Thursday 27 March 2014

NBA improvements



I've been having a lil think about what changes could be made to the NBA just to nudge it further in the right direction. It's not in any particular trouble at the moment, but just some thoughts from across the pond for the game I love.



Too many games, too many injuries, not enough practice...




82 games in a regular season. The preseason is the main time teams get to practice and work on plays. There is very little time during the regular season for a team to take stock, and start fixing things. Why is this a problem? The game relies on many outstanding kids who come out of college after just a year, so basketball development is already limited when relying on talent ALONE. The game can suffer from fundamental mistakes even at the pro-level. Let teams have time to coach their players, and work on honing plays, and correcting mistakes. The game will be better.. BASKETBALL will be better.






So.... play every team in the league twice....home and away, and then that's it for the regular season. 58 games, with more quality basketball, and perhaps even more importantly increased practice time.... rest time for athletes built like juggernauts....more rest....LESS INJURIES....BASKETBALL will be better.


Fouls and initiating contact...



Fouls must be called on whoever initiates contact. If you fake a shot and lean into a defender, if you move your arms into the path of someone's hand or tangle yourself into a defender (KD...you hear me?), call the foul on whoever INITIATED the contact. Too many defenders jump straight up and down and are called for a foul.


Offensive fouls...


Offensive fouls.... let a player land for goodness sake. If he's just leaping into the air, and a wall appears where he's about to land...DEFENSIVE not offensive foul.


Yes... shame a bad free thrower shooter, but....



Fouling players intentionally who don't have the ball to get a bad free throw shooter on the line. A no no. Make it an intentional foul... eg. shots and possession.



The percentage game...




And a little side note from Steve Nash I heard on a podcast about the new wave of analytics that will move the game to layups, 3's and free throws. The mid range jumper is still needed to make a player honour the fake and drive for the layup. Imagine Curry, or Nash if defenders didn't think they could shoot at any time or any place. The triple threat is part of the game all over the court. Let it have it's place, but errrm, don't take Josh Smith long 2's as your main game...you will lose.


and finally....



...draft me