Welcome to Layup Strains, For the Win’s basketball e-newsletter. Subscribe right here to get it delivered to your inbox each Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Have suggestions for the Layup Strains Crew? Depart your questions, feedback and issues by this temporary reader survey. Now, right here’s Prince J. Grimes.
One factor you possibly can by no means say in regards to the NBA underneath the stewardship of commissioner Adam Silver is that it’s been scared to attempt new issues.
We’ve seen the league implement a number of important adjustments since his tenure started in 2014, and maybe none have been extra drastic than those we’re seeing this season between the tightening of relaxation guidelines for stars and the addition of an in-season match.
Nonetheless, one factor the league hasn’t been in a position to get proper underneath Silver is the All-Star Sport.
Now, to be clear, this isn’t precisely the fault of the commissioner. The gamers are merely richer than they’ve ever been, in order that they’re understandably much less motivated to go 100% for what’s primarily a meaningless exhibition recreation. However there’s no arguing that it’s watered down the expertise for followers.
In an try to enhance the sport, we’ve seen the league drop the convention format to combine up the rosters, add captains to pick the groups like a pick-up recreation and even change the scoring system to an Elam ending. Nonetheless, the video games simply appear to worsen every year.
So, what does the league plan to do subsequent? Silver hinted at some potential adjustments to the format at this 12 months’s recreation in Indianapolis in an interview Wednesday with Stephen A. Smith on ESPN’s First Take, and it sounds just like the NBA could possibly be going again to its roots.
NBA commissioner Adam Silver is contemplating a return to the East vs. West format for the All-Star recreation 👀 pic.twitter.com/cmFVbpkrsN
— First Take (@FirstTake) October 18, 2023
“Possibly a return to one thing extra conventional when it comes to how the groups are introduced,” Silver stated when pushed on these adjustments by Smith. “We went to form of this captain, draft notion. However clearly, traditionally, it was East versus West. In order that’s one thing we’re .”
This was so refreshing to listen to. Whereas the participant draft was enjoyable in principle — and it definitely generated some humorous moments through the years — the product on the court docket by no means actually lived as much as what we had been hoping to get.
Going again to an Japanese Convention versus Western Convention format received’t essentially repair that, however it could at the least carry again among the nostalgia of previous All-Stars, and likewise produce jerseys folks would possibly truly be thinking about shopping for. No extra of this “Crew LeBron” versus “Crew Giannis” nonsense. I’m down for innovation and attempting new issues, however the NBA must maintain some traditions with the intention to really feel acquainted, and it is a good one to me.
Silver additionally stated it’s on the league to bolster to gamers how vital the sport is, one thing he admitted the NBA may need overpassed within the midst of all the things else that takes place throughout All-Star Weekend. The precise recreation nonetheless issues to followers.
“But in addition, plenty of it comes all the way down to, I feel, reinforcing with our gamers and our groups how vital that is for the followers,” Silver stated. “One factor I’ve realized is that, notably with our gamers, they’re very coachable and that you would be able to’t take without any consideration, notably younger gamers coming into the league, that they perceive the generations and traditions that got here earlier than them. And I feel that is the place the league has to bolster: we don’t anticipate playoff depth however we anticipate a aggressive recreation for our followers. And that’s what All-Star is.”
Hopefully, the NBA can work out a option to get this proper.
Nikola Jokic is the NBA’s MVP (in opposition to the unfold)
Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports activities
When you’re into betting on the NBA, you’re going to need to take a look at the most recent from BetFTW’s Ben Fawkes. Ben was in a position to meet up with 5 oddsmakers from throughout the nation and get them to rank the most effective NBA gamers when it comes to what number of factors in opposition to the unfold they’re price. The outcomes had been equally unsurprising and engaging.
As an illustration, the highest three are your normal suspects within the MVP race, Nikola Jokic, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Joel Embiid. And the names that comply with these three are all gamers you’d most likely guess, although you might quibble with the order on just a few. I personally assume Kevin Durant at No. 7 is slightly excessive for somebody who has Devin Booker and Bradley Beal on his group. And I may need Shai Gilgeous-Alexander even increased than his No. 6 score due to how a lot he means to OKC.
However probably the most shocking outcome to me was Zion Williamson all the best way down at No. 33, proper behind Julius Randle. There’s no disgrace in being a top-40 participant, however I’m stunned he’s not increased contemplating what occurred to the Pelicans after he received harm final 12 months. They went from perhaps the most effective group within the West to out of the playoffs.
My instance isn’t precisely a terrific measure of worth in opposition to the unfold, nevertheless it does present simply how vital Williamson is to New Orleans’ success. I feel if he stays wholesome this season, he’ll show to be extra helpful in opposition to the unfold than oddsmakers are giving him credit score for.
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