. That's what happened. I don't think it was any kind of fluke, from the bus driver or a pilot, any of that. I believe some guys got careless, at least one guy did for sure, he went out, and came back positive and spread it around."

At least 17 Miami Marlins players tested positive for COVID-19 between Friday and Tuesday.

This is how quickly the virus can spread. I think if there is a hole in the NBA's plan, it's the reentry protocol for people who left the campus. A minimum quarantine of four days is not enough to ensure somebody didn't bring the virus in.

I thought it was 4 days because you test day 1, get a result day 2. Test day 3 get a result day 4. That gives you 4 days to get two negatives and re-enter.

[Licensed to Il]

As excited as I am to read about actual basketball again, I'm irritated at how many bloggers are picking the Lakers or Clippers to win it all on the basis of "they were getting hot right before the shut down."

I am interested in how different the playoffs will be, played in a neutral gym. I do think that people will eventually come to think of it as an easier road to the championship (for whoever wins). But I think it is actually a more difficult one, based on no home court advantage, no crowd pick me up, refs less swayed by the crowd, every roster is fresh, etc.

Thoughts?

[Chuck Diesel]

Robert Sarver is absolutely pathetic. Wish the NBA could take teams from people.

[DanoMac]

Sarver needs to be Sterling'd

In a sick and twisted way though it is a little pleasing to watch another team have piss poor ownership after experiencing it for the first 25 years of my life.

[FlagsFlyForever]

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/29544380/nba-owners-current-financial-turmoil-portends-future-payroll-problems

As they face what some expect to be tens of millions per franchise in losses next season, some teams might have to slash payroll, perhaps trading players or electing not to aggressively pursue free agents. Others might offload draft picks. "I suspect first-round picks will be for sale in this draft," one team executive said.

Getting a clear picture of what will happen in October, when the NBA's offseason is expected to commence, is a challenge. But the signs already point to hard decisions coming and possible player movement to handle the money challenges. "With few exceptions, no one wants to make long-term commitments right now," one general manager said. "You can already feel it coming."

The possible losses have teams looking at other ways to generate money, from the sale of assets, including real estate, or tapping credit facilities. One NBA team, the Minnesota Timberwolves, is already publicly for sale.

"I don't know what will happen, but I may lose $50 million next season," one owner told ESPN. "If that happens, I have three options: I could borrow the money, I could sell part of the team or I could do a cash call and me and my partners would have to write checks."

Robert Sarver selling his G League team could certainly be a reaction to the hardships NBA teams are facing right now. But it also could just be something as simple as wanting to have his developmental team closer to Phoenix. Personally, I think Oshkosh is too far for the Herd.