NBA considering eliminating back to backs

[Draco]

NBA is seriously considering altering the schedule to go later into the summer as a means of reducing or potentially eliminating back-to-back games.

NBA teams typically have between 16 and 20 back-to-backs per season, an element of the schedule almost universally despised by players, particularly veterans.

http://espn.go.com/dallas/nba/story...ays-everybody-nba-schedule-going-later-summer

I'm all for it. They can cut a week out of the preseason and extend the season a week or two. It would greatly improve the product on the court. Nobody wants to watch a primetime matchup with multiple veterans sitting out. It could improve fan interest in watching games as its hard to find the time for Blazer games multiple nights in a row. 4 games in 5 nights is ridiculous. The team could also choose to always travel on off days which would again improve the play on the court and get players more normal sleeping schedules.

NBA athletes are more over-trained than basically any professional athlete. Damian Lillard runs 2.5 miles per game and those are such high intensity its probably the equivalent of a distance runner doing a half marathon.

 

[santeesioux]

Extending the season sounds good to me, only having baseball to watch in the summer sucks.

 

[Strenuus]

it'll be done. and good.

baseball is the better sport though, santee.

 

[PDXFonz]

Oh yes, this will be most excellent.

 

[riverman]

I'm all for it. Baseball monitors high end pitchers to keep them from injury. Basketball needs to do the same or all the starters will have shorter, less productive careers.

 

[KingSpeed]

I like watching back to backs. I hate off days. I want my Blazers as much as possible.

 

[H.C.]

nba players for as much as they make... should be expected to play 365 games a year.

 

[blue32]

I don't mind this, as long as I can watch the damn games next year

 

[BoBoBREWSKI]

I like the idea of cutting short the Pre-Season to eliminate some back to backs, but don’t think its necessary to extend the regular season/playoffs. I think 5-7 back to backs each season is OK. I counted the Blazers as having 14 back to backs this season. I'm guessing the players would want as long of an off-season as possible to enjoy all that $$$ they make.

 

[kjironman1]

Been saying this for years. The one thing i hope they don't do is change it before the Thunder have a B2B against the Blazers Friday. After that they can change it any time they want.

 

[BBert]

Thank fucking god.

I would be ok with a few home team back-to-backs, but road back-to-backs are fucking ridiculous.

Cut down on the wear and tear on players, reduce injuries, improve the product on the court.

What a concept.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

I'm completely in the minority here. My favorite season in recent memory was the highly compressed 66-game season where teams were occasionally playing on 3 consecutive nights. It felt like a four-month sprint, with constant action, and I loved it. Rather than elongating the season and eliminating back to backs, I think they should shorten the season, compress the time schedule, and basically own the beginning of the year like football does the end.

 

[dviss1]

I'm completely in the minority here. My favorite season in recent memory was the highly compressed 66-game season where teams were occasionally playing on 3 consecutive nights. It felt like a four-month sprint, with constant action, and I loved it. Rather than elongating the season and eliminating back to backs, I think they should shorten the season, compress the time schedule, and basically own the beginning of the year like football does the end.

It's a good thing it's not up to you.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

It's a good thing it's not up to you.

Good for whom? The players? Debatable. An expansion of my vision:

In Platy-world, the schedule is 58 games (playing each of the other 29 teams twice), played only on Sundays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. The season begins the Thursday after the Super Bowl, thereby giving the public four full days to digest the end of the football season before turning its full attention to hoops. Four games a week plus 2 in the opening half-week means the regular season is 14 1/2 weeks long. This year, opening night would have been February 5th, and the final night of games would be Saturday May 16th.

