NBA: Now is the time for experimenting, and group play should be on the table
NBA should be experimenting with ideas on resumption
Over the last few weeks, many have suggested that the NBA should think outside the box when/if it should resume the 2019-20 season. In other words, the resumption of the season shouldn’t look the same as before.
Not only because of a time crunch – with the league not wanting to go head-to-head with football when it returns – but also because the two-plus month hiatus will give the league an opportunity to be experimental with its product. That’s not something that is always afforded to leagues.
For one that deems itself as flexible and open to evolution, the NBA should be jumping all over this opportunity to be revolutionary. Not to say that the NBA will change entirely after the resumption of the 2019-20 season, but it could. And, if it is for the better, perhaps it should.
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When the NBA returns, it needs to look different
And that could mean very different things for the NBA. I’m not sure there’s one “right” answer here. There are options that will be on the table for the league and depending on what they decide to be the right move, I have little doubts that the resumption of the 2019-20 season won’t look the same.
There have already been a few ideas out there – from the NBA seeding the 1-16 in one big tournament/playoff to crown a champion to a play-in playoff tournament to bypassing the last few regular-season games and playing the playoffs as-is in terms of the current standings, the NBA has plenty of options.
However, one idea that should be garnering the most attention is also one that is the latest to emerge – and it’s the group play idea.
The group play idea is one that stems from soccer. Those familiar with the sport know exactly what this entails.
Essentially, the top 16 teams in the NBA would randomly be drawn into four groups. Each team would play their group matchups twice and at the end of those games, the top two teams in each group would advance to a best-of-seven series stage (which would essentially work as the conference semifinals or quarterfinals).
This idea would add intrigue to where your favorite team would be drawn to, would almost certainly have a “group of death,” and could open the door for more parity in the league – if a team could land in the right group and in the right matchup.
It’s not a huge change, considering this idea would essentially just rid itself of the first round and still gives off the feeling of real change.
The group stage idea could provide the NBA exactly what it needs for this time. It would inject the league with innovation, energy, and renewed excitement for the resumption of the 2019-20 NBA season.
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It’s the best and most interesting idea that I’ve heard thus far. Hopefully, the NBA feels the same and elects to adopt it for at least the 2019-20 season. After that, it could have a real conversation about the future of the league.