NBA is committing suicide

[Double Bogey]

dont blame the players, its a lockout not a strike. the players were even willing to take a paycut

The current system is killing the league. The soft cap was meant fir teams to be able to keep their superstars. Now instead it's used as a bargaining chip. Things needed to change, and it will make the league a lot better in thr future.

So yeah it is the players fault for not recognizing what's good for the game. They should know that in the end the owners will get anything they want. They should deal now so they don't lose a seasons paycheck.

[gshock1]

I hope the league folds.

[stevenash]

Owners want a 50-50 split.

Which is the way it should be.

Owners pay the players, the players are the employees, the owners are the employers.
Owners are the boss, the players seem to forget this.

[ebbearsfb1]

Nba stinks anyway, love me some college hoops

[OmgUrMom]

50/50 seems more than fair with most owners losing money on their teams, players should give in

[bobbyfk]

I will miss the NBA alot, I was a fan even before I started betting on it

[GimpedMaster]

NBA games just to tempt me into bets on a stupid game that I don't really care about outside of the final score. I'd prefer it gets cancelled for the year and comes back as a hybrid NBA/NFL type game where you can tackle the dude with the ball, otherwise just fold up shop and let's be done with the worst pro sport in the world!

[jonal]

I will miss it, gotta waste all my time with CBB...really?

[BestPlay2day]

Players will fold and my guess they will have a 1/2 a season starting in January. Players can't support their posse, women, child support, fancy cars, making it rain in clubs, etc...

[mtneer1212]

Didn't the players already give up 6 points and the NBA wants 14? Seems like the players see everyone begging to pay the star players, paying for big advertising deals, getting NBA tv, Jersey sales, new stadiums so they don't believe owners aren't making money. It's kind of like government budgets...who knows what they are actually taking in and spending.

Ordinarily, I agree with you Bill, but in this case, the books were audited by a third party, and the Union had full disclosure on the figures, both expenses and income. This isn't like the NFL where the owners were shuffling money and hiding income. That is why you heard all about the players wanting to see the books in the NFL case, and the owners refused. In the NBA's case the books have been exposed and they are losing money - that is why you haven't heard a peep about the owners won't show us their books.

I believe about half the owners are making money, and several others are breaking even. But I know that at least 7 franchises are losing money, and the players cannot dispute that.

[Mad Thunder]

Fire them all and start fresh. The league will survive.

That might actually be a good idea. Dump the prima donnas and get some honest blue collar talent.

[ThaTopMoron]

the NBA can fukk themselves... they really need to fix shit with the money being paid to players etc and how the game is played so it can start to revive itself and teams can compete in any market like the NFL... be 2-10...end a season with 4 wins ala DET, then start off the next season one of the last undefeateds... quick turnarounds, parity.

the game needs to be FUN to watch... we are tired of these jerkoffs not giving a fuk for 50 of the 80 games... not giving it their all. and the fukking officials, rules need to be altered and just overall rewritten in some instances.

people are tired of the horseshit endings in a real close game, where the last 24 seconds takes forever to play as teams foul, call timeout for every fukkn play... foul some more... repeat. the last minute of a game takes 30 minutes! this can be changed, just need some fukking input from fans and execs alike as to a solution to have smoother endings to games.

all of the shitty flopping, and officials giving the players 2 quick horseshit fouls in the first 2 minutes of the game and bam... the ALL-STAR entertaining superstar you paid money to come see is already sitting his ass on the bench and you are watching his bum backup on the court

players shouldn't "foul out" of games anymore, it should be they get to 6 fouls... then after that, if a 7th foul, 8th foul is called on them then it should be a free throw for the other team. KEEP THE PLAYERS THE FANS WANT TO SEE ON THE DAMN COURT UNLESS THEY NEED A BREATHER.

until then,

fukk the NBA

[kmoney]

Which is the way it should be.

Owners pay the players, the players are the employees, the owners are the employers.
Owners are the boss, the players seem to forget this.

very bad logic, the players are better at what they do then anyone in the world. they aren't replaceable. we don't see the players true market value with the union. The union is designed to protect the small players. How much do you think a Lebron could make on the open market? and that is where the nba needs a union as much as the players.

