NBA Power Rankings: Where We Plead For A Shorter Regular Season

It's very hard for me, or anyone for that matter, to argue that a professional sports league needs to play fewer games. It's counterintuitive for the brand, because fewer games usually means less revenue and less revenue means less growth for the sport. So before you respond to this upcoming rant with the brilliant "it'll never happen" argument, trust me, I know it won't.

But now that Milwaukee's Andrew Bogut (arguably the league's most underrated player on the league's most underrated team) and possibly Toronto's Chris Bosh will miss the playoffs because of freak injuries they suffered at the very end of the year, I have to get this off my chest. 

Can we please shorten the NBA regular season already!

I don't want to shorten the regular season in order to create some manufactured excitement for the playoffs. I don't want to shorten the regular season because it drags, because frankly, as an NBA fan, I don't think it does. I don't even want to shorten the regular season to encourage players to try harder, because I really don't think there's as much of an effort problem in the NBA as people think. 

No, I want to shorten the NBA season because I'm tired of key players getting hurt right before the playoffs. Lest you think Bogut and Bosh are anomalies, think again. Here's an incomplete list of key players who suffered injuries in the second half of the season that knocked them out or limited them in the playoffs in recent years.

• 2009: Kevin Garnett, Luol Deng, Manu Ginobili
• 2008: Yao Ming
• 2007: Gilbert Arenas, Caron Butler, Dwyane Wade
• 2004: Baron Davis
• 2005: Luol Deng, Eddy Curry (don't laugh, he was a key player for Chicago that year)
• 2002: Peja Stojakovic, Vince Carter
• 2000: Tim Duncan, Grant Hill

And we haven't even talked about the even longer list of players who were hurt or limited during the playoffs in the last 10 years, a list that includes (deep breath) Yao Ming, Tyson Chandler, half of the 2009 Hawks, Andrew Bynum, Ben Gordon, Manu Ginobili, Gilbert Arenas, Chauncey Billups, Dwyane Wade, Joe Johnson, Peja Stojakovic, Chris Webber, Rashard Lewis, Sam Cassell (twice!), Karl Malone, Dirk Nowitzki, Derek Anderson and Tim Hardaway. 

There's no question a lot of these injuries would be prevented if the regular season was, say, 10-15 games shorter. The 82-game season was conceived in a different era, (1968, to be exact), when there were fewer destinations to travel, shorter playoffs and fewer offseason basketball obligations for the players. Yes, NBA players now have better training staffs than they did back then, but it's still much more of a grind for a player's body to go through an 82-game season in 2010 than it was in 1968. You see it in so many of these nagging injuries that affect a player in the playoffs. 

There's also, you know, the fact that, if the NBA season was 10-15 games shorter, there would be fewer April injuries in meaningless regular-season games. Bogut, for example, would have been able to showcase himself in the playoffs before getting hurt. Gilbert Arenas and Caron Butler would have been healthy in 2007, allowing fans to watch a legitimately interesting Wizards team challenge in a really, really weak Eastern Conference. Tim Duncan would have led his Spurs on an interesting quest to repeat as NBA champions in 2000, a journey that likely would have included an intriguing second-round series with the mighty Lakers. Instead, they all got hurt in April, when most NBA fans are just anxiously waiting for the playoffs anyway.

And really, the playoffs are what it's all about. The NBA promotes the hell out of them because they know those games are way more pressure-packed than the regular season. The idea of the playoffs, in theory, is to put all the game's best stars on it's greatest stage in a tournament that legitimately crowns the best team. You can have one off game in the NCAA Tournament that eradicates an entire season of being the best team in the nation, but in the NBA playoffs, cream always rises to the crop. However, when there are several key players who aren't playing or aren't at 100 percent for the biggest stage, it hurts the NBA. It deprives it's consumers of some potentially intriguing playoff series.

Think about it: wouldn't it have been interesting to watch a healthy Milwaukee team challenge the Celtics or Hawks? Wouldn't last year's Hawks-Cavs series have been more interesting if Atlanta had an actual healthy team? Wouldn't it have been fun to see whether the Celtics could have repeated with a healthy Kevin Garnett? Wouldn't it have been interesting to see if the Spurs had one more run left in them? And that's just last year: there are so many recent series' that have swung because of an injury. Why not try to do something to prevent those things from happening?

