NBA "Extreme Makeover"

During All-Star weekend in New Orleans, there was some chatter, notably from TNT’s Reggie Miller, about the NBA seeding its teams 1-16. In a season where a trade between the 23-28 Sacramento Kings and the 21-28 Atlanta Hawks actually has playoff relevance for the team with a worse record, there couldn’t be a better time for revamping the NBA playoff system. Agreeing with Reggie Miller actually frightens me, but I must find a way to move forward. After mulling over a few options, and because David Stern will never actually read this, I will attempt to create a “BASKETBALL UTOPIA.”

The first order of business would be to eliminate the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Memphis Grizzlies. Minnesota, led by Kevin McHale, passed a suitcase under the table to pay Joe Smith, that’s reason enough for me. Memphis, having already failed in Vancouver continues to be miserable, good riddance! Let’s take the players from these two teams and toss them into the 2008 draft pool. There will certainly be an outcry when Miami, adding Al Jefferson to a Dwayne Wade/Shawn Marion core, wins its second NBA Championship. This leaves 28 teams and arguably the most competitive basketball in the history of the game. The influx of global talent and the surprising maturity level of the young players is the primary reason. The NBA is back to playing the kind of basketball it did in the glory days. Yes Vince, you are going to be required to play hard every game now.

Next, a somewhat equitable schedule would have to be put in place. With 4 seven-team divisions, teams would play each team in their own division 4 times (24 games), and teams outside their division 2 times (42 games). Yes, that is correct basketball fans, a 66 game schedule! The winner of each division is rewarded with the 1-4 seeds, while the rest of the league fills out the 5-16 according to overall record. The 1st and 2nd rounds of the playoffs would be 5-game series, the final two rounds 7-game series. I can promise you, it would be fantastic basketball, played at an extremely high level. (Note: this essentially eliminates the conferences, however, we will keep them in place so the “purists” can sleep at night).

North East
Boston
Detroit
Cleveland
Chicago
New Jersey

New York
Toronto

South East
Miami
Orlando
Atlanta
Charlotte
Washington
Philadelphia
Indiana

North West

LA Lakers

Golden State

Utah

Sacramento

Portland

Milwaukee

LA Clippers

South West

San Antonio

Houston

Dallas

Phoenix

Denver

New Orleans

Oklahoma City

Utopia, by definition, does not exist. However, with a little creative scheduling, this concept is doable with the existing 30-team league while keeping an 82-game schedule. If anyone has any interest is seeing how, email me at mdcx@comcast.net. It was just a lot more fun making up my own league. Next week I will consummate my marriage to Jessica Alba as well.

SUNS SETTING?

Shockwaves: The Phoenix Suns recently made a tidal wave like splash with the acquisition of Shaquille O'Neal for Shawn Marion. There has been much debate as to the ramifications of this deal. Most "experts" immediate reaction was against the trade, but for all the wrong reasons. They suggested the Diesel would slow down the solar powered light speed Suns. I won’t spend too much time on that except to say the Big Aristotle should actually help the running game, not by filling lanes, but by cleaning the defensive glass. Some have gone on record supporting the trade, like ESPN’s Bill Simmons, although it seems he is more excited that someone actually made a move worth discussing. I have analyzed this trade from every possible angle and have concluded that this was an enormous mistake.

Why: I fully understand why they made the trade. There was a lack of energy and joy being displayed on the floor. No one should be surprised by this lack of energy. After the controversial end to their run in the 07 playoffs, the 07-08 regular season was never going to be anything more than an 82 game hangover. Still, they are in 1st place at the all-star break (I realize they are only 2 games over .500 vs. the west). It was simply going to be impossible for this squad to get overly excited until the post season arrived.

Asleep at the Wheel: Now to the real meat & potatoes of this debacle, the Suns interior defense. OF COURSE IT’S GOING TO BE ATROCIOUS. And there is no one to blame other than the Suns ownership. They traded away a very reliable interior defender in Kurt Thomas and draft picks to Seattle for cash in the off-season. Apparently the Suns are in deep financial trouble even with the best bargain in basketball, Steve Nash. And I’m guessing the unexpected merchandise sales he created with his MVP play even makes it more of a bargain. Kurt Thomas makes 8m a year and his contract expires at year-end. If Marion chooses, he could opt out of his contract at the end of the season, thus freeing up 25m in salaries. This would afford the Suns the luxury of spending, at the very least, 15m in the off-season to acquire free agents who are younger than 36 years old. Are you kidding me? Seriously?

Break up the Band: The Suns, as they were made up, were a 60+ win team and a legit threat to win it all. Suns owner Robert Sarver saw fit to give that team a ONE-year window, although the season ended in controversy with Bruce Bowen’s cheap tactics, the Tim Donahue scandal and the Game 5 suspensions imposed by the NBA. You mean to tell me you wouldn’t throw that team back out there for ONE MORE run before giving up? It wasn’t worth the salary cap penalties to give your franchise its best ever opportunity to win a championship? Hey Sarver, you did not have to give Marcus Banks 4-5m a year. I hope you don’t have to file bankruptcy anytime soon.

Crisis Management: Now lets get back to the present day. Nash & Amare are a deadly combination in the half court because of the pick & roll. The lane was open with 3 players on the arc poised to fire a three ball or a cutting Matrix sliding in for an easy bucket. This was all possible because the floor was spread and the lane was more open than the Grand Canyon. Now with Shaq in the mix, what does this do to Amare? If Shaq is on the post and they run the pick and roll, it will force Amare to read and react as opposed to dive to the rack. Passing is the weakest aspect of Amare’s offensive game. The Suns with Shaq in the lineup may even be better served running the pick and roll with Diaw, as he is a more polished passer. But again, what does that do to Amare? Fortunately Stoudemire has greatly improved his jump shot, so in the words of Madonna, there might be a ray of light. (I think Madonna & Shaq were last relevant @ the same time).

Think Outside the Box: Instead of trading for a 300 lb injury, I would have changed my defensive philosophy to keep Amare out of foul trouble. DO NOT have Amare defend the other teams primary post player. The Suns could have made the Matrix (or Skinner when in the game) the primary post defender. Shawn actually gets to spots on the floor faster and keeps the post player further from the basket. Upon entry pass, you could immediately double team with Amare. Amare's length & athleticism would make it more difficult to pass out of the post. Not only would you keep Stoudemire out of foul trouble, it would also speed up the game. Amare freelancing on D is when he is at his best.

Potential Disaster: As I previously stated, the Suns are in 1st place at the All-Star break, however they are only 4 ½ games out of 9th place! Bringing in the 36 year-old Shaq-Fu actually brings the potential of MISSING the playoffs. The schedule they face in the upcoming weeks gets tougher and it only makes it more difficult trying to get used to an aging Superman in the lineup. I still expect them to make the playoffs, mostly because Kobe will be missing his pinky finger for the rest of the season, but Golden State is also lurking.

Silver Lining: Steve Nash. We may find out if he truly is the best point in the game.