[jjgold]

I like to bet and watch it although average person worried about their own lives and surviving

[Double Bogey]

very bad logic, the players are better at what they do then anyone in the world. they aren't replaceable. we don't see the players true market value with the union. The union is designed to protect the small players. How much do you think a Lebron could make on the open market? and that is where the nba needs a union as much as the players.

Apparently a fraction of what he's getting now. There is an open market on basketball. Pro ball all over Europe. Honestly these players can stick it, if they think they deserve more, go play there and see what their value is. Everyone is replaceable. Someone will always fill a need. It's the way the world works.

[Mr KLC]

Actually, I'm starting to get into the NHL now. If the NBA does not show up, so be it.

[WileOut]

I'd rather have a 40-60 game season, games mean more.

Even with a 160 game season, it comes down to the final series in many cases for baseball playoff spots. Many times it is tied and they have to play a playoff game.

However in basketball, teams tend to be more polarized so the season is over quicker for many teams. Even still with 80 games it always comes down to the final week for seeding and in a few cases for playoff spots.

[laclippers504]

I agree. The NBA is in a bad spot. They should have come to an agreement.

[HoulihansTX]

Even with a 160 game season, it comes down to the final series in many cases for baseball playoff spots. Many times it is tied and they have to play a playoff game.

However in basketball, teams tend to be more polarized so the season is over quicker for many teams. Even still with 80 games it always comes down to the final week for seeding and in a few cases for playoff spots.

That is b/c half of the league makes it into the NBA playoffs.

[mtneer1212]

They should play 60 games, and cut all salaries by 25%. They should also dissolve the bottom 4 franchises. It would be a much better league.

[lunchbawks]

NBA is outsourcing their players to China + India.

Not a bad strategy

[scholesy]

You must suck at basketball if you think college basketball is better than pro ball.
The college game is way way too slow. In a typical possession, they would just pass the ball around the zone defense perimeter before throwing up an ugly shot when the clock is about to expire.
Hell, 90%+ of these college kids can't even make an open jumper to save their lives.

[mattmc419]

I love the NBA, but I'm annoyed by how much the star treatment has increased in the last few years.

It's not as much fun watching games when the superstars are just traveling and shooting free throws the whole time.

Obviously the bargaining agreement won't change that, but something needs to be done to go back to real basketball.

[Nickelicious]

The NBA is not committing suicide. There will be shortened season this year. TV ratings will be down at first but will rebound just fine. By 2012-13, everything will be forgiven and forgotten. The NBA will once again be the second most popular professional sport in America for key demographics (18-to-49-year-olds). The owners and the players will once again be wallowing in hundreds of millions of dollars.

Suicide? Utterly ignorant concept.

[MARVEL]

Many of you guys that hate the NBA were never fans of basketball to begin with. Don't give me "the league was better when Jordan played" crap. A lot of teams were losing money in those days. The NBA messed up by adding Toronto and Vancouver to the league, hello anyone David Stern! He made some bad decisions. MJs $30+ million dollar salary was a precursor to the '98-99 lockout. David Stern allowed that madness, although MJ was worth it as are many players such as Lebron and Kobe...it made it harder for teams that didn't have the money to compete adding increased disparity throughout the league. In the 1980s, the lakers and celtics were stacked. Look at their finals appearances. Magic made 9 NBA finals appearances. Think about that for second. The lakers obviously had an advantage in attracting players and keeping them. They always will, you can't change it. The NBA was always unfair...Bill Russell has 11 rings! This is nothing new.

The college game is slow and boring because of its stupid 35 second shot clock. The talent and level of play is not even close the NBA. The only thing that makes college exciting is the NCAA tournament and that is because its a one game elimination tourney.

There is a lot of good talent in the league and last season the NBA had its best years in ratings and attendance since the late 1990's. Basketball is global sport so it is here to stay. Referring to the players as thugs makes little sense as the NBA's biggest stars and the vast majority of the league have clean criminal records. A lot of racial undertones in some responses here. Its amazing that billionaires are blaming the millionaires for their losses. All successful businessmen know they must be accountable for their own decisions. You do not need to pay Rashard Lewis $120+ million! That is the owner's fault for paying him that money not Rashard. If my employer offered to pay me that much money I would take it and you would too.

[TheMoneyShot]

I love to wager on the NBA. I hate College Basketball. But... life will go on either way.

