1. The season is damn LONG! 
82 God-forsaken games plus the pre-season. That's how long an NBA season is. Even for the most die-hard fan you understand that at least 20 of those 82 games are completely meaningless especially if your team is at the top or the bottom of the league. Another 40 of those games MIGHT be competitive, but only about 20 games out of the year are truly exciting to watch. These games usually come against big rivals, a game you attended yourself (which is always more exciting), or, if you're team is in any good or battling for a playoff spot, those games matter the most. But twenty games out 82 is not going to keep me around for long
82 God-forsaken games plus the pre-season. That's how long an NBA season is. Even for the most die-hard fan you understand that at least 20 of those 82 games are completely meaningless especially if your team is at the top or the bottom of the league. Another 40 of those games MIGHT be competitive, but only about 20 games out of the year are truly exciting to watch. These games usually come against big rivals, a game you attended yourself (which is always more exciting), or, if you're team is in any good or battling for a playoff spot, those games matter the most. But twenty games out 82 is not going to keep me around for long
2. The playoffs are too damn LONG! 
I just read a story from the National Public Radio website that focused on how the playoffs have become so long and drawn out that even the most ardent fans are becoming tired with the length. For example, go to this website to find out how long the playoffs were for the World Champion (gag me) San Antonio Spurs. Keep in mind this is the best team in the NBA so it's not a mistake to follow them if you're interested in basketball. Their first game was April 22nd against the Denver Nuggets and ended their run against the Cavs on June 14th!! That's nearly two months of EXTRA basketball. Cut the season short NBA. I've got silly things to do in early June like go on vacation, spend time with my kids, work on the house, work out, and go see summer movies. Give me a break NBA, shorten the regular season, make it more competitive, and I guarantee I'll find time to bring basketball into my precious time.
I just read a story from the National Public Radio website that focused on how the playoffs have become so long and drawn out that even the most ardent fans are becoming tired with the length. For example, go to this website to find out how long the playoffs were for the World Champion (gag me) San Antonio Spurs. Keep in mind this is the best team in the NBA so it's not a mistake to follow them if you're interested in basketball. Their first game was April 22nd against the Denver Nuggets and ended their run against the Cavs on June 14th!! That's nearly two months of EXTRA basketball. Cut the season short NBA. I've got silly things to do in early June like go on vacation, spend time with my kids, work on the house, work out, and go see summer movies. Give me a break NBA, shorten the regular season, make it more competitive, and I guarantee I'll find time to bring basketball into my precious time.
3. Eastern Conference basketball is a complete joke 
I remember I was watching Game 3 between the Cleveland Cavs and the New Jersey Nets one day after work and despite the fact this was a "playoff" game, I actually fell asleep. For the first time in my life I was so incredibly bored by their style of play I passed out on the couch. I'm an admitted Suns fan so I'm used to play that is up-tempo, west coast, run up the score type basketball, but I also played basketball throughout my entire life even in high school so I can appreciate the half-court game. But this was just worse than bad. I remember a rebound came down to Vince Carter and I immediately expected him to start pushing the ball up the court. Apparently I was WAY off base with how basketball should be played. He casually walked the ball up the court, fed it to Kidd, set a screen, jumped out to the three point line, Kidd passed him the ball, and Carter clanged it off the rim. If this had happened once or twice during the game I wouldn't be mad, but this happened at least 50 different times for both teams. Even eastern seaboard residents can't stand to watch the games. I really feel bad for them because they're stuck watching Celtics/Sixers in early January and when really fun games like Suns/Mavericks are happening at 10:00 or 10:30 at night. I've got a family and that is entirely too late for me to START watching the game so where the most eyes are (and where the biggest media markets are as well) has grown to care the least about basketball understandably. Houston......better yet, New York, we've got a problem.
