The first-ever NBA In-Season Tournament has been a success for the league, accomplishing the objective of injecting novelty and intensity into what was traditionally a routine and mundane segment of the regular season schedule.
Nevertheless, while its success is evident, implementing several changes could elevate the tournament's status, solidifying its reputation as a prestigious event.
Here are three changes the NBA should make for the next edition of the In-Season Tournament.
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3 Changes for the NBA In-Season Tournament:
1. Move the schedule of the In-Season Tournament.
The group stage matches in the recently concluded tournament were mostly scheduled on Tuesdays and Fridays in November, while the knockout stage games took place during the first week of December.
The tournament occurred within the first approximately 20 games of the regular season. However, if the NBA intended to inject excitement into the dull moments of the regular season, a more effective strategy might have been to schedule the tournament later, perhaps around January to February.
NBA teams typically maintain a high level of intensity in the early stages of the regular season, striving to find their rhythm and establish a routine.
In the middle part of the season, they tend to ease off and pace themselves until they contend for a favorable seed towards the end of the season.
Integrating the tournament into the midseason could elevate the quality of the product, especially during those games post-Christmas and before the All-Star break when star players frequently rest and teams tend to experiment with their lineups and tactics.
2. Put more high-stakes prizes for the winners.
For the prize money this year, all the winning team players received $500,000, while the runners-up received $200,000. The losing players of the semifinals each earned $100,000, and the losing players of the quarterfinals received $50,000.
While the monetary reward is appreciated, incorporating a tangible incentive with a substantial impact without overshadowing the value of the regular season could add an extra layer of motivation.
NBA agent and marketing executive Nate Jones suggested that the In-Season Tournament could function as the NBA's equivalent of WWE's Money In The Bank ladder match, offering a range of potential playoff benefits that teams can strategically capitalize on.
Examples of this include gaining a tiebreaker advantage or having the option to play three consecutive playoff games at home. Alternatively, a more radical change could involve allowing the winning team to add a player from any non-playoff team during the postseason.
3. Give the tournament a better name.
The current designation, "NBA In-Season Tournament," might be a bit mouthful for some, and selecting a different name could potentially improve its memorability.
Considering a title linked to a legend of the game could be a strategic move.
The "NBA Kobe Bryant Cup" or the "NBA David Stern Cup" sounds appealing and could add a meaningful touch to the tournament's identity.
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