Alas, the NBA will never shorten the regular season, so it's a moot point. But because of two big late-season injuries, this year's playoffs will be less interesting. As an NBA fan, that doesn't sit well with me.

Onto the rankings!

DREGS OF THE LEAGUE

30. Minnesota Timberwolves: 15-62 overall, 1-2 last week.

SBN Blog: Canis Hoopus

Last week: 30.

You might have forgotten, but technically the Timberwolves control the rights to Ricky Rubio. Oh yeah, that guy. They also might get the number one pick, which means they'd pretty much have to draft John Wall. They also have Jonny Flynn, a lottery pick, and Ramon Sessions, a key free-agent signing. David Kahn, he loves his point guards.

Anyway, speaking of Rubio, here are his top five plays of the season in Europe. 

 

 

Looks like the Timberwolves drafted Jason Williams (White Chocolate version) without a jump shot. Nice job, Kahn!

29.  New Jersey Nets: 11-66 overall, 1-1 last week

SBN Blog: NetsDaily

Last week: 28.

It's too bad Mike Krzyzewski is saying he has no interest in taking the Nets' job, even at an annual salary approached $15 million a year. It'd be nice to see Coach K totally flop on the NBA level once he realizes there are coaches who are actually better at working referees than him. 

28.  Golden State Warriors: 23-54 overall, 2-2 last week.

SBN Blog: Golden State of Mind

Last week: 26.

Don Nelson is on the doorstep of breaking Lenny Wilkins' record for most wins by a head coach, which means any chance of the Warriors tanking to get a better draft pick have gone down in flames. Still, it's a nice accomplishment for Nelson. Yes, it's one that shows longevity more than coaching acumen, but it's a milestone all the same. 

In honor of Nelson's accomplishment, let's remember Nelson's most fun team, the Run T-M-C Warriors of the early 90s. Enjoy!

 

 

27.  Detroit Pistons: 24-53 overall, 1-3 last week.

SBN Blog: Detroit Bad Boys.

Last week: 27.

It's safe to say Charlie Villanueva isn't exactly Twitter savvy. Last year, he got in trouble with Scott Skiles for tweeting during halftime of a game. It was a largely innocent tweet, but still, it ushered in the Charlie Villanueva Rule (unofficial name) that prevents players from tweeting 45 minutes before and after a game. 

This year, he's expressing his frustration about not playing on the only place where nobody will see his thoughts. Oh, who am I kidding. 

 

Well, at least he didn't get fined. Not yet at least. I wonder if Detroit fans are going to start chanting "Four More Years" as a way to count down the rest of the time left on Villanueva's contract.

26.  Sacramento Kings: 24-54 overall, 0-3 last week

SBN Blog: Sactown Royalty

Last week: 25.

I don't think Tyreke Evans' Rookie of the Year campaign needs any help, but this is nice all the same.

 

 

 

Also, kudos to the Kings for stepping it up on defense, even though the games don't matter. These types of positive things have a way of carrying over into next season, especially if they come with yet another high lottery pick. 

25.  Washington Wizards: 24-53 overall, 3-2 last week.

SBN Blog: Bullets Forever

Last week: 28.

Last Sunday, I covered the Wizards-Nets game for Bullets Forever and tried to ask Wizards coach Flip Saunders whether he thinks there's any lessons the Wizards could take away from the Nets' experience of fighting through, despite so many losses. I might have used the words "learn from the Nets" in there, though I can't remember. Saunders looked at me like I was crazy.

The Wizards then went out and beat the Nets. I guess I am crazy.

24.  Philadelphia 76ers: 26-51 overall, 0-4 last week.

SBN Blog: Liberty Ballers

Last week: 22.

 

23.  Los Angeles Clippers: 27-50 overall, 0-4 last week.

SBN Blog: Clips Nation.

Last week: 24.

