change needed in NBA format..?

[pillwenney]

Obviously I'm against the players union.

Players strike, they don't get payed, and can't owners hire replacement players? Maybe there's some (Please Use More Appropriate Word) law against that, I don't know.

No laws. Just the fact that nobody would watch a league full of replacement players. Nobody is going to pay any kind of money to watch a league where the MVP is Pooh Jeter. Hell, most people won't watch it for free.

[Wolfay]

Obviously I'm against the players union.

Players strike, they don't get payed, and can't owners hire replacement players? Maybe there's some (Please Use More Appropriate Word) law against that, I don't know.

No laws. Just the fact that nobody would watch a league full of replacement players. Nobody is going to pay any kind of money to watch a league where the MVP is Pooh Jeter. Hell, most people won't watch it for free.

Some people will, though not as many, and at least owners won't have to pay their replacements millions and millions of dollars. This could put pressure on the union.

I think we can all agree that the real problem is that owners and players aren't fans of the game like we are. I can't blame them, but it still sucks.

[pillwenney]

No. Nobody would watch. Nobody. Not "not as many". Nobody would watch. The ratings would be C-SPANesque. It would be especially bad in big markets. Nobody in LA or New York is going to be pay money to see a bunch of d-leaguers play.

[Wolfay]

No. Nobody would watch. Nobody. Not "not as many". Nobody would watch. The ratings would be C-SPANesque. It would be especially bad in big markets. Nobody in LA or New York is going to be pay money to see a bunch of d-leaguers play.

I think you're wrong. People watch minor leagues and college sports. Basketball will go on if there's no Lebron James.

[pillwenney]

No. Nobody would watch. Nobody. Not "not as many". Nobody would watch. The ratings would be C-SPANesque. It would be especially bad in big markets. Nobody in LA or New York is going to be pay money to see a bunch of d-leaguers play.

I think you're wrong. People watch minor leagues and college sports. Basketball will go on if there's no Lebron James.

Very few people watch minor leagues. Very, very few. And college really isn't comparable.

The league would survive without Lebron James, but not without every single player that is currently in the league. This isn't even accounting for the idea that many players would be afraid to be scabs for fear of not being allowed to be in the players union in the future. That alone would eliminate a lot of the d-league guys.

[Wolfay]

No. Nobody would watch. Nobody. Not "not as many". Nobody would watch. The ratings would be C-SPANesque. It would be especially bad in big markets. Nobody in LA or New York is going to be pay money to see a bunch of d-leaguers play.

I think you're wrong. People watch minor leagues and college sports. Basketball will go on if there's no Lebron James.

Very few people watch minor leagues. Very, very few. And college really isn't comparable.

The league would survive without Lebron James, but not without every single player that is currently in the league. This isn't even accounting for the idea that many players would be afraid to be scabs for fear of not being allowed to be in the players union in the future. That alone would eliminate a lot of the d-league guys.

Enough people pay attention to the point where they exist. The NBDL for example has plans to expand and games are even going to be broadcasted nationally on Versus. Minor league baseball is popular is spots, like here in Sac for example. The NBA will have more followers just because it's the NBA. People will always have an appetite for professional sports, regardless who is playing.

[wolfdog]

You just like arguing don't you Wolfay? There is a reason why there is a players union, the owners were taking advantage of the players, and after the merger with the ABA the NBA became a monopoly and was forced to make concessions after lawsuits. Even if they did fire everyone and then hire cheap labor they would most likely get broken up by the United States government for monopoly abuse, there is no ifs or buts about this, they are a monopoly sanctioned by the US government and abusing said monopoly would either cause a break up like bell or forced concessions...

[pillwenney]

Enough people pay attention to the point where they exist. The NBDL for example has plans to expand and games are even going to be broadcasted nationally on Versus. Minor league baseball is popular is spots, like here in Sac for example. The NBA will have more followers just because it's the NBA. People will always have an appetite for professional sports, regardless who is playing.

Yes, but it's not even comparable. The ratings on TV will still suck horribly. Getting broadcasted nationally on Versus is not my idea of what the NBA is. And more importantly, the owners wouldn't want that either. They own these teams for the big money--not to merely exist.

It would still succeed relatively speaking in places like Sac, but not in the big markets, where the league actually makes most of their money. Merchandising would completely crumble--you're talking about basically totally downsizing the league. It simply wouldn't work. At the very least, it won't work better than the system as it currently is. That's for sure.

[Wolfay]

Yes, but it's not even comparable. The ratings on TV will still suck horribly. Getting broadcasted nationally on Versus is not my idea of what the NBA is. And more importantly, the owners wouldn't want that either. They own these teams for the big money--not to merely exist.

It would still succeed relatively speaking in places like Sac, but not in the big markets, where the league actually makes most of their money. Merchandising would completely crumble--you're talking about basically totally downsizing the league. It simply wouldn't work. At the very least, it won't work better than the system as it currently is. That's for sure.

There will come a point were players will be asking too much, and that point is closer than some think. Owners also aren't afraid to lockout, as they've demonstrated in the past, and not just in the NBA, but in other professional sports. If owners aren't scared to just shut the thing down altogether, then I don't think hiring replacements players is out of the question for them. We'll see what happens once they really starting talking about the new CBA.

You just like arguing don't you Wolfay? There is a reason why there is a players union, the owners were taking advantage of the players, and after the merger with the ABA the NBA became a monopoly and was forced to make concessions after lawsuits. Even if they did fire everyone and then hire cheap labor they would most likely get broken up by the United States government for monopoly abuse, there is no ifs or buts about this, they are a monopoly sanctioned by the US government and abusing said monopoly would either cause a break up like bell or forced concessions...

I admit I like a good debate, but that's not why I'm arguing, at least not for this particular argument. As for your point, I'll just say that unions may have had their time and place, but I think they've grown too powerful and have outlived their original purpose. A union can be just as greedy as any corporate CEO. I don't want to go any further because I think that's getting more off topic. I already have mitch arguing with me, I don't want him warning me too!