[knickquelz]

Stern is ruining the game. Zone defense isn't good, (everyone complained about not knowing illegal defense, which I don't get, illegal D was a very easy thing to learn). Now he is going to add another team soon, and put six divisions, three in each conference, 30 teams total, five teams in each division. He may also, so he says, make the first round a seven-game series. To have a playoff format of 5-7-7-7 is just enough, but 7-7-7-7 is terrible...that would be a total of 28 games possible, instead of 26, but that means a possible total of 16 more playoff games in each matchup. Imagine the playoffs being 16 games longer than what it is now...my, my David, stop this madness now. The first round should be compelling and short...get it over with.

 

[Shaqs big toe]

I'm up in the air about the other rule changes, but the 7-7-7-7 series suits me fine. In Australia, we don't get the saturation coverage you get in the states, except at playoff time. I'd relish having the extra few games. Also, it gives the #1 seed teams a chance to really shine

 

[knickquelz]

Nope, not in my opinion...the first round should be short and exciting. That is the exciting part of the lower seed's chances. To tell ya the truth, I'd rather the NBA configure like the MLB, 5-7-7, instead of 5-7-7-7, but not 7-7-7-7. Since you don't get enough hoops, I understand...

 

[Doctor Hook]

RE: Zone defense...

I kind of like the zone defense rule change. It facilitates more offensive scoring options.

The game was getting pretty one dimensional...isolate to one giant physical player, back it in to the basket and jam it home... or, isolate to a guick penetrator to go one-on-one to the basket.

 

[Nightfly]

They should make the first round series best of 3 again. It sure made the bad series go a lot faster.

 

[allenive21]

Originally posted by <b>HearToTemptYou</b>!
They should make the first round series best of 3 again. It sure made the bad series go a lot faster.

Except the first round can be just as exciting as any round. The NBA is going closer in talent, just like the NFL (Look at the Lions last year and how close there games were) The first round has a lot of great games with teams going all out to try to make the major upset. I don't see how it can be the "bad series"

 

[Nightfly]

Originally posted by <b>allenive21</b>!
I don't see how it can be the "bad series"

Well, I should have added an " ' " to the s.

I ment:
It would make the bad series' go faster, meaning it would make a lot of first round match ups that aren't exciting to watch go faster.

 

[MacDanny 6]

The playoff format is fine the way it is. What I don't like is the rumor that they might add a 30th team to the NBA. They should contract, not expand. Have more talent on each team by contracting the Grizzlies!

 

[Ducket]

I'm a huge fan of the zone defense rule. There's no question it helped to increase scoring last year, while allowing teams that play well together, like the T-wolves and the Pistons, a better chance to compete.

Increasing the length of the playoffs, well, that I'm not a fan of. We already see too many teams like the 76ers that make it to the finals but are too exhausted or decimated by injury to put up any fight whatsoever. This would just increase that likelihood.

I agree with Franco that the NBA is too watered down. However, it IS improving over what was probably its lowest point- the mid to late 90's. Adding another team would just destroy the progress that's been made.

Stern seems to think that the solution to declining profits is just to dilute the product and increase the consumer base. But this is just a short term solution-one that gives little credit to the fans of the league.

 

[Jamel Irief]

Originally posted by <b>HearToTemptYou</b>!


Well, I should have added an " ' " to the s.

I ment:
It would make the bad series' go faster, meaning it would make a lot of first round match ups that aren't exciting to watch go faster.

Then just don't watch them.

I don't see how any basketball fan can complain about additional games.

 

[jazzy1]

I don't mind more games at all, NBA basketball is one of the only sports where the best team wins, no lucky victories in a short format ,best team wins, more games especially in the first rd would enhance this even further, some of the higher seeded teams could possobly sit injured players early in that 1st rd series knowing they can still come back later in that series to win and be healthier for later in the playoffs, gives the better team with some injuries a chance to heal and play better.