As it turns out, longtime Clipper fan Clippers Darrell isn't retiring, he's just sick. Chest pains reportedly forced him to the hospital, and he's got high blood pressure, but he should be fine. That's good, because we need more fans like Clipper Darrell in this game. Hopefully he'll be there when/if the Clippers do indeed turn it around.  

22.  New York Knicks: 28-49 overall, 2-2 last week.

SBN Blog: Posting and Toasting

Last week: 23.

Want to know a way to poke fun at two different fanbases at the same time? Just show them this picture.

About the only good that came of that headline is the photoshop job. Otherwise, Straight Bangin does a good job of breaking down the traveshamockery that is that picture. 

21.  New Orleans Hornets: 35-43 overall, 0-3 last week.

SBN Blog: At the Hive

Last week: 20.  

It appears the Hornets are packing it in after beating the Lakers last Monday. Considering all they went through this season, I guess I can understand that. Now, about that luxury tax problem...

20.  Indiana Pacers: 29-48 overall, 2-1 last week

SBN Blog: Indy Cornrows

Last week: 21.

Dear Pacers,

Please stop winning these pointless late-season games. We want John Wall, Evan Turner or Derrick Favors, not Cole Aldrich.

Sincerely, 

Pacers fans.

MEDIOCRE CLUBS

19.  Chicago Bulls: 37-40 overall, 2-1 last week.

SBN Blog: Blog A Bull

Last week: 19.

18.  Toronto Raptors: 38-39, 2-1 last week.

SBN Blog: Raptors HQ

Last week: 18.

The most uninspiring playoff race of all time continues. In one corner, Derrick Rose and his army of injured, crappy players and overmatched head coach. In the other, a bunch of no-defense, partying, overpaid stiffs who likely will be without their leader after he suffered a broken face. In the end, nobody wins.  

17.  Memphis Grizzlies: 39-38 overall, 1-3 last week

SBN Blog: Straight Outta Vancouver

Last week: 16.

LEAVE HASHEEM ALONE, MATT BARNES! LEAVE HIM ALONE!

 

 

16.  Houston Rockets: 39-38 overall, 3-2 last week

SBN Blog: The Dream Shake

Last week: 17.

This edition of the Stupid Article About The NBA Of The Month goes to Jordan Schultz of Fanhouse, who argues that a) the Rockets should have kept Tracy McGrady and let his contract expire in order to get maximum cap room in 2010 (which they couldn't have gotten anyway); b) Matt Barnes is a better fit for the Rockets than Kevin Martin, who is not the guy you want as your "second scorer" c) they didn't need to give away Carl Landry, even though doing so netted the Rockets Martin, Jordan Hill and two high draft picks; and d) the Rockets need to be more patient. This article has already been debunked in a series of tweets here, so I won't go on, but seriously guys, do your research before you challenge the Chapel of the Morey. Thanks.

Houston will be fine. It all depends on Yao's recovery, but they've done what they can to surround Yao with quality players. If it falls apart, it'll be because Yao's foot won't hold up, not because of bad moves by Daryl Morey.   

15.  Milwaukee Bucks: 43-34 overall, 3-2 last week.

SBN Blog: Brew Hoop

Last week: 13.

So sad. So very, very sad. 

Honestly, I'd consider giving Bogut my left arm so he could play in the playoffs. Wait, did I say that out loud?

14.  Charlotte Bobcats: 41-36 overall, 3-1 last week.

SBN Blog: Rufus on Fire

Last week: 15.  

Earlier this weekend, SB Nation's Adam Jacobi argued that Butler was setting college basketball back 50 years because they're terrible on offense and confound the problem by playing slow. I just want to make clear that the Charlotte Bobcats are the NBA's version of Butler. Root for them to pull a first-round playoff upset at your own peril.

13.  Miami Heat: 43-34 overall, 3-0 last week.

SBN Blog: Peninsula is Mightier

Last week: 14. 

Help us, Obi-Wan-Wade. You're our only hope ... at a lower-seeded Eastern Conference team making things interesting in the playoffs, now that Bogut is injured. You and your team are on a roll, and Atlanta and Boston are vulnerable. Make it happen!

