Wiretap: Morey's 58-game season and March Madness style tourney

[SA37]

I am surprised no one has started a thread about this, but:

In an appearance with Colin Cowherd on Volume Sports, Philadelphia 76ers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey proposed radical changes to the NBA schedule. Morey is in favor of changing both the regular season schedule and how the NBA Playoffs are run, in hopes of boosting ratings for both.

After Cowherd suggested shortening the regular season slightly and returning to best-of-five series in the first round of the playoffs, Morey upped the ante.

“You’re too timid, but you gotta go farther,” Morey said. “I like 58. Every team plays every (other) team two times. The playoffs, I 100 percent agree, shorter is better.”

The playoffs are where Morey took things to another level.

“I would have it one-and-done,” Morey said. “There’s a reason everyone tunes into every game at huge ratings in the NFL. It is literally one-and-done. And the NCAA Tournament, in 63 games, gets more money than we do in our entire regular season."



https://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/265898/Daryl-Morey-Favors-58-Game-Regular-Season-One-And-Done-Playoffs

As far as the regular season goes, I think this is a very appealing idea, especially given how teams are electing to sit guys out, limit players' minutes, or just the general wear-and-tear that seems to be having an effect on injury rates for players.

I am not sure a one-and-done, March Madness style playoff tournament would be optimal as a replacement for the NBA playoffs, but this would be worth considering for the NBA tournament they want to implement. I do think the playoff series should be shorter, preferably a best-of-3.

Thoughts?

[IAMZOOTED2]

I like where Morey's head's at here. The slog of the season can get old for the average fan... and if the ultimate goal is make make cake then we should expect to see some changes, but I'm not sure the figures he's quoting are telling the whole story. Especially with regard to sales outside of tickets alone. Concession sales, jerseys, shoes, n merch might take a hit. Not to mention the TV packages.

[wegotthabeet]

I am surprised no one has started a thread about this, but:

In an appearance with Colin Cowherd on Volume Sports, Philadelphia 76ers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey proposed radical changes to the NBA schedule. Morey is in favor of changing both the regular season schedule and how the NBA Playoffs are run, in hopes of boosting ratings for both.

After Cowherd suggested shortening the regular season slightly and returning to best-of-five series in the first round of the playoffs, Morey upped the ante.

“You’re too timid, but you gotta go farther,” Morey said. “I like 58. Every team plays every (other) team two times. The playoffs, I 100 percent agree, shorter is better.”

The playoffs are where Morey took things to another level.

“I would have it one-and-done,” Morey said. “There’s a reason everyone tunes into every game at huge ratings in the NFL. It is literally one-and-done. And the NCAA Tournament, in 63 games, gets more money than we do in our entire regular season."



https://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/265898/Daryl-Morey-Favors-58-Game-Regular-Season-One-And-Done-Playoffs

As far as the regular season goes, I think this is a very appealing idea, especially given how teams are electing to sit guys out, limit players' minutes, or just the general wear-and-tear that seems to be having an effect on injury rates for players.

I am not sure a one-and-done, March Madness style playoff tournament would be optimal as a replacement for the NBA playoffs, but this would be worth considering for the NBA tournament they want to implement. I do think the playoff series should be shorter, preferably a best-of-3.

Thoughts?

Someone already did. You just have a much better title for the thread.

https://forums.realgm.com/boards/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=2169351

[xdrta+]

Why does Morey hate basketball?

[Roscoe Sheed]

This is totally unrealistic from a financial stand point- the NBA would lose way too much money. Not enough games.

From a basketball perspective, I do think the regular season should be shorter, but leave the post-season the way it is.

[Swish1906]

58 games is also much more fair. Huge advantage right now if your Division is trash.

[celticfan42487]

58 games is by far better for the game and quality of basketball.

But we live in capitalism which demands the worst product that produces the maximum amount of profit as possible. No one's going to sacrifice money for the sake of doing the right thing or for the love of the game.

That said Morey is a billion times right and so is everyone else that's been calling for this for years and years now.

[Triple M]

29 games
Single elimination tournament
29 games
Regular playoffs

[payton2kemp]

I like watching more games. Why do people want less entertainment? I don't care if stars sit out games to rest. If they want to play 70 games out of 82 so be it. But I'd rather have more games.

Plus this would pretty much kill any records from ever being broken, I don't like that either.

[Triple M]

Also 58 games will mean conference don't exist and best 16 make the playoffs

[Bank Shot]

Single-elimination rounds in an era where a ton of games are decided by little more than three-ball variance doesn't sound enjoyable at all.

[Bornstellar]

My team has no shot at the playoffs and I enjoy getting to see them play 82 times. Really wish people would stop crying about the length of the season when it's always been this way. Social media generation has too short of an attention span and wants instant gratification. What happened to just enjoying watching ball? This idea is just idiotic. This is the NBA, not college basketball

inb4 oldmanyellsatcloud.jpeg

[Nate505]

One and done in the playoffs is a horrible idea. Some team could fluke their way to a championship.

[xdrta+]

Professional basketball is entertainment, it's not about the "quality of the game" or "purity of the game," it's about entertainment for the fans. I'm a fan, the more games the better, as far as I'm concerned.

[azcatz11]

It's a horrible idea. March Madness works for college because of the pageantry and raw emotion. There's nothing like watching a 2 seed beat a 15 seed or a Cinderella run IE Florida Gulf Coast 6 years ago or whatever. It just wouldn't hit the same way if you had a team like the Magic beat the Heat or whoever.

It's also not even remotely on the table. Isn't the NBA trying to get like a $100B TV deal in a couple of years? Good luck trying to sell this when revenue is going to increase 4x assuming nothing is done

[BeatDaCavs420]

This sounds terrible lmao

[payton2kemp]

It's a horrible idea. March Madness works for college because of the pageantry and raw emotion. There's nothing like watching a 2 seed beat a 15 seed or a Cinderella run IE Florida Gulf Coast 6 years ago or whatever. It just wouldn't hit the same way if you had a team like the Magic beat the Heat or whoever.

It's also not even remotely on the table. Isn't the NBA trying to get like a $100B TV deal in a couple of years? Good luck trying to sell this when revenue is going to increase 4x assuming nothing is done

Ya the quality of college ball actually kinda sucks. Most of the players aren't that good, if they had more games like the NBA it would be a horrible product. Plus obviously they don't get paid so its a moot point. That 2 vs 15 seed would be quite boring if it was a 5 or 7 game series.

[macNcheese3]

One and done in the playoffs is a horrible idea. Some team could fluke their way to a championship.

Yes, they could but doesn't that make it more exciting? The thrill of knowing its do or die? Would we see a better product on the floor?

[rand]

Don't touch the best of 7 series. That's a red line.

[DusterBuster]

I’m with Morey on this too. The season is too damn long, as are the playoffs.