Divisions would be irrelevant, and the playoffs would simply be the top 16 teams, irrespective of location. The playoff schedule would be even further compressed, with each series being 2-3-2, and off days only for travel, or if your series ends early. Therefore, there would be 10 days allocated for each series: 7 for games, 2 for travel, and 1 for transition to the next series. I would allot 3 days rest (for media build-up) between the regular and post-seasons, and playoffs would begin the Wednesday after the final regular season game. This year, round 1 would be from May 20-28, round 2 May 30-Jun 7, round 3 Jun 9-17, and the finals from Jun 20-28 (two days media build up before the finals allows the series to both begin and end on a weekend). "All-star" festivities would occur two weekends after the finals (July 11-12 this year), and the draft would occur two days later (July 14) at the same location. What currently constitutes the "moratorium" would occur over the next couple weeks, and the league year and free agent signing period would commence immediately at 12:01 on August 1st.

The goal would be complete media saturation over a 6-month period. Every weekend is a back-to-back. Every playoff series is grueling. It's a true war of attrition. F nights of the week are appointment viewing, and the entire sports-watching public knows that there are games those nights. Every talk radio day is either dissecting the prior night's games or previewing that evening's games. From early February through early August, the NBA would own the sports landscape, and the major portion of free agency would begin to dwindle simultaneously with the start of the NFL pre-season. Much as everyone knows that September through January belong to the NFL, everyone would know that February through June belong to the NBA.
​

We all know that nothing like this will ever happen, but I guarantee you that this would be a much more marketable and profitable product than what the NBA currently has. And the end result would be a shorter season and more money for everyone.

 

[dviss1]

​

Good for whom? The players? Debatable. An expansion of my vision:

In Platy-world, the schedule is 58 games (playing each of the other 29 teams twice), played only on Sundays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. The season begins the Thursday after the Super Bowl, thereby giving the public four full days to digest the end of the football season before turning its full attention to hoops. Four games a week plus 2 in the opening half-week means the regular season is 14 1/2 weeks long. This year, opening night would have been February 5th, and the final night of games would be Saturday May 16th.

Divisions would be irrelevant, and the playoffs would simply be the top 16 teams, irrespective of location. The playoff schedule would be even further compressed, with each series being 2-3-2, and off days only for travel, or if your series ends early. Therefore, there would be 10 days allocated for each series: 7 for games, 2 for travel, and 1 for transition to the next series. I would allot 3 days rest (for media build-up) between the regular and post-seasons, and playoffs would begin the Wednesday after the final regular season game. This year, round 1 would be from May 20-28, round 2 May 30-Jun 7, round 3 Jun 9-17, and the finals from Jun 20-28 (two days media build up before the finals allows the series to both begin and end on a weekend). "All-star" festivities would occur two weekends after the finals (July 11-12 this year), and the draft would occur two days later (July 14) at the same location. What currently constitutes the "moratorium" would occur over the next couple weeks, and the league year and free agent signing period would commence immediately at 12:01 on August 1st.

The goal would be complete media saturation over a 6-month period. Every weekend is a back-to-back. Every playoff series is grueling. It's a true war of attrition. F nights of the week are appointment viewing, and the entire sports-watching public knows that there are games those nights. Every talk radio day is either dissecting the prior night's games or previewing that evening's games. From early February through early August, the NBA would own the sports landscape, and the major portion of free agency would begin to dwindle simultaneously with the start of the NFL pre-season. Much as everyone knows that September through January belong to the NFL, everyone would know that February through June belong to the NBA.
​

We all know that nothing like this will ever happen, but I guarantee you that this would be a much more marketable and profitable product than what the NBA currently has. And the end result would be a shorter season and more money for everyone.

You could have saved your soliloquy.

 

[illmatic99]

Adam Silver : The People's Commissioner.

 

[kjironman1]

​

Good for whom? The players? Debatable. An expansion of my vision:

In Platy-world, the schedule is 58 games (playing each of the other 29 teams twice), played only on Sundays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. The season begins the Thursday after the Super Bowl, thereby giving the public four full days to digest the end of the football season before turning its full attention to hoops. Four games a week plus 2 in the opening half-week means the regular season is 14 1/2 weeks long. This year, opening night would have been February 5th, and the final night of games would be Saturday May 16th.

