The NBA and the rest of the planet

[Snoopy the Celtics Beagle <snoopy@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I've been thinking about the NBA and the discussions--online and off--about 
how ill-prepared the USA is for international competition.  I wondered what 
could be done in a way that would also address what I personally perceive 
as some of the NBA's biggest logistical problems.  Here's what I came up 
with initially:

The NBA needs to eliminate 10 teams from the league, reducing the total 
number of teams to 20.  This would accomplish several things at once.  The 
players from those teams would be dispersed by either draft or lottery 
amongst the remaining teams.  Elimination of teams would be based first on 
simple finances: who's losing the most money for the least return.  Then, 
by eliminating multiple regional teams.  Yes, the Clippers would become an 
instant bad memory and their owner can write it all off on taxes, which he 
seems determined to do anyway.  Same for the Heat, and at least one of the 
three teams in Texas.

This would deepen the benches of remaining teams so the league would no 
longer have to scout elementary schools at recess for the next 
draft.  Players would have to play harder to keep their jobs, and some of 
these ridiculous contracts would be nonexistent as players realize it's a 
GM's market.

Then there's the benefit to the schedule, which brings up the next thing 
they need to do, which is to shorten and move the NBA season.  Get rid of 
all but one or two preseason games, shorten the season, and get it done by 
early May.  If King David I is determined to monopolize playoff games on 
TV, let's do away with the ridiculous amount of time between games.  As 
soon as the winners of series one are ready, let them have at it for round 
two.  If that happened, you would have a lot more time to prepare a US team 
to practice for international games.

Next, the rules need to be changed to bring the NBA and international games 
closer.  Find out which rules the other countries can't live without and 
implement them in the NBA.  While I personally like the free throw line 
further out, we'd probably best get used to the shorter international 
arc.  Change the time out rules too, so the refs don't have to guess which 
one of twelve people on or near the court is calling for a timeout.  I 
think the goaltending rules might work for the international games, if you 
can get them to go for it.  In any case, we need to stop moaning about 
"changing the mindset of the players" every time FIBA is mentioned.  Let's 
get everyone playing the same game.

Decide now whether the NBA joins the international leagues or remains a 
separate entity.  Daniel the First is itching to have NBA teams in 
Europe.  But those theoretical teams would have a ridiculous amount of 
travel time to the US, no matter how you slice it. Better there should 
either be an "NBA Europe", or make the NBA part of the international 
League.  The shorter NBA schedule would allow the US teams to travel more 
readily with less adverse impact.

There's also the possibility that the NBA should elect to stay out of 
international play altogether.  Let the USOC put together a true national 
team and play them consistently.  With fewer NBA teams, there'll be no 
shortage of qualified players to either put on the national team, or 
temporarily replace players from NBA teams who join the national team, say 
for a year, or something.  (I'm in favor of making ALL players actually 
audition for membership on the US team, with specific criteria, so players 
like Paul Pierce won't be snubbed because the idiots who picked the players 
were in collusion to make sure they got the one guy they wanted.  But 
that's probably better suited for another post)

I just get tired of hearing the USOC and the NBA go into panic mode every 
time someone dares to suggest that the US team is neither properly trained 
or prepared to play international basketball.  While I'm annoyed at the 
political maneuvering that got Larry Brown into the coaching position; I 
give him credit for standing up sand saying--not only at this year's 
qualifiers, but at his own Hall of Fame induction--that the US needs to be 
better prepared.

I'm not by any means sure if any of this is logistically possible, or that 
it's an objectively good idea.  But I think SOMETHING needs to be done.

"When in doubt, do something!" -- Harry Chapin

Snoopy the Celtics Beagle
Please visit the <http://www.celticsbeagle.net/>Celtics Beagle Website