I remember I was watching Game 3 between the Cleveland Cavs and the New Jersey Nets one day after work and despite the fact this was a "playoff" game, I actually fell asleep. For the first time in my life I was so incredibly bored by their style of play I passed out on the couch. I'm an admitted Suns fan so I'm used to play that is up-tempo, west coast, run up the score type basketball, but I also played basketball throughout my entire life even in high school so I can appreciate the half-court game. But this was just worse than bad. I remember a rebound came down to Vince Carter and I immediately expected him to start pushing the ball up the court. Apparently I was WAY off base with how basketball should be played. He casually walked the ball up the court, fed it to Kidd, set a screen, jumped out to the three point line, Kidd passed him the ball, and Carter clanged it off the rim. If this had happened once or twice during the game I wouldn't be mad, but this happened at least 50 different times for both teams. Even eastern seaboard residents can't stand to watch the games. I really feel bad for them because they're stuck watching Celtics/Sixers in early January and when really fun games like Suns/Mavericks are happening at 10:00 or 10:30 at night. I've got a family and that is entirely too late for me to START watching the game so where the most eyes are (and where the biggest media markets are as well) has grown to care the least about basketball understandably. Houston......better yet, New York, we've got a problem.
4. All of the greats were shuffled into one specific era 
There was about a ten year period in the NBA where they could absolutely do no wrong. It was a time where ESPN wasn't as big as it was now, there weren't jerks who posted a daily blog about the NBA (those jerks), cable was still relatively new, and many sports writers weren't nearly as ubiquitous on television, radio, and the internet to post their opinions and observations. This was all combined with the fact that some of the game's BEST players were drafted during that time and reaped almost immediate success. Let me give you a quick run down of some of the star players that were drafted from 1984 until 1992 Jordan (greatest ever), Barkley (Top 50), Hakeem Olajuwon (Top 50), Alvin Robertson, Stockton (assist leader), Jerome Kersey, Patrick Ewing (future HOFer), Chris Mullin, Karl Malone (second all time scorer), Brad Daugherty, Mark Price (purest shooter game has seen), Arvydas Sabonis (could do it ALL), Drazen Petrovic, David Robinson (never seen a seven footer like him), Pippen (one of the greatest), Kevin Johnson, Reggie Miller (didn't miss), Danny Manning, Pervis Ellison, Shawn Kemp (marketers dream), Gary Payton, Toni Kukoc, Dikembe Mutombo (defensive standout), Steve Smith, Shaq (legend), Alonzo Mourning, and Robert Horry (clutch). Not only does this list include some of the game's greatest players, including THE greatest player, it includes players that helped shape the game in some fashion or at some point were so popular that their jerseys were literally flying off of the racks (like Shawn Kemp). The NBA enjoyed its greatest times in a very short span. They couldn't have been more popular in the 1980s and 1990s. I loved them, you loved them, heck, THEY even said "I love this game!" as one of their marketing campaigns. Most of the guys will or should end up in the Hall of Fame and I didn't even get through most of the players. These guys were stand up guys, stayed away from the hip-hop scene largely, stayed off the police blotter, and played the game with a fierce intensity, especially Jordan. Now, let's compare to some of the more recent drafts. Most of these guys are high schoolers or foreign players that amounted to nothing. All of the players on this list are either top 10 picks or supposed All-Stars. Take a gander: Shawn Bradley (bust), Nick Van Exel (average), Glenn Robinson (top pick, average), Juwan Howard (under achieving, injury prone), Eddie Jones, Joe Smith (bust), Antonio McDyess (athletic bust), Stephon Marbury (ball hog), Antoine Walker (lazy), Keith Van Horn (not in the league), Danny Fortson (who now?), Raef LaFrentz (overpaid), Robert Traylor (in jail), Steve Francis (bust), Ron Artest (nut job), Stromile Swift (bust with stupid name), Darius Miles (bench is his second home), Kwame Brown (my Suns embarrassed him), and Dajuan Wagner (out of the league). Of course in each draft you're going to have stars, but if all of your top picks and all-stars are average at best, your league is in trouble.
