By Well the summer is usually a down time for basketball, but my mind and imagination got me thinking this “If I were NBA Commissioner what would I do?” So here are some of my ideas and changes I would do in that position.
Eliminate goaltending: With the game becoming so international and that this rule is used in Olympic play, so why not get rid of goaltending? Eliminating goaltending would speed up the game, improve rebounding and possibly the defensive intensity inside the paint.
Expansion/Realignment: This could happen in the near future (NOT Las Vegas please) but expansion never hurts to do from time to time. Adding 2 expansion teams in the west and realigning a current team to the east making it a 32 team league.
The Memphis Grizzlies would be the team realigned moving to the eastern conference because it is a western conference team located east. Now for the two western conference expansion teams would be Seattle and & St. Louis, which would now make a 4th division in the conferences to even everything out.
Reinstate/modify Hand checking
Yes I’m going to be that “Old 1990s basketball fan” on this one with bringing back hand-checking for today’s game. Clearly with some modifications to the rule would balance the game out and allow defenders to play defense again.
No more back to back games
This next one could benefit everyone but only add a week or 2 to the regular season. Yes the 82 game regular seasons is lengthy, and with the growing concern of “Load Management” by players how do we improve the season and prevent more empty DNPs (Did Not Play) then to eliminate back to backs.
Eliminating back to backs is possible with a slight sacrifice which would be extending the season by 1-2 weeks to make it possible. With no back to backs players may not sit out as many games along with giving players a day or two of rest and/or travel between games giving fans a better chance to see their favorite players when they come to their town.
Eliminating 5 second back to basket rule
Another “old 1990s basketball fan” take I have and would change is the 5 second back to the basket or “Barkley” rule. Since the game has become more outside focused to balance things abolish this rule and give low post style play a much needed recharge.
No more blocking fouls
Blocking and charging fouls are one of the most argued/interrupted calls in basketball. So let’s do away with the blocking foul. Along with eliminating the blocking foul we could establish a clear interpretation of an offensive foul (Planted feet and position OUTSIDE the restricted circle) doing this would make flow of the game a little bit easier.
Fix the playoff format
The final thing I would fix if I was commissioner is the playoff format. The NBA playoffs are one of the more exciting times in sports and as much as I love the postseason adjusting all the rounds from best of 7 to best of 5 in the first 2 round and the conference finals and finals are best of 7. Doing this would give incentive and excitement in the first 2 rounds making every game count again.