Before the Lakers went out and lost to the Rockets in one of the better games this year, Phil Jackson, obviously frustrated with his team's injuries all season long, said that the League should think about reducing the number of regular season games."Our league has to discuss the number of games we play. Eighty-two games is too many," Jackson said. "They train year-round. During the season they play 3 1/2 games a week or seven games in 14 days. They play when they are fatigued and that's when they get hurt.Jackson is going to lose points here because he probably never made a similar suggestion when he was collecting championships like they were baseball cards, but that doesn't mean he's wrong. I'm with the Zen Master on this one; the NBA season is waaaaaay too long. There's no reason playoff seeding couldn't be decided somewhere between 60-70 games.
I've cut practices to 45 minutes. I've never had a team with this many injuries. Guys need time to recharge and rehab."
There's just one problem: it'll never happen. The League is making too much money to ever consider making the season shorter. The only thing Jackson can do is hope that his team has better luck with injuries next year.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
3-31-2007 @ 8:52AM
Stacey Franchise said...
The solutions are
A) shorten the season
B) Increase roster size, so you can rest players more
C) No exhibtion games, period.
The key is to accomplish A, B, or C without costing the owner's money You can do that by raising ticket prices or chopping salaries. Both affected groups would howl.
The solution? Simple. Cut travel costs by having players jog to cities where the games will be played. Each schedule would be a game in Boston, then NYC, then Jersey, then Philly, etc.... moving back and forth across the nation in a linear path.
I don't think that math for this kind of thing exists, but using Civil War marching history, it's not beyond human endurance to expect 2 miles an hour from troops carrying gear. One 45 game NBA season, by this logic, would last 17 years.
If the NBA wants to host a party every time Jordan returns to New York, there may as well be a good reason for it.
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3-31-2007 @ 9:04AM
mutoni said...
i love the comments you leave. their insanity always puts a hop in my step.
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3-31-2007 @ 9:32AM
Stacey Franchise said...
You'll grow to despise me... most do.
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3-31-2007 @ 1:09PM
PHIL said...
A possible solution to fatigue related injury is to have a mandatory day off between all games. An exception might be made during the playoffs, when there is no travel involved ie; weekend games in the same city. This plan would not lengthen the season or cause a reduction in the 82 game schedule.
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3-31-2007 @ 1:25PM
Don Babbitt said...
"Jackson is going to lose points here because he probably never made a similar suggestion when he was collecting championships like they were baseball cards, but that doesn't mean he's wrong."
Congratulations, that doesn't make senese. Jackson loses credibility on the issue of the length of the season because he's won titles as a coach in the past? There is no logical connection. If anything, the length of time that he's spent as a player and a coach in the league, gives him insight into this issue.
It's really funny to see people attempt to start controversies, stir the pot, etc. Bloggers are slowly becoming just like the Ron Borges of the world. All they needed was a little bit of credibility.
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3-31-2007 @ 3:58PM
DM said...
Shorten games Phil? Coming from a guy who ones criticized the Spurs first championship as a title with an asterisk. (99 spurs champions *50 game lockout season). I love irony.
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