There was about a ten year period in the NBA where they could absolutely do no wrong. It was a time where ESPN wasn't as big as it was now, there weren't jerks who posted a daily blog about the NBA (those jerks), cable was still relatively new, and many sports writers weren't nearly as ubiquitous on television, radio, and the internet to post their opinions and observations. This was all combined with the fact that some of the game's BEST players were drafted during that time and reaped almost immediate success. Let me give you a quick run down of some of the star players that were drafted from 1984 until 1992 Jordan (greatest ever), Barkley (Top 50), Hakeem Olajuwon (Top 50), Alvin Robertson, Stockton (assist leader), Jerome Kersey, Patrick Ewing (future HOFer), Chris Mullin, Karl Malone (second all time scorer), Brad Daugherty, Mark Price (purest shooter game has seen), Arvydas Sabonis (could do it ALL), Drazen Petrovic, David Robinson (never seen a seven footer like him), Pippen (one of the greatest), Kevin Johnson, Reggie Miller (didn't miss), Danny Manning, Pervis Ellison, Shawn Kemp (marketers dream), Gary Payton, Toni Kukoc, Dikembe Mutombo (defensive standout), Steve Smith, Shaq (legend), Alonzo Mourning, and Robert Horry (clutch). Not only does this list include some of the game's greatest players, including THE greatest player, it includes players that helped shape the game in some fashion or at some point were so popular that their jerseys were literally flying off of the racks (like Shawn Kemp). The NBA enjoyed its greatest times in a very short span. They couldn't have been more popular in the 1980s and 1990s. I loved them, you loved them, heck, THEY even said "I love this game!" as one of their marketing campaigns. Most of the guys will or should end up in the Hall of Fame and I didn't even get through most of the players. These guys were stand up guys, stayed away from the hip-hop scene largely, stayed off the police blotter, and played the game with a fierce intensity, especially Jordan. Now, let's compare to some of the more recent drafts. Most of these guys are high schoolers or foreign players that amounted to nothing. All of the players on this list are either top 10 picks or supposed All-Stars. Take a gander: Shawn Bradley (bust), Nick Van Exel (average), Glenn Robinson (top pick, average), Juwan Howard (under achieving, injury prone), Eddie Jones, Joe Smith (bust), Antonio McDyess (athletic bust), Stephon Marbury (ball hog), Antoine Walker (lazy), Keith Van Horn (not in the league), Danny Fortson (who now?), Raef LaFrentz (overpaid), Robert Traylor (in jail), Steve Francis (bust), Ron Artest (nut job), Stromile Swift (bust with stupid name), Darius Miles (bench is his second home), Kwame Brown (my Suns embarrassed him), and Dajuan Wagner (out of the league). Of course in each draft you're going to have stars, but if all of your top picks and all-stars are average at best, your league is in trouble.
5. Defense wins championships, but not ratings 
I'll wholeheartedly admit that good defensive teams have historically dominated the NBA. Even if the team doesn't finish with the best record they shine like diamonds in the playoffs. They control the boards, keep the score low, and frustrate even the most high-powered offenses. That's great. Now as soon as I wake up I'll catch some of the highlights on SportsCenter. In fact, I wonder how SportsCenter decides which clips to air. I feel bad for the person that's responsible for finding something interesting in a Spurs game. On a scale of 1 to 10 the Spurs, the best defensive team in the league, register a 50 on the Dull-o-Meter. I personally cannot stand defensive struggles and frankly I feel that it's hurting the game. People, even die-hards, aren't really interested in watching two teams square off in good old-fashioned basketball. We want scoring. Not fantastic dunks, just scoring. I have always said that in basketball, any idiot can play defense, but offense is where real basketball skill checks in. Do you think they paid Rodman the same they paid Pippen? They were both great defenders, but Pippen had a jump shot which made him more important to the team and a higher paid. Jordan was a good defensive player, he even won defensive POY one year, but the fact that he scored 30 points a game in the playoffs made him the thing of legends. The NBA might seriously need to consider rule changes to allow teams to run the ball more frequently. Either by shortening the shot clock or the time it takes to get the ball across half court could dramatically improve today's slow placed, old-fart game.