Divisions would be irrelevant, and the playoffs would simply be the top 16 teams, irrespective of location. The playoff schedule would be even further compressed, with each series being 2-3-2, and off days only for travel, or if your series ends early. Therefore, there would be 10 days allocated for each series: 7 for games, 2 for travel, and 1 for transition to the next series. I would allot 3 days rest (for media build-up) between the regular and post-seasons, and playoffs would begin the Wednesday after the final regular season game. This year, round 1 would be from May 20-28, round 2 May 30-Jun 7, round 3 Jun 9-17, and the finals from Jun 20-28 (two days media build up before the finals allows the series to both begin and end on a weekend). "All-star" festivities would occur two weekends after the finals (July 11-12 this year), and the draft would occur two days later (July 14) at the same location. What currently constitutes the "moratorium" would occur over the next couple weeks, and the league year and free agent signing period would commence immediately at 12:01 on August 1st.

The goal would be complete media saturation over a 6-month period. Every weekend is a back-to-back. Every playoff series is grueling. It's a true war of attrition. F nights of the week are appointment viewing, and the entire sports-watching public knows that there are games those nights. Every talk radio day is either dissecting the prior night's games or previewing that evening's games. From early February through early August, the NBA would own the sports landscape, and the major portion of free agency would begin to dwindle simultaneously with the start of the NFL pre-season. Much as everyone knows that September through January belong to the NFL, everyone would know that February through June belong to the NBA.
​

We all know that nothing like this will ever happen, but I guarantee you that this would be a much more marketable and profitable product than what the NBA currently has. And the end result would be a shorter season and more money for everyone.

I think the injuries would decimate the league. After a few short weeks there would be nothing but complaining about being tired and in the end it would truly simply be a war of "attrition" as you say. We would end up watching the Will Barton's and Allen Crabbe's of the league get schooled by the LeBron's and the team that wins in the end would not be the best team but the youngest and most healthy most likely. It would either be that or the teams would simply play the season to get to the playoffs and then they would play their true starters. The Playoffs would then be another pre-season type system and you end up trying to just "get by" the first round.
It would be exciting but not the best for Basketball IMHO.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

I think the injuries would decimate the league. After a few short weeks there would be nothing but complaining about being tired and in the end it would truly simply be a war of "attrition" as you say. We would end up watching the Will Barton's and Allen Crabbe's of the league get schooled by the LeBron's and the team that wins in the end would not be the best team but the youngest and most healthy most likely. It would either be that or the teams would simply play the season to get to the playoffs and then they would play their true starters. The Playoffs would then be another pre-season type system and you end up trying to just "get by" the first round.
It would be exciting but not the best for Basketball IMHO.

You're overstating it. Teams already play 16-17 games a month. That wouldn't change. My plan would simply normalize the breaks. Routine actually reduces injuries. Once the routine of the normalized schedule took effect, players would know how to prepare optimally for the games. And with a 6-month off-season, even the Euro-hoopers would have plenty of time to recover and come into the season fresh.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

You could have saved your soliloquy.

I had already typed it before your response. I just incorporated it into my reply to you for the sake of continuity.

 

[dviss1]

I had already typed it before your response. I just incorporated it into my reply to you for the sake of continuity.

 

[dviss1]

You're overstating it. Teams already play 16-17 games a month. That wouldn't change. My plan would simply normalize the breaks. Routine actually reduces injuries. Once the routine of the normalized schedule took effect, players would know how to prepare optimally for the games. And with a 6-month off-season, even the Euro-hoopers would have plenty of time to recover and come into the season fresh.

There is not one player in the NBA (nor would the NBA) agree to this. Less games equals less revenue. It's a pipe dream that really isn't a good dream at all. The players would consider it a nightmare and so would the league. I love 82 games and want to see as much basketball as possible.

