“Silver considering all remedies for rampant tanking in NBA”

[BobPSU92]

I miss pride and integrity. Granted, I never had either, but I meant in others.

Adam Silver considering all remedies for rampant tanking in NBA

NBA commissioner Adam Silver called tanking the worst it has been in "recent memory" and said he is not ruling out any potential remedy, including taking away draft picks, to stop it.

www.espn.com

The article covers multiple topics. From the article:

”…the All-Star [Game] is 75 years old. The league is 80 years old. It's time to take a fresh look at this to see to whether that's an antiquated way of going about doing it."”

80 years is a good run. It’s run its course. Shut it down.

 

[19333lion]

So many things turned me off to basketball at any level beyond junior high, starting with the 3-point shot. Give me wrestling any day, even with my conscience.

 

[BCS PSU]

So many things turned me off to basketball at any level beyond junior high, starting with the 3-point shot. Give me wrestling any day, even with my conscience.

I was a big NBA fan from the early 80s through at least the late 90s despite living in a city that has no NBA team. However, right now, I wouldn’t watch one second of a game even if it were the only thing on TV.

IMO, the product is unwatchable, teams now wear all kinds of uniforms including the Celtics and Lakers, the coaches are anonymous Cigar Store Indians, etc. Despite all of this, it is entertaining in a weird way that the national sports radio shows and networks still have to treat this league like we’re back in the 80s and 90s when you had great players playing for great coaches in great rivalry games; you call tell that a lot of it now is forced and certainly not genuine.

 

[PSUFTG]

Never a big NBA fan, but certainly less of one now than 20-30 years ago.

What I don't get - and perhaps an NBA-follower would have better insight:


TV ratings are WAY down over the lest 20-30 years.... but, IIRC, money being paid by TV networks (NBC? TNT?) has gone up quite a bit.

What gives?

[Couple of data points:
Ratings for NBA finals each year, basically 1/2 of what they were 20-30 years ago:
NBA Finals television ratings - Wikipedia

Regular season ratings also dropping significantly (this only goes back to mid-1990s, but huge drop off - especially considering that population increase during that time:
NBA Ratings and Viewership Statistics
]

 

[Binder74]

All-star games in general are a waste of time with the exception of mlb. At least football made the switch to flag football since there wasn't any contact before.

 

[BCS PSU]

All-star games in general are a waste of time with the exception of mlb. At least football made the switch to flag football since there wasn't any contact before.

Now that we have extensive inter-league games, even the MLB All-Star game has become a waste of time. Before inter-league play, the players took the All-Star game very seriously. Now, it’s just a side show for Home Run Derby and red carpet ceremonies on game day; I also hate all of the fraternizing.

 

[Chumboshifko1]

There's travelling on every play. The game was a waste, and now it's even more of a farce. The high scoring is a product of limited rule interpretation. I rather watch paint dry.

 

[rigi19040]

I am not interested.

I am taking a knee in protest of urban crime, school violence, absentee father's, 0 parent homes and anti-intellectualism

 

[Nitt1300]

I am not interested.

I am taking a knee in protest of urban crime, school violence, absentee father's, 0 parent homes and anti-intellectualism

and yet look how upset you are

 

[Bison13]

Over the past 25 years the rules have dramatically changed to try and increase offense. The NBA felt that the reason for the decline in viewership was people didn’t like those physical games from the 90s. What they didn’t understand is that those who actually understood basketball knew that the way people played in the 90s was to try and win by dirtying up the game because if they didn’t, they had no chance of ever beating Michael Jordan.
Unfortunately for them, all of the die hard old school basketball people realize it’s not the same game and it’s a much worse version. The players are far more athletic overall, but very less skilled. And not only that, but they just don’t have the fire that the old guys have because they’ve been entitled their entire lives. I always hear young people say how much better the shooting is in today’s game and there are plenty of good shooters, but much of it is because the way the game was played back then, as well as the fact that people do not play defense at nearly the same rate or a passion level that they did back then. Teams today would never have a Dennis Rodman or Ben Wallace on their team.

 

[laKavosiey-st lion]

I look at baseball, the stuffiest of all games, making huge changes for the better. NBA can do the same BUT maybe under new leadership

 

[AvgUser]

All-star games in general are a waste of time with the exception of mlb. At least football made the switch to flag football since there wasn't any contact before.