I'll wholeheartedly admit that good defensive teams have historically dominated the NBA. Even if the team doesn't finish with the best record they shine like diamonds in the playoffs. They control the boards, keep the score low, and frustrate even the most high-powered offenses. That's great. Now as soon as I wake up I'll catch some of the highlights on SportsCenter. In fact, I wonder how SportsCenter decides which clips to air. I feel bad for the person that's responsible for finding something interesting in a Spurs game. On a scale of 1 to 10 the Spurs, the best defensive team in the league, register a 50 on the Dull-o-Meter. I personally cannot stand defensive struggles and frankly I feel that it's hurting the game. People, even die-hards, aren't really interested in watching two teams square off in good old-fashioned basketball. We want scoring. Not fantastic dunks, just scoring. I have always said that in basketball, any idiot can play defense, but offense is where real basketball skill checks in. Do you think they paid Rodman the same they paid Pippen? They were both great defenders, but Pippen had a jump shot which made him more important to the team and a higher paid. Jordan was a good defensive player, he even won defensive POY one year, but the fact that he scored 30 points a game in the playoffs made him the thing of legends. The NBA might seriously need to consider rule changes to allow teams to run the ball more frequently. Either by shortening the shot clock or the time it takes to get the ball across half court could dramatically improve today's slow placed, old-fart game.
6. Big city, bright lights, and a crappy basketball team
Living in Phoenix I've grown accustomed to people having misconceptions about m
y city. People think it's still a dusty southwestern town when in reality it's the fifth biggest city in the country, it's one of the leaders in the biotech industries, software (Google and Intel have operations here), health care, has four professional teams, the biggest university in the U.S., a ton of things to do including the phenomenon known as Waveyard in two years, and is continually growing as a strong base on Wall Street. Phoenix is definitely no longer a dusty town, but in the sports world, it might as well be Kenosha, Wisconsin and since players can live in relative obscurity in Phoenix it can become difficult for the NBA to attract fans to the team. Basically, big time cities need big time teams. I'm talking New York, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, and Boston mostly. The biggest problem is each of those teams failed to make the playoffs and finished a combined 134-194. That's a ton of bad basketball for teams that crap out more history than other teams can get in ten years. These are the NBA's cornerstone franchises and if they don't make the playoffs, there had better be SOMETHING keeping people. Like I mentioned in one of my previous posts, if there isn't a team nearby, you must root for the closest one. New York, L.A., Philly, and Boston due to their success as franchises and the grandeur of their cities ended up creating lifelong fans in their surrounding areas long before teams like the Grizzlies or the Bobcats came around. Once these teams are competitive, old rivalries can be renewed, old footage can brought out, the legends can talk about the history of the teams, and the media loves to come to these cities and so do celebrities (well, except Philly).
Living in Phoenix I've grown accustomed to people having misconceptions about m
y city. People think it's still a dusty southwestern town when in reality it's the fifth biggest city in the country, it's one of the leaders in the biotech industries, software (Google and Intel have operations here), health care, has four professional teams, the biggest university in the U.S., a ton of things to do including the phenomenon known as Waveyard in two years, and is continually growing as a strong base on Wall Street. Phoenix is definitely no longer a dusty town, but in the sports world, it might as well be Kenosha, Wisconsin and since players can live in relative obscurity in Phoenix it can become difficult for the NBA to attract fans to the team. Basically, big time cities need big time teams. I'm talking New York, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, and Boston mostly. The biggest problem is each of those teams failed to make the playoffs and finished a combined 134-194. That's a ton of bad basketball for teams that crap out more history than other teams can get in ten years. These are the NBA's cornerstone franchises and if they don't make the playoffs, there had better be SOMETHING keeping people. Like I mentioned in one of my previous posts, if there isn't a team nearby, you must root for the closest one. New York, L.A., Philly, and Boston due to their success as franchises and the grandeur of their cities ended up creating lifelong fans in their surrounding areas long before teams like the Grizzlies or the Bobcats came around. Once these teams are competitive, old rivalries can be renewed, old footage can brought out, the legends can talk about the history of the teams, and the media loves to come to these cities and so do celebrities (well, except Philly). 
1 comment:
Watching an entirely defensive game of basketball to me is like watching an entirely crappy game of soccer.
Ugh.
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