NBA Open Thread
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We haven’t had an NBA open thread so far this season, which is my fault. So let’s have one. And let’s discuss the stupidity of the in-season tournament.
Look, I know that the NBA regular season has become pretty meaningless. Maybe not quite at the baseball level, but close. Too many stars take games off (which is at the advice of the training staffs usually). The NBA tried to address that and has to some extent. But I get that the reputation of the league is that there’s no reason to pay attention until at least Christmas and then only maybe. But honestly, in terms of the general sporting public, the NBA doesn’t really take over until April, after the Final Four and when it only competing with the beginning of baseball. So they want to do something about that.
OK, but to create an in-season tournament that means literally nothing is nonsense. I get that the model is European soccer, but those tournaments I think go back a long time. In any case, they were not created by consultants and thus have some sort of soul.
It’s not that I can’t see some point to an in-season tournament. But this means nothing. Literally nothing. I guess two teams get an 83rd game if that matters to you. Also, the players get some extra money, which might make it interesting to them but it doesn’t make it interesting to fans. What might make it interesting is draft position. Play for an extra lottery pick. Now that makes the thing worth something.
Also, having this at the very start of the season is just complete nonsense. Do it in January and make the finals part of All-Star Weekend maybe, which itself is a complete disaster.
The worst part of it is listening to the broadcasters being forced to sell this as something important, which most of them are clearly doing half-heartedly, at best.
I don’t know a single NBA fan who cares about the in-season tournament. Maybe there’s a long game here with the hope that in 20 years, it will be central to the NBA calendar. I just don’t see it.
Does anyone care about the in-season tournament.
In any case, this is an open thread for the NBA and other sports-related matters. Not politics though. GTFOH with that tonight.