Do you agree the players are the product?

[mgent]

Ever heard of a replacement brain?

[wdleehi]

Ever heard of a replacement brain?

Ever heard of a replacement for the NBA?

[BASS_THUMPER]

the fun and excitement is the product

[wdleehi]

Ever heard of a replacement brain?

This just in.


http://www.cnn.com/2011/TECH/innovation/08/18/ibm.brain.chip/index.html?hpt=hp_c1



 

[mgent]

Ever heard of a replacement brain?

Ever heard of a replacement for the NBA?

What does that have to do with anything?

Yes, I think the players are the most irreplaceable.  Replace all 30 owners with random rich guys and the league wouldn't immediately become all that different.  How aren't the players the most valuable/biggest attraction?

[BASS_THUMPER]

why are we messin with this stuff...


remember terminator?

[wdleehi]

Ever heard of a replacement brain?

Ever heard of a replacement for the NBA?

What does that have to do with anything?

Yes, I think the players are the most irreplaceable.  Replace all 30 owners with random rich guys and the league wouldn't immediately become all that different.  How aren't the players the most valuable/biggest attraction?

Really?

Replace a Mark Cubin with a Donald Sterling and it changes nothing?  


And it more then the owner.  It is the whole organization.  The owner does not get all the money the players do not.  It goes to coaches, GMs, scouts, marketing, arenas, supplies, equipment, travel...


Where would the players be without all of that?  

[LooseCannon]

Replace a Mark Cubin with a Donald Sterling and it changes nothing?  

Fewer foreign guys, more "beautiful black bodies".  You'd think a cheapskate like Donald Sterling would be all about outsourcing jobs to cheaper, foreign talent, but the Clippers don't seem to like international players.  Maybe they fear the next Olowokandi.

What would be a bigger shift in the product: replacing all of the owners with random rich guys or replacing all of the players with D-Leaguers and guys bouncing around Europe?

[indeedproceed]

Replace a Mark Cubin with a Donald Sterling and it changes nothing? 

Fewer foreign guys, more "beautiful black bodies".  You'd think a cheapskate like Donald Sterling would be all about outsourcing jobs to cheaper, foreign talent, but the Clippers don't seem to like international players.  Maybe they fear the next Olowokandi.

What would be a bigger shift in the product: replacing all of the owners with random rich guys or replacing all of the players with D-Leaguers and guys bouncing around Europe?

What's his face ruined them. Marco Jaric?

[wdleehi]

Replace a Mark Cubin with a Donald Sterling and it changes nothing?  

Fewer foreign guys, more "beautiful black bodies".  You'd think a cheapskate like Donald Sterling would be all about outsourcing jobs to cheaper, foreign talent, but the Clippers don't seem to like international players.  Maybe they fear the next Olowokandi.

What would be a bigger shift in the product: replacing all of the owners with random rich guys or replacing all of the players with D-Leaguers and guys bouncing around Europe?

Neither can happen.  


Both parts are needed.  



The NBA can't replace the players.


The players can't replace the league.

[mgent]

Really?

Replace a Mark Cubin with a Donald Sterling and it changes nothing?  

Like I said, not immediately.  Obviously it affects the future of the franchise, but how does that affect the amount of people that will watch the next game?  I bet if you quiz the average NBA fan they can't name more than 5 owners/coaches/GMs around the league.  They don't care, they're paying to see the PLAYERS.

[mgent]

Replace a Mark Cubin with a Donald Sterling and it changes nothing?  

Fewer foreign guys, more "beautiful black bodies".  You'd think a cheapskate like Donald Sterling would be all about outsourcing jobs to cheaper, foreign talent, but the Clippers don't seem to like international players.  Maybe they fear the next Olowokandi.

What would be a bigger shift in the product: replacing all of the owners with random rich guys or replacing all of the players with D-Leaguers and guys bouncing around Europe?

Neither can happen.  


Both parts are needed.  



The NBA can't replace the players.


The players can't replace the league.

Why can't that happen?  The answer is obvious.

[LooseCannon]

What would be a bigger shift in the product: replacing all of the owners with random rich guys or replacing all of the players with D-Leaguers and guys bouncing around Europe?

Neither can happen.  


Both parts are needed.  



The NBA can't replace the players.


The players can't replace the league.

Let me rephrase that.  Imagine two hypothetical worlds.  In one, space aliens force all NBA owners to auction off their teams to the highest bidders, who must replace all management.  In another, space aliens kidnap all NBA players, and the owners are forced to hire D-Leaguers and players currently toiling in foreign countries.

Which one would create a greater shift in the product?

[Chris]

What would be a bigger shift in the product: replacing all of the owners with random rich guys or replacing all of the players with D-Leaguers and guys bouncing around Europe?

Neither can happen.  


Both parts are needed.  



The NBA can't replace the players.


The players can't replace the league.

Let me rephrase that.  Imagine two hypothetical worlds.  In one, space aliens force all NBA owners to auction off their teams to the highest bidders, who must replace all management.  In another, space aliens kidnap all NBA players, and the owners are forced to hire D-Leaguers and players currently toiling in foreign countries.

Which one would create a greater shift in the product?

But that makes no sense.  Because the owners are not auctioning off their teams.

No one is saying the owners are irreplacable.  We are saying that the players need the LEAGUE.  That goes well beyond the owners.  It is the infrastructure, the marketing, the history, and all of that.  

Again, players need the league, and the league need the players.

And I would argue that it would be a better product to have a bunch of replacement players playing on NBA teams, with NBA coaches, NBA marketing, NBA TV deals, and all that, then a bunch of great players playing in some gym somewhere with none of that infrastructure. 

[wdleehi]

Replace a Mark Cubin with a Donald Sterling and it changes nothing?  

Fewer foreign guys, more "beautiful black bodies".  You'd think a cheapskate like Donald Sterling would be all about outsourcing jobs to cheaper, foreign talent, but the Clippers don't seem to like international players.  Maybe they fear the next Olowokandi.

What would be a bigger shift in the product: replacing all of the owners with random rich guys or replacing all of the players with D-Leaguers and guys bouncing around Europe?

Neither can happen.  


Both parts are needed.  



The NBA can't replace the players.


The players can't replace the league.

Why can't that happen?  The answer is obvious.

The players don't have the resources or know how.