Curious? Why is MLB worthy of anything positive?

 

[Binder74]

Curious? Why is MLB worthy of anything positive?

It's just that the all-star game closely resembles a regular season game.

 

[Pa$ky859]

Maybe I’m getting older and nostalgic but the NBA totally sucks now. Yes, the players are more skilled than ever, but the game is mostly offense. The players do things that I still consider traveling violations. The game is hard for a purist to watch. Everyone jacks 3’s. The traditional big man with his back to the basket is dead. Everyone flops. My son is a teen and loves it. It’s hard for a 90’s fan to digest. I find myself living on MLB & college football and there’s plenty wrong with both of those as well.

 

[razpsu]

They’re bigger taller faster. Make the court longer wider and basket higher!!

 

[Alphalion75]

I haven't watched ths NBA since the 90's. I never really had a favorite team. But when I lived in rhe Philly area I watched many Sixer games. I loved watching Charles Barkley. Then in '98, I moved to the Atlanta area. I started following the Hawks with Steve Smith and company....a really decent team. Then the Hawks flipped almost the entire roster including Smith...and that was it for me. I totally lost interest..

 

[Bwifan]

Never a big NBA fan, but certainly less of one now than 20-30 years ago.

What I don't get - and perhaps an NBA-follower would have better insight:


TV ratings are WAY down over the lest 20-30 years.... but, IIRC, money being paid by TV networks (NBC? TNT?) has gone up quite a bit.

What gives?

[Couple of data points:
Ratings for NBA finals each year, basically 1/2 of what they were 20-30 years ago:
NBA Finals television ratings - Wikipedia

Regular season ratings also dropping significantly (this only goes back to mid-1990s, but huge drop off - especially considering that population increase during that time:
NBA Ratings and Viewership Statistics
]

I have been asking the same question? I don't get it. Ratings are down yet money being paid is up. Business model must make sense somehow to do that but from the outside the business model looks majorly flawed and not good business. I don't know if they are making it up in streaming rights or something else. To me it's unwatchable. There is literally zero defense played any more. Everything is dunk or 3 point shot. They need to move the line back for the 3 pointer. Start playing defense and allow a defender to touch the offensive player with hand checks etc. To me they are in danger of really going south with ratings as the young generation coming up is embedded in their phones and just don't care about basketball like they used to

 

[BobPSU92]

I have been asking the same question? I don't get it. Ratings are down yet money being paid is up. Business model must make sense somehow to do that but from the outside the business model looks majorly flawed and not good business. I don't know if they are making it up in streaming rights or something else. To me it's unwatchable. There is literally zero defense played any more. Everything is dunk or 3 point shot. They need to move the line back for the 3 pointer. Start playing defense and allow a defender to touch the offensive player with hand checks etc. To me they are in danger of really going south with ratings as the young generation coming up is embedded in their phones and just don't care about basketball like they used to

Really dumb question: Does the lebron-ba get a cut of online betting on its game? That could be a significant source of cash money for the league.

 

[Bwifan]

Really dumb question: Does the lebron-ba get a cut of online betting on its game? That could be a significant source of cash money for the league.

Good question. No idea. I am just tired of watching 7 foot plus players stand on the 3 point line and lob up 3 pointers. Yes Joel Embid I am talkin to you. The games have become boring to watch. It's just a dunk or 3 pointer and no one plays defense.

 

[psu83]

Lerch pontificating about teams tanking to improve draft stock is comical! "Hey, Dallas Mavericks, you send Luka Doncic to the Lakers so LaFraud can make another run at a Championship and I'll see you can rebuild with Cooper Flagg." The NBA is a joke.

 

[BCS PSU]

Good question. No idea. I am just tired of watching 7 foot plus players stand on the 3 point line and lob up 3 pointers. Yes Joel Embid I am talkin to you. The games have become boring to watch. It's just a dunk or 3 pointer and no one plays defense.

That has become the ruination of the game of basketball; that sport be it college or pro has become nothing but a three point shooting contest. It made the sport so boring.

