How or Should the NBA Realign Divisions After Seattle Takes the Kings?

[Just the facts]

If we were using the number of superstars to determine the number of teams there would be maybe 5 teams in the league. The Wizards are one the worst team in the NBA and look who they have beaten. There isn't as much difference between the top and bottom on any give night as people make it out to be. Every team has to show up every night; take a night off and you lose.

OKC (43-16)
Milwaukee (29-28)
Miami (43-14)
Houston (33-28)
Orlando-2X (16-44)
New York (35-21)
Denver-2X (38-22)
Minnesota (20-36)
New Orleans (21-39)
Portland-2X (27-31)
Chicago (34-26)
Brooklyn (34-26)
Toronto (23-37)
Philadelphia (23-35)
Atlanta (33-25)
LA Clippers (43-19)

[Hawk405359]

Not really, no one is saying no bit players, but there is an significant difference in excitement when teams with no superstars come to town vs. those who do have them. Less excitement means less gates, less profit, and an overall weakening of the product. Just because a 13-46 team can upset a much better team doesn't mean people are as fired up to see it.

The biggest threat to the NBA is bad basketball, and the more the league expands, the higher the risk is of getting it. Sports franchises have to keep a certain quality of play to keep the fanbase interested, and if you don't, then you damage that brand.

[Snowman]

Expantion is no sure bet of more money, it likely means an infusion of cash and a smaller percent of media revenue in perpetuity with other hassles. Seattle is only middle of the pack population wise. Any other US city in top twenty-five market either has a team who's owner will fight it, is oversaturated for sports dollars already or unlikely due to little to no chance of public funds for stadium.

[Just the facts]

From Feb 15, 2013

Pittsburgh Mentioned On Short List For NBA Franchise « CBS Pittsburgh

When asked about possible NBA expansion Stern told the Chronicle, “I keep a little green book with a list of all the cities interested in NBA teams and could respond pretty quickly. There’s all kinds of stuff going on in Pittsburgh, Columbus, Louisville, Virginia Beach, Las Vegas, Vancouver, Mexico City, Kansas City.”

[Matt]

“I keep a little green book with a list of all the cities interested in NBA teams and could respond pretty quickly. There’s all kinds of stuff going on in Pittsburgh, Columbus, Louisville, Virginia Beach, Las Vegas, Vancouver, Mexico City, Kansas City.”

That is a perfect lineup of cities for the new NBA Senior League featuring superstar Derek Fisher.

[boitoirich]

That is a perfect lineup of cities for the new NBA Senior League featuring superstar Derek Fisher.

Bazinga.

[Just the facts]

That is a perfect lineup of cities for the new NBA Senior League featuring superstar Derek Fisher.

Well, I was more thinking of Boston, New York, LA, Chicago, Philadelphia, Houston, Seattle, and Minneapolis. No game clock, 30 second shot clock, and the first team to 40 is half time. First team to 65 wins. Playoffs are decided by 4 teams with the highest point total. Players must be retired from the NBA for 2 years and over 35. Jordan and Magic could probably still be playing.

[boitoirich]

If I had to put moey on a guess right now, I'd say the Thunder will be playing in the Pacific Division next year. It's probably the easiest move logistically the NBA could make at this point.

[BoulderSooner]

If I had to put moey on a guess right now, I'd say the Thunder will be playing in the Pacific Division next year. It's probably the easiest move logistically the NBA could make at this point.

i would bet a ton that the thunder will be in the northwest division next year .. no reason for a change .. as it doesn't really effect the schedule for Sacramento

[Snowman]

If I had to put moey on a guess right now, I'd say the Thunder will be playing in the Pacific Division next year. It's probably the easiest move logistically the NBA could make at this point.

If it had any impact it makes travel worse the Northwest and no better for the Pacific and worse on time zones spanned. However who is in what division makes little impact, we play eleven out of the fifteen teams in the west four times in the regular season, the other four teams we play three with distance clearly not determining who we are not playing a fourth game.

I doubt the remaining team in the pacific league teams would be that interested in us joining their division. Oklahoma in the Pacific is geographically stupid, Phoenix arguably has enough ex-Californians that it makes some sense.

[BoulderSooner]

this

[boitoirich]

If it had any impact it makes travel worse the Northwest and no better for the Pacific and worse on time zones spanned. However who is in what division makes little impact, we play eleven out of the fifteen teams in the west four times in the regular season, the other four teams we play three with distance clearly not determining who we are not playing a fourth game.

I doubt the remaining team in the pacific league teams would be that interested in us joining their division. Oklahoma in the Pacific is geographically stupid, Phoenix arguably has enough ex-Californians that it makes some sense.

Nothing here is incorrect; I don't doubt any of it. However, if the Kings relocate then Seattle has to play somewhere -- a Pacific division without Portland, a Pacific with Portland, or a Northwest with Portland. I just don't believe the NBA will allow those two to be separated. The history of that rivalry is what makes it different than even Dallas/SA; if those two had a long, storied history of fans descending en masse on the other's arena for road games, it would be different.

So I'm making a bet that the NBA wisely places the Sonics and Blazers back together, most likely in the NW. That leaves OKC traveling to different time zones. That's really no big deal because the Thunder so now.

[BoulderSooner]

Nothing here is incorrect; I don't doubt any of it. However, if the Kings relocate then Seattle has to play somewhere -- a Pacific division without Portland, a Pacific with Portland, or a Northwest with Portland. I just don't believe the NBA will allow those two to be separated. The history of that rivalry is what makes it different than even Dallas/SA; if those two had a long, storied history of fans descending en masse on the other's arena for road games, it would be different.

So I'm making a bet that the NBA wisely places the Sonics and Blazers back together, most likely in the NW. That leaves OKC traveling to different time zones. That's really no big deal because the Thunder so now.

they pretty much play the same amount of games against each other either way

[Bellaboo]

When the Sonics came to OKC and became the Thunder, they stayed in the Northwest division. I don't see the Kings changing divisions if they move to Seattle, they will stay in the Pacific.

[adaniel]

Sacto's going to make one last push to keep the Kings. Don't call them Seattle yet:



City, investors reach $448 million deal for arena at Downtown Plaza - Kings/NBA - The Sacramento Bee