Why dont we recognize league play with a Trophy

[tazzmaniac]

This isn't European soccer. The NBA doesn't have a regular season attendence problem. Just leave it like it is.

I don't think it's about the attendance, Master Nick, I think it's so teams would care more about the regular season.

As I mentioned, just giving what could look like a meaningless trophy wouldn't work. But if there's an incentive for teams to be the best team in the regular season, then we could avoid things like load management on players, teams on the top tanking to rig their seedings, etc. But there has to be an incentive, it can't just be a trophy because even if the NBA recognizes it as something prestigious, teams wont.

I suggested that the trophy winning team would not only win a trophy, but be awarded an extra draft pick in the upcoming system, right in between the 1st and the 2nd rounds, that can be fully tradeable. That could be valuable for teams to play for, especially the ones on the top that would want to keep improving their already good squads.

You're not going to avoid load management unless the number of regular season games is cut substantially. 

[mr. dee]

Do it like NFL format. Best teams in each conference will get a first round bye.

[gouki88]

Do it like NFL format. Best teams in each conference will get a first round bye.

I think that could have pretty disruptive effects on NBA teams where play is so constant. A round off when you play once a week vs 3-4 times a week is a massive difference.

[mr. dee]

Do it like NFL format. Best teams in each conference will get a first round bye.

I think that could have pretty disruptive effects on NBA teams where play is so constant. A round off when you play once a week vs 3-4 times a week is a massive difference.

They did it before prior to the 1984 season. 2 teams in each conference had first round byes. Granted, there were fewer teams back then.

[action781]

I'd like to see fewer teams making the playoffs.  That would force teams to play during the regular season in order to ensure a playoff birth, like we see in baseball.  Too often we see 7 and 8 seeds that are just bad teams and have no business playing for a championship.  Also if the number of teams that make the playoffs was 6 for example, then getting a first round bye would be a significant advantage to play hard for in the regular season.

I also agree with those who stated that fewer regular season games would help too.