[TheMoneyShot]

I talked to my other gambling friend about the NBA. He stopped wagering ever since Jordan left. He claims it's not worth his time??? Almost ever bet he makes is 90% for the favorite. No wonder why you hate the NBA then LOL. I truly believe you can actually make money wagering on this sport. More consistency in the Dog.

[clip1]

Many of you guys that hate the NBA were never fans of basketball to begin with. Don't give me "the league was better when Jordan played" crap. A lot of teams were losing money in those days. The NBA messed up by adding Toronto and Vancouver to the league, hello anyone David Stern! He made some bad decisions. MJs $30+ million dollar salary was a precursor to the '98-99 lockout. David Stern allowed that madness, although MJ was worth it as are many players such as Lebron and Kobe...it made it harder for teams that didn't have the money to compete adding increased disparity throughout the league. In the 1980s, the lakers and celtics were stacked. Look at their finals appearances. Magic made 9 NBA finals appearances. Think about that for second. The lakers obviously had an advantage in attracting players and keeping them. They always will, you can't change it. The NBA was always unfair...Bill Russell has 11 rings! This is nothing new.

The college game is slow and boring because of its stupid 35 second shot clock. The talent and level of play is not even close the NBA. The only thing that makes college exciting is the NCAA tournament and that is because its a one game elimination tourney.

There is a lot of good talent in the league and last season the NBA had its best years in ratings and attendance since the late 1990's. Basketball is global sport so it is here to stay. Referring to the players as thugs makes little sense as the NBA's biggest stars and the vast majority of the league have clean criminal records. A lot of racial undertones in some responses here. Its amazing that billionaires are blaming the millionaires for their losses. All successful businessmen know they must be accountable for their own decisions. You do not need to pay Rashard Lewis $120+ million! That is the owner's fault for paying him that money not Rashard. If my employer offered to pay me that much money I would take it and you would too.

don’t know you guy, but you make the most sence on here right now, wrong crowd is getting blamed again as usual, what's the unapmloyment number now? good job america, fukkin loosers, cokk masuring contest again when will you learn. Would not even happen in the first place if every one will grow up and be responsible for their own actions. But no you need to point fingure there is a bad guy, "YOU NEED PEOPLE LIKE ME SO YOU CAN POINT A FINGURE, HE'S A BAD GUY" line come to mind.

misrable

why don't you fight for your right to LEAGALIZE gamble again.

[HAPPY BOY]

after coming off the greatest NBA season ever (revenue wise and excitment wise) these clowns are commiting suicide. canceling the first weeks games already cost 80+ million (thats just ticket sales) I feel sorry for the arena workers who dont make the millions.

[Nickelicious]

[Family Guy housemaid] Nooo.... Nooooo.... ....not suicide..... [starts up vacuum cleaner]

[BookiesBernanke]

Once the NBA changed the best of 5 first round series to 7 games I was done with it

Plus the NBA Finals 2-3-2 sucks as well

Very mismanaged product

The LeBron popularity/ scandal thing was very misleading in terms of "health of the game"
Its become a soap opera when one of the best players in the league cant even perform in the Finals

[BookiesBernanke]

after coming off the greatest NBA season ever (revenue wise and excitment wise) these clowns are commiting suicide. canceling the first weeks games already cost 80+ million (thats just ticket sales) I feel sorry for the arena workers who dont make the millions.

Do you really feel like it was that great of season excitement wise?

Maybe in terms of a soap opera, but overall the Heat didnt perfom up to expectations, the Lakers and Celtics were both flat, OKC added some nice value and Dirk played very well but I didnt think it was that great of season.

[Laker_crazy]

Here's hoping we begin the season soon and make some money

[jjgold]

Do you really feel like it was that great of season excitement wise?

Maybe in terms of a soap opera, but overall the Heat didnt perfom up to expectations, the Lakers and Celtics were both flat, OKC added some nice value and Dirk played very well but I didnt think it was that great of season.

Heat over achieved 1st year with all new players

They were not the favorites in reality to win it all

NBA had a great year ratings wise

bad move

[HighlyTouted]

NBA is dead, its closer to WWE wrestling than to a sport. Anyone who would bet NBA or give out NBA picks hasnt a grip on sports gambling