Intentional losing has been discussed in the media as a problem that plagues the NBA. Most of the focus has been on tanking teams such as the 76ers, Knicks, and Lakers.
However, there is another way teams intentionally lose games that I find much more worrisome.
As we all know NBA basketball is a game of match ups, and at no time is that more apparent than in a seven game playoff series.
As the season winds down we'll start seeing teams jockeying for position in the standings. It seems to me that this should be the time of year for really intense, exciting basketball. And, most of the time, it is.
However, for many teams it is advantageous to fall in the standings - to avoid playing a team they match up poorly against, or to set up a series against a team they play well against.
For example, last year it was the Nets losing games intentionally to secure a playoff match up with the Raptors. And this year, it seems to me, that it's the Raptors that would like to get on the other side of the playoff bracket from Chicago and Cleveland.
You can't fault teams taking a strategic outlook towards their playoff seeding. After all, if the system dictates that losing a regular season game increases the likelihood of a playoff series win, then a competitive, intelligent team will do their best to ensure a loss.
I think there's a simple solution to this that would add drama and excitement to the NBA playoffs.
Let teams choose their opponents.
The day after the regular season (or a playoff round) ends, hold a draft in New York. Televise it. All remaining teams must send a representative. The team with the best regular season record chooses first, then the remaining team with next best record chooses, and so on.
Then, there is no incentive to losing games in the regular season, unless the playoff seeding has already been locked in.
It seems unfair that Golden State will be facing a now healthy Oklahoma City Thunder team that is probably a championship contender. Why should this be the case? Golden State had the best regular season record, they have earned the right to play the weakest playoff team, not the one that happens to be in the 8th seed.
The other reason I like this idea is because it adds some bad blood to every playoff series. The underdog will always feel disrespected after being chosen, especially if they were chosen over another team with a worse record.
I've been thinking about this for a while now, and thought I'd put it out there, see what others think. It seems like a great idea to me!
Thanks for reading.
However, there is another way teams intentionally lose games that I find much more worrisome.
As we all know NBA basketball is a game of match ups, and at no time is that more apparent than in a seven game playoff series.
As the season winds down we'll start seeing teams jockeying for position in the standings. It seems to me that this should be the time of year for really intense, exciting basketball. And, most of the time, it is.
However, for many teams it is advantageous to fall in the standings - to avoid playing a team they match up poorly against, or to set up a series against a team they play well against.
For example, last year it was the Nets losing games intentionally to secure a playoff match up with the Raptors. And this year, it seems to me, that it's the Raptors that would like to get on the other side of the playoff bracket from Chicago and Cleveland.
You can't fault teams taking a strategic outlook towards their playoff seeding. After all, if the system dictates that losing a regular season game increases the likelihood of a playoff series win, then a competitive, intelligent team will do their best to ensure a loss.
I think there's a simple solution to this that would add drama and excitement to the NBA playoffs.
Let teams choose their opponents.
The day after the regular season (or a playoff round) ends, hold a draft in New York. Televise it. All remaining teams must send a representative. The team with the best regular season record chooses first, then the remaining team with next best record chooses, and so on.
Then, there is no incentive to losing games in the regular season, unless the playoff seeding has already been locked in.
It seems unfair that Golden State will be facing a now healthy Oklahoma City Thunder team that is probably a championship contender. Why should this be the case? Golden State had the best regular season record, they have earned the right to play the weakest playoff team, not the one that happens to be in the 8th seed.
The other reason I like this idea is because it adds some bad blood to every playoff series. The underdog will always feel disrespected after being chosen, especially if they were chosen over another team with a worse record.
I've been thinking about this for a while now, and thought I'd put it out there, see what others think. It seems like a great idea to me!
Thanks for reading.
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