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5 ways to fix the NBA

5 ways to fix the NBA

Since the departure of Michael Jordan, the greatest player ever, the NBA has been in a downspiral of dog poop. It is a second tier sport now. NASCAR draws more fans and gets better TV ratings. Most of this blame you can place firmly on David Stern. A pompous arrogant fool who lucked into his job with three of the most exciting team oriented players ever (Magic, Bird and Jordan). His record since then shows he was just swimming in their wake and has no plan at all. The NBA, in its current state, is unwatchable.

But it is fixable. Here are a few thoughts how to change things up for the better.

1. Reduce the shot clock to 24 seconds

The reason is simply to increase scoring. Ever since the last expansion, many team realized the best way to win against a more talented was simply milk the clock. Perhaps, but it is boring. If you are looking for someone to harass about this, blame Mike Fratello. Just remember, Rules 1 and 2 do apply.

2. Remove the 3 point line

Much like organized religion and Keith Obermann`s career, it started off in promising fashion with the best of intentions but now has gone horribly wrong. Teams take way too many threes. Guy who have no right to take threes throw them up routinely.

3. No more free throws

If you get fouled, you get the ball back. That`s it. Free throws reduce a game about passing and spacing and creativity to a snore-fest game of H-O-R-S-E. As Beavis once said, it sucks - change it.

This also removes the strategy of making the last two minutes of the game take twenty minutes and sitting some of the greatest players because they dont happen to be good at H-O-R-S-E. (aka Shaq, Wilt)

4. No more touch fouls

The NBA calls the tiniest shooting fouls faster than the NFL calls `roughing the passer` these days. It is absurd. They are big, strong guys. Let them play.

5. Enforcing travelling calls

Before the mid-90s, the hesitation dribble did not exist. Today is lauded as a talent possesed by the best players. In the 1980s, it was called travelling. It is a hesitation because you turn your hand over on the ball, also known as carrying and therefore travelling.

This is a Jordan Rule actually. The NBA in its ultimate wisdom decided Jordan could be even more spectacular if he could just pick it up and run. They were right and it has been allowed every since.

Unfortunately, it gives the offensive player a huge advantage and that leads to so much of the clutching and grabbing and stoppable of play we see today. It must go.