djvh@drutx.UUCP (VanHandelDJ) (02/04/85)
>> Why is the NBA so boring? Except for maybe Boston, Philadelphia, and LA, I >> doubt whether most of the readers of this note can name 2 starters on any >> other team. The interest in the NBA is minimal. Most of the people I know >> (are they the wrong people?) have no idea who's in first, what the divisions >> are, or even what the team nicknames are. Is that because we don't have a team >> here in Columbus? or is prevalent throughout the country? So tell me...why >> isn't the NBA making it? >> ...bob garmise...at&t bell labs, columbus... > >I'll tell you why the NBA is so boring! > > 1. Zone defenses are not allowed --> detracts from defense > 2. 3-to-make-2 free throws --> thwarts comebacks > 3. Bad shot selection > 4. One-on-one play > 5. 3-point shots --> further encourages bad shot selection > 6. 24-second clock --> encourages bad shot selection and one-on-one play > 7. No necessity for coaching, therefore there is none -- it's sandlot bball > 8. Refs don't call charging --> discourages good defense > 9. Refs don't call traveling (better this year I've heard) > --> allows for dunks from mid-court > 10. 20-second timeouts --> to easy to get out of trap situations > 11. too many playoff teams --> who cares about the regular season anymore > > >Of these, none were even thought of in the college ranks until a few years >back. Now, suddenly, they've adopted #11, a version of #6, and are thinking >of #5. The rest I feel have been reasonably avoided so far. Let's hope >college basketball doesn't sink into the muck that the NBA has, because it >sure looks like they're trying to emulate the NBA as hard as they can. >-- > I totally agree with 1,4,6-9 and 11. What the NBA is doing is catering to the people that don't really appreciate strategy in the game, but come out to watch a show. These people want action, but don't really care about the planning behind the result. This attitude, though it makes more money now, will eventually destroy the sport. Players like Sid Moncrief should be the most valuable in the sport, because he excels at both ends of the court. The defensive part of his play is not being used, though, because of the rules. How can you stop a guy who is allowed three steps to the hoop? There is no good reason to disallow the zone defense. I also believe that there should be a shot clock, but that it should be for at least 45 secs. There should be a reward for holding the offense without a FG attempt for that length of time. This answers another question which appeared on the net. Why is Jordan so great? He's quick, which is why he was good in college. Now he gets an added step, which is why he is great in the pros. The same trend is appearing in the NFL. The balance is gone, and it won't be long until the real diehards won't watch anymore. If these leagues don't wize up soon, they are going to lose the real sports fans, and in turn will lose what were once great leagues. Can you imagine a baseball league with thirty 40-HR hitters? I hope not. Dave Van Handel druut!djvh