drsd wrote:I like Bill Simmons idea of having the top 7 teams get an automatic entry to the playoffs and the other 8 teams in a conference playing a single-elimination tournament for that 8th slot. Not only does it sound fun, which is really the point of sports, but it also means that teams in the high 20s will play hard at the season's close rather than tank. This idea only adds three games to the conference calendar.
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BadMofoPimp wrote:KingRobb02 wrote:BadMofoPimp wrote:Well. I don't believe in Tanking. Ever. That is a poor way to play a sport as a professionals. If teams continue to tank on purpose, then they need to change the lottery to where every team in the lottery has an equal chance at the 1st overall pick.
I've been saying for years that the NBA should do away with incentivizing bad play and just give every team a 1 in 30 shot at the top pick. If there was no reward for missing the playoffs, do you think Philly tries a bit harder to improve it's roster? The "downside" is that a team like the Spurs or Heat could end up with a top pick, but it would definitely even things out in the long run. Top picks aren't everything. Looking at last years draft, the best player was clearly Kyrie, but considering injuries and such, I would say the guys who have helped their teams just as much were Faried and Leonard. Those guys were both picked outside the lottery anyway. If the NBA really cared about quality of play, they would do away with rewarding bad play.
Maybe not all 30 teams, but all non-playoff teams have an equal chance at the top Pick. Then, teams would truly fight for the playoffs every year or fight to win out of pride and chemistry because they really hate to lose instead of allowing teams players to just give up.
I don't like his idea, because it would mean that there is a chance Houston misses the playoffs this year because Boogie Cousins gets hot for 1 game. I'm fine with the 82 game season deciding who moves on to the playoffs. It's the fact that next year we will probably have 8 teams actively trying to put out the worst product possible. Charlotte has cap room and large expirings that could bring in a guy who could help them. How much do you want to bet they do nothing major?
I say put all 30 teams in because I think it would be fun to see a 6 seed have a shot at a real reward instead of being forced to make decisions about either overspending in free agency or bottoming out and starting from scratch. An all-30 team lottery allows teams to rebuild on the fly. Where would Trey Burke be more fun to watch next season? Indiana or that basketball purgatory known as Phoenix?
