5:56 PM Sat, Jun 02, 2007 | Permalink
Joe Becker
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By Craig Edwards
Okay, many sports writers back east are up in arms, calling the NBA's 2007 Draft Lottery, with the Blazers and Sonics getting the top two picks, a disaster. Why? They claim having Greg Oden and Kevin Durant playing on the west coast, and in the pacific time zone, is bad for the NBA, because east coast fans won't be able to see them (for the time zone illiterates out there, games that start at 7:00 or 7:30 at night in Portland, start at 10:00 or 10:30 back east). I say that's rubbish. In the era of ESPN, DVR's, and the internet, fans can see any games they want. And the NBA can market anyone if league leaders set their minds to it.
However, one argument does have some merit. Many express a concern over the league's competitive balance. Durant and Oden coming out west makes the Blazers and the Sonics immediate players in the playoff chase. But, it's a case of the rich getting richer, with more good teams in the Western Conference, and the East continuing to suffer (though they keep doing it to themselves. Isiah Thomas and Danny Ainge, I'm looking in your direction!!).
So how do we fix it? How about some more realignment? Rather than east and west conferences, let's try north and south. In 2004, the NBA shifted to 6 divisions of 5 teams each. All it would take is moving a couple of those divisions around.
NBA Northern Conference
Northwest Division
Portland
Seattle
Minnesota
Denver
Utah
Central Division
Chicago
Cleveland
Detroit
Indiana
Milwaukee
Atlantic Division
New York
New Jersey
Toronto
Boston
Philadelphia
NBA Southern Conference
Pacific Division
L.A. Lakers
L.A. Clippers
Phoenix
Sacramento
Golden State
Southwest Division
Memphis
San Antonio
New Orleans
Dallas
Houston
Southeast Division
Atlanta
Charlotte
Miami
Orlando
Washington
Of course, the major drawback to this is the extra travel it would require. Teams would have to make a couple more of trips to the other coast each year. But it would even out the competitive balance, especially with all the young teams in the north getting ready to bust out (Chicago, Cleveland, Portland, Seattle, Toronto). Plus, it would also help solve the other problem. More trips for Durant and Oden to the east coast would keep them in front of the east coast fans. Think of all the new rivalries this would create as well. Minnesota, which is closer to Chicago and Milwaukee then Seattle and Portland, would actually get to play their geographical rivals more than twice.
How does this work for you?
craig,
strong blog debut - but i have to disagree with you.
durant and oden playing in the northwest is a tragedy. you mean to tell me in all your time watching ESPN you still haven't learned the lesson they've been inculcating on the rest of the country?
no teams truly matter except the following:
yankees
mets
red sox
patriots
n.y. giants
jets
knicks
celtics
furthermore, these teams must acquire the marquee talent coming out of college, b/c if they don't make the playoffs, it's going to be really boring for all the ESPN producers and anchors to cover said postseason without the aforementioned teams involved.
the sonics and blazers - only having been around since the 70's - are nothing more than joke teams in joke cities that get lucky every once in a while and reach the post season only to serve as temporary competition for the real teams.
let's just hope oden doesn't prove to be the next sam bowie!