 

[OaktonDave]

Over the past 25 years the rules have dramatically changed to try and increase offense. The NBA felt that the reason for the decline in viewership was people didn’t like those physical games from the 90s. What they didn’t understand is that those who actually understood basketball knew that the way people played in the 90s was to try and win by dirtying up the game because if they didn’t, they had no chance of ever beating Michael Jordan.
Unfortunately for them, all of the die hard old school basketball people realize it’s not the same game and it’s a much worse version. The players are far more athletic overall, but very less skilled. And not only that, but they just don’t have the fire that the old guys have because they’ve been entitled their entire lives. I always hear young people say how much better the shooting is in today’s game and there are plenty of good shooters, but much of it is because the way the game was played back then, as well as the fact that people do not play defense at nearly the same rate or a passion level that they did back then. Teams today would never have a Dennis Rodman or Ben Wallace on their team.

When the league became more focused on marketing individual superstars than teams and rivalries it became much less interesting. The era of the great rivalry between Bird's Celtics and Magic's Lakers was awesome and produced compelling games. Even the MJ era still had teams and superstars trying to knock him off the throne every night. When focus became on what superstars are leaving their current teams to form a megateam elsewhere, it was great for the individual players, but it ended rivalries and created a much less team-oriented style of play - no more Showtime Lakes or Bad boy Pistons. The athletes are incredible, but the games and teams are close to generic.

 

[rigi19040]

Kick the worst team out of the league for a year. Do it in every sport.

 

[KingLando]

Kick the worst team out of the league for a year. Do it in every sport.

Yeah owners are obviously going to agree to that

Most fans would rather tank than fight to be mediocre. That's the reality of sports. Sometimes you have to be bad for a while to become great when there's a draft. Penguins and Oilers are great examples in hockey. Countess NBA teams and NFL teams. MLB is the only exception and the owners all seem content with less than half the league able to truly compete. Not having a real tv contract for MLB as a whole destroys the sport.

 

[rigi19040]

Yeah owners are obviously going to agree to that

Most fans would rather tank than fight to be mediocre. That's the reality of sports. Sometimes you have to be bad for a while to become great when there's a draft. Penguins and Oilers are great examples in hockey. Countess NBA teams and NFL teams. MLB is the only exception and the owners all seem content with less than half the league able to truly compete. Not having a real tv contract for MLB as a whole destroys the sport.

I guess you like watching teams try to lose.

Only one owner loses. Other 29 will probably make more.

 

[KingLando]

I guess you like watching teams try to lose.

Only one owner loses. Other 29 will probably make more.

How? In no way does that help them.
What do you do with all the players on that team?
Who agrees to this? That's right...no one. Just one of your ridiculous concepts that lacks thought, logic and originality

 

[rigi19040]

How? In no way does that help them.
What do you do with all the players on that team?
Who agrees to this? That's right...no one. Just one of your ridiculous concepts that lacks thought, logic and originality

No one agrees with me? Europeans soccer already does it. Even the commissioner knows there is a problem which is why he is looking for a solution.

The plan works because it punishes teams that intentionally lose vs the current model that rewards a team that loses. Do you like watching teams intentionally lose?

Your plan is to do nothing.

 

[KingLando]

No one agrees with me? Europeans soccer already does it. Even the commissioner knows there is a problem which is why he is looking for a solution.

The plan works because it punishes teams that intentionally lose vs the current model that rewards a team that loses. Do you like watching teams intentionally lose?

Your plan is to do nothing.

You using European soccer was my point about originality. There's also no place to relegate them to. We don't have levels. It's a non-starter. Only place it could work is MLB and the owners aren't risking that. The NFL NHL and NBA dont have that structure. And no PA is going to allow it. You understand the differences between European soccer and American sports?

I'd rather watch a team lose chasing a high draft pick (the entire point of a draft) then being mediocre and never contending. You act like there's a difference between being the 2nd worst and the worst. There isn't.

 

[BobPSU92]

Sources: NBA presents 3 comprehensive anti-tanking proposals

The NBA presented three comprehensive anti-tanking concepts to its board of governors Wednesday as part of this week's meetings in New York, with modifications expected to each before a formal vote in May, sources told ESPN's Shams Charania.

www.espn.com