GOOD, BUT NOT GREAT

12.  Portland Trail Blazers: 47-30 overall, 2-1 last week.

SBN Blog: Blazers Edge

Last week: 10.

You know, Greg Oden is eligible to receive a contract extension this summer. Those will be interesting negotiations...

11.  Boston Celtics: 48-29 overall, 1-3 last week.

SBN Blog: Celtics Blog.

Last week: 7.

It was nice of LeBron James to pull up and shoot a totally nonsensical game-winning three-pointer at the end of Sunday's game. The Celtics needed the fake confidence that they could actually win big games. Now, they'll think too highly of themselves and fall apart. 

(I'm kidding, guys. Nice win, Celtics. Now enjoy KG cursing).

 

 

 

10.  Atlanta Hawks: 49-28 overall, 2-2 last week.

SBN Blog: Peachtree Hoops.

Last week: 8.

You have to give the Hawks credit, because they have a formula that works and they stick to it. Sure, it'd be nice to see more ball movement in the fourth quarter, instead of Jamal Crawford and Joe Johnson chucking shots. Sure, it'd be nice if they played traditional man-to-man defense instead of always switching screens. But in a league where you are as good as your strength, the Hawks have maximized their strengths. For that, they get kudos.

9.  Dallas Mavericks: 50-27 overall, 1-2 last week.

SBN Blog: Mavs Moneyball.

Last week: 4.

Can we finally admit that Caron Butler just isn't all that great anymore? Butler's numbers since the trade to Dallas: 13.3 PER, 49.3% true shooting percentage, 8.5% assist percentage (down from 21.9% in 2007/08 with the Wizards). It wasn't the stinky situation in Washington that affected him, it was him getting older and getting worse. Let's stop pretending he's all that great.

At least his personality has resurfaced in Dallas, if not his game.

 

 

8.  San Antonio Spurs: 48-29 overall, 4-0 last week

SBN Blog: Pounding the Rock.

Last week: 11.

Manu Ginobili is back, ladies and gentlemen. Just ask the Lakers, who were shredded by the one guy who always used to give them problems. This does raise an interesting dilemma, though, as far as what happens now that Tony Parker is back from injury. Ginobili's been the offense's primary facilitator, not George Hill. How do things change now that Parker is back and expects to get the ball like he always has in his career? Can Manu still be Manu? 

7.  Oklahoma City Thunder: 48-29 overall, 4-1 last week

SBN Blog: Welcome To Loud City

Last week: 11. 

When you think of the typical young team, a few things come to mind. They usually are much better offensively than defensively. They usually play really, really well at home, in front of the energy of their crowd, and play much worse on the road in hostile environments. They struggle winning close games because they do a poor job of valuing every possession. They probably draw fewer fouls because they don't have the respect of the officials. 

The Oklahoma City Thunder exhibit none of these characteristics. Consider these facts:

• The Thunder are an elite defensive team, though they've slipped a bit on that end recently. They're giving up an average of just 103.9 points per 100 possessions this season, eighth-best in the league. That's better than teams like San Antonio, Utah, Portland and Atlanta.
• The Thunder are an outstanding road team. Their 23-16 road mark is tied with Orlando for the fourth-best in the league, with only Boston, Cleveland and Dallas ahead of them. That's right, the Oklahoma City Thunder have a better road record than the Los Angeles Lakers. 
• The Thunder are the second-best team in the league at drawing fouls, behind only the mighty Denver Nuggets, who kick everyone's butt in that category. 
• They still do struggle a bit with close games, but terrible officiating doesn't help. 

 

In the coming weeks, mainstream pundits are going to spout on about how the Thunder are too young to win in the playoffs. They're being lazy. The truth is, the Thunder exhibit none of the traditional characteristics of young teams, so there's no reason they can't make a deep playoff run. 

6.  Denver Nuggets: 50-27 overall, 2-0 last week.

SBN Blog: Denver Stiffs.

Last week: 4.

I'm not exactly well-versed in the psychology of locker-room humor, but even I know that it's not a good idea to play an April Fools joke on Kenyon Martin. I mean, he's Kenyon Martin, the dude with a tattoo of lipstick on his neck. He's probably a little, you know, crazy about those sort of things. Sure enough, he overreacted and said this in response.

