The Phantom
Yesterday
Should NBA season be shortened?
Don't watch the NBA fanatically like I did when I was younger, but it seems that it's more about being the healthiest team during playoffs than being the actual best team.
So many players are coming down with soft tissue injuries that it totally derails title aspirations.
Of course they're paid extremely well, and most of that is due to the number of games televised, plus attendance etc. And there'll be the argument that players in the past did so, players aren't as tough anymore.
Medical science does help with recovery, but nothing can help the body than simply reducing the wear and tear. The league tried to counter players being rested by bringing in games played to be recognised for awards and tied to contract incentives.
Achilles like Tatum's can blow out at anytime, but I can't remember as many hamstring strains as in the last few years.
Players are bigger and stronger these days, and even all those AAU games add up.
If the league wants the best teams to compete for the title, Silver needs to make a gutsy decision to reduce it to at least 70 games and not have so many back to backs or 4 games in a week. Fans might not get as many games, but also will see players not having to be rested as much, and have them fit for playoffs. Even get the first round back to 5 games.
Main reason is broadcast money, and the old, it's always been that many games for so long.
Just seems a teams chances come down to a hamstring twinge these days, no coincidence that final 4 teams left are probably the healthiest ones.