 

[BlazerWookee]

Don't eliminate back-to-backs. Eliminate travel BETWEEN back-to-backs. Home-and-home back-to-backs are just fine...

 

[PtldPlatypus]

There is not one player in the NBA (nor would the NBA) agree to this. Less games equals less revenue. It's a pipe dream that really isn't a good dream at all. The players would consider it a nightmare and so would the league. I love 82 games and want to see as much basketball as possible.

Fewer games on a better schedule would result in more money, not less. The majority of revenue comes from the TV contracts. If more of the season mattered, and the scheduled were fixed and restricted, the TV ratings will increase. So would the anticipation created by being off for a full six months between the draft and opening night. Absolutely owning 5 months is significantly better than simply populating 8.

Yes it's a pipe dream, but it's MY pipe dream, and I like it.

 

[dviss1]

Don't eliminate back-to-backs. Eliminate travel BETWEEN back-to-backs. Home-and-home back-to-backs are just fine...

Are you an NBA player? How do you know what the players feel about this? I think they would be all for eliminating B2Bs.

 

[dviss1]

Fewer games on a better schedule would result in more money, not less. The majority of revenue comes from the TV contracts. If more of the season mattered, and the scheduled were fixed and restricted, the TV ratings will increase. So would the anticipation created by being off for a full six months between the draft and opening night. Absolutely owning 5 months is significantly better than simply populating 8.

Yes it's a pipe dream, but it's MY pipe dream, and I like it.

This makes no sense. How would they get more money from the networks for less games?

 

[PtldPlatypus]

This makes no sense. How would they get more money from the networks for less games?

Better ratings would net more money. I firmly believe in the concept of media-driven consumerism. If the sports talk and highlight shows are primarily fixated on the NBA for that 5-month span, increased viewership would follow.

 

[dviss1]

Better ratings would net more money. I firmly believe in the concept of media-driven consumerism. If the sports talk and highlight shows are primarily fixated on the NBA for that 5-month span, increased viewership would follow.

I respectfully disagree.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

I respectfully disagree.

I appreciate the respectful nature of your disagreement.

 

[Draco]

PtldPlatypus why stop there, how about having double header games and games 5 weekdays in a row? Your ideas are ridiculous and if you don't understand that your delusional.

I think some underestimate how physically difficult an NBA game is. Players are much larger and stronger than 40 years ago when the schedule was developed. Back then the average player was under 195lbs. Nowdays the average player is 220+lbs. If you want to see basketball players at their peak they need adequate rest.

There aren't any playoff back to backs. Its illogical to have one type of schedule during the regular season then a different one in the playoffs.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

PtldPlatypus why stop there, how about having double header games and games 5 weekdays in a row? Your ideas are ridiculous and if you don't understand that your delusional.

I think some underestimate how physically difficult an NBA game is. Players are much larger and stronger than 40 years ago when the schedule was developed. Back then the average player was under 195lbs. Nowdays the average player is 220+lbs. If you want to see basketball players at their peak they need adequate rest.

There aren't any playoff back to backs. Its illogical to have one type of schedule during the regular season then a different one in the playoffs.

So, your reply is clearly the contrast to dviss' respectful disagreement...

In any case, as I've stated, my regular season would be very similar to the current one, just shorter and more evenly structured. Prior to the all star break, the Blazers played 51 games in 15 weeks. My schedule would have one more game per two weeks played, with none of 4-in-5s or 5-in-7s that the current schedule has.

The current playoff schedule already differs significantly from the existing regular season schedule, so it seems incongruous to state that we can't have different schedules for regular and post season, when we already have exactly that.

My format would give six months of rest in the off-season, which is much more than the current format does. In the playoffs, it would also place a premium on winning series' quickly, as it would earn a team more rest.

I'm sorry that you feel my thoughts are ridiculous, but there is logic behind all of it, and they're all absolutely defensible.