Current YOU'RE RIGHT tally: Kim 345, Patrick 2

[Snoopy the Celtics Beagle]

At 07:08 PM 4/13/2007, Ryan, Patrick S Maj RES USAFR 439 MSG wrote:

>
>Last, and totally unrelated - heard a rumor that NBA was considering
>(basically going to make it a league rules committee item or something)
>going back to the one ping pong ball per non-playoff team lottery after this
>season (due to the "tanking issue").  Probably just that - a dumb rumor, but
>anyone heard anything?
>

This might be related to comments made Doc Rivers to the local Boston 
media.   Doc believes that the old ping pong ball system was better 
to discourage the appearance of tanking by NBA teams, though in the 
same article he realized it was unlikely to happen.  It also might be 
part of Jerry West's recent comments on ESPN.com that he believes the 
top two lottery picks should have better than a meager 25% chance to 
win.   Funny how the loggy logo only says this when his team is a 
lock for the worst record.

Personally, I think the "appearance of impropriety" has reached all 
time lows in the NBA this season.  With various teams being accused 
of everything but being on the grassy knoll in Dallas, it may well be 
time to revisit the lottery system.

Originally, the notion of the lottery was to achieve mythical 
"parity" in the NBA--which might just be a polite way of owners 
saying "we never want to see another Dynasty, be it the Celtics or 
anyone else".  Championships mean oodles of money now, not just 
bragging rights for a year, so everyone wants a piece of the playoff pie.

Frankly, before screwing around with the draft, I would personally 
consolidate the NBA--there are currently too many teams and nowhere 
near enough "better than average" players to make a lottery really 
worthwhile past the 2nd or 3rd pick.  Teams like Atlanta--which has a 
sound system playing cheers from more fans than have seen an Atlanta 
Hawks home game in 3 years--or the Grizz, which seem to function as a 
scrimmage team for the Western Conference, need to go.

The notion that we have to see the same teams more than once a year 
is also foolish.  do as is done with the other conference.  One home 
game, one away with each team in the league.   Attendance would have 
to go up because there are fewer teams and fewer games.  And make the 
ticket prices more realistic for those of us not living in Stately 
Wayne Manor.

Once that is done, hold a league wide dispersal lottery draft.  All 
the remaining teams draw lots or bounce ping pong balls to determine 
order, which is then reversed each round, until all the players are 
taken.  Boost the team roster limits for one season to allow teams to 
separate wheat from chaff and send the rest to the NBDL.

That might allow for some real parity.  Of course, it means taking 
chances.  It means being a little less greedy.  But in the end you 
have a lean, functional NBA, instead of the steady bloating that King 
David I passes off as natural growth.  Frankly, I don't think the 
League has the stones to seriously consider this.  They're deathly 
afraid of anything that might possible mean even a little less money 
for a brief time.  In fairness, the player's union would also have 
that collective deer in the headlights look, not unlike when people 
ask them to contribute meaningfully to pensions for older retired players.

But you never know.  Sometimes the unlikely event happens.  I'll be 
pleased if it comes to pass, but holding my breath isn't an option, 
not when there are more chocolate chip cookies to eat than there is 
time in the day.

Rambling?  Yep, but I got tired of reading and hearing about the 
$^%##^%&$%^&$*#^*#%*^%  Draft.  Bleah.

Go CELTICS!  Yes...I want them to WIN.

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