"That ain't no [expletive] joke," Martin said. "I'm going to find out who did it ... put my [expletive] hands on one of y'all. I'm going to put my hands on whoever did it. You better believe that. It's [expletive] personal. You better believe it." 

"How 'bout if I don't play in the playoffs until somebody tells me who did it," Martin said more than once.

Threatening physical violence? Eh, these are NBA players, and Martin's an enforcer. But threatening to not play in the playoffs? That's a new one. I'm sure Adrian Dantley was THRILLED to hear that. 

5.  Phoenix Suns: 50-27 overall, 3-1 last week

SBN Blog: Bright Side of the Sun.

Last week: 6.

There are way too many deserving candidates for Coach of the Year these days, if only because it's an award entirely based on exceeding expectations when sometimes it's even more difficult to maintain expectations. Still, shouldn't Alvin Gentry get some serious consideration? The paper-thin Suns could possibly get the two-seed in the West, ahead of teams that are far better on paper. Phoenix's young players (Robin Lopez, Jared Dudley and Goran Dragic) have exceeded expectations, and Gentry's masterfully dealt with Amare Stoudemire's lingering contract issues all season. Why not name him Coach of the Year?

4.  Utah Jazz: 51-27 overall, 4-1 last week.

SBN Blog: SLC Dunk

Last week: 5.

Chris Paul is still better than Deron Williams (sorry Jazz fans), but Williams has really closed the gap this season. I hate to go to the intangible argument, but Deron Williams' impact this year goes beyond his numbers. He's grown as an on-court leader and, along with Jerry Sloan, has held together a Jazz team that's lost several key pieces, whether to injury or cost-cutting trades. The Jazz are now trotting out an eight-man rotation that includes Wesley Matthews, C.J. Miles, Kyle Korver and Ronnie Price, and yet they're still winning in large part because Williams has figured out how to hold everyone together. It's tempting to praise Jerry Sloan for this team's performance, and he deserves it, but don't forget about giving Williams some love.

 

 

 

CHAMPIONSHIP CONTENDERS

 

 

3.  Los Angeles Lakers: 55-22 overall, 2-2 last week.

SBN Blog: Silver Screen and Roll

Last week: 2.

EVERYONE PANIC! THE LAKERS ARE LOSING A LOT OF GAMES THEY SHOULD BE WINNING! THE SKY IS FALLING! 

(Note to everyone: chill out. They'll be fine. Maybe not good enough to win the title, but they're still the best team in the West).

 

2.  Orlando Magic: 54-23 overall, 2-1 last week.

SBN Blog: Orlando Pinstriped Post.

Last week: 3.

A message to Matt Barnes:

Dear Matt,

I come to you as a fan of what you've done to help the Magic this season. You've given the team some much-needed stability in the starting lineup, as opposed to the wildly inconsistent Mickael Pietrus. You move well without the ball, defend all the top scorers in the league and have given Orlando some toughness on the wing.

But please, do us all a favor and stop with the cheap shots. You don't need to fight Hasheem Thabeet to prove that you're a tough guy. You don't need to try to intimidate Kobe Bryant to try to stop him. It all is starting to seem like an act, a way to prove to everyone that the Orlando Magic don't back down. We get it. Everyone who knows anything about basketball knows that the Magic need to be taken seriously. You don't need to get into fights just to drive the point home. 

Sincerely,

Some Wizards fan that wanted you on our team back in 2008. 

1.  Cleveland Cavaliers: 61-17 overall, 3-1 last week.

SBN Blog: Fear the Sword

Last week: 1.

I still believe that LeBron James pulled up for that three in transition just to give the Celtics some false confidence that they could beat the Cavs in the playoffs. Cleveland made their statement when they charged back in the fourth quarter. It was them saying to the Celtics, "You can't stop us at our best. We don't need to win this game to prove that." 

In other words, sure, it was a dumb basketball play, but LeBron didn't care. If he makes the shot, then the Celtics are crushed. If he misses, it doesn't really matter, since the Cavaliers are playing for nothing and already made their point. So let's not make too much out of it.