NBA Commissioner Open to Shortening the League – Will the European Soccer Model Work?

The NBA commissioner’s pet concept of an in-season tournament is getting support, according to reports. With an in-season tournament, the NBA’s regular season would be cut from 82 to 78 games. Despite the lack of enthusiasm for the play-in round, many fans would welcome a shortened regular season. They believe the 82-game calendar is too long, too demanding, and too likely to result in injury due to a lack of meaningful games.

The NBA season would run without injuries in an ideal world. Every year, superstars suffer season-ending injuries, which is likely the most serious issue the league must address.

“It’s something we’ve been talking a lot about the last few years,” said the NBA commissioner. I’m not against potentially changing the format of the season. Even possibly shortening a bit. If we can demonstrate that’s going to have a direct impact on injuries.”

 

European league model good for the NBA?

Most European soccer leagues include 20 teams, and each team is required to play two games against each other (one on their home ground, the other on the opponent’s home ground) in order to maintain a points table. As a result, each team plays 38 games and receives three points for a victory, zero points for a defeat, and one point for a tie. The club with the most points at the conclusion of the season wins the league. Teams are ranked by total points, with the club with the most points at the end of the season being proclaimed champion.

However, in the NBA, every team plays 4 games against the other 4 division opponents (44=16 games), 4 games against 6 (out-of-division) conference opponents (46=24 games), 3 games against the remaining 4 conference teams (34=12 games), and 2 games against opposing conference teams (215=30 games). However, there are too many games and many have questioned the format of the league.

If the European league model is implemented in the NBA, it would massively reduce the games a team has to play in a season. There would be no conferences and divisions. Every team will play 58 games in a season and the team with the most wins/points will win the league. This would make the “regular season” far more interesting while keeping the playoff system that we all enjoy. Teams would still want to make the playoffs, but the best teams would be less inclined to rest players because they would be playing for a championship during those 58games.