NBA Division Changes

Adam Silver NBA Commissioner, Photo Courtesy of Business Insider

Not sure what the world thinks about changes but in this world that we live in, it's the only way we will be able to survive. There's a key question though, should divisions continue in the NBA or should there be any change. People have come to the table worrying about the balance of the divisions and opportunity the league can provide for fans. A better question I think about, if the change of divisions happens, does it take away from the NBA fanatic spirit?

Lately, the West has been dominating the NBA and it because of the consistent abilities to draw free agents and also being able to pick pieces from the NBA draft that work. The East has had the focus on the draft spectrum that the projected mockery created. They are more interested in the big name (so called) athletes vs. understanding what it takes to build a team aka "Just find a player who knows how to play the game instead of potential".

Now that we realize the East is falling short and coming up with the idea of tanking (I won't say any names), what should the league do? Mark Cuban, owner of the Dallas Mavericks, is the considered one of the biggest genius in business today. He has been able to create mogul moves instead of innovating them. He's highly respected because of his "I don't care" attitude when he is fined for standing up for what he believes in. He doesn't care what is said about the NBA, he has his own ideas. Lately, he feels some of the West teams should be moved to the east, since people can not come to an agreement about being able to challenge the west.

Cuban's idea consist of moving the HOUSTON ROCKETS, DALLAS MAVERICKS, SAN ANTONIO SPURS AND NEW ORLEANS PELICANS to the east and shifting CHICAGO BULLS, DETROIT PISTONS, MILWAUKEE BUCKS, AND INDIANA PACERS to the west. Sounds interesting?... Not really but there is some thought behind it that makes some sense. Last year Cuban's Mavericks were the last seed in the Western playoffs but with a record that if they were in the east would have been the 3rd seed. The NBA playoffs have not been interesting for the first 2 rounds lately and people want to see the best team.

Do you think this takes away from rivalries? Or maybe there was never one in the first place since Jordan retired out the league. Another idea put out there is, maybe just take the best 16 teams and roll with that for the playoffs. It definitely would keep things interesting so people can watch the best players and we won't have to worry about those below average teams finding themselves in position to make the playoffs.

I read another interesting article that could also help the situation with alignment via sbnations. It involves and regional situation where the league becomes more balanced and guys are so much closer. It reveals 5 regions and we get rid of conferences all together. Which honestly, makes some really good sense. Here's the article http://www.sbnation.com/nba/2014/11/26/7280545/nba-schedule-reform-regions-map-playoffs ... Check it out.

5 Region NBA, Picture Courtesy of SBNATION

Regardless of whatever, there definitely needs to be some changes and this is the time for the NBA to do so. 

Any fear of Overseas Play?

Brittney Griner, Picture Courtesy via NBA.com

WNBA players are a big piece to the process of building basketball globally. We don't always understand the factors that basketball presents to the world globally, but we are definitely feeling it's effects. Women basketball players all over the world is this continuing group of people that are trying to get the opportunity to make sure they get the attention as much as the men, respectively. When the WNBA first started, Lisa Leslie, Sheryl Swoops, and Rebecca Lobo were the women who fronted the league as the marketing faces. Now after 18 years, the league's attention has grown in a large margin.

The WNBA players have been able to get noticed on a large stage because of their ability to increase play. This increase play started with the idea that women will be able to play above the rim. Playing above the rim started being noticed when Lisa Leslie decided to start dunking in games. Later through the time came Candace Parker, who was the big time athlete from Illinois and set the national scene on fire with attention of females high school basketball players.

Now after all the different success stories that have come from female basketball, there is still a huge question...Why do these females still continue to go overseas and play basketball? Sure, there are many opportunities with income overseas, but is there a balance for doing so. The idea that you will be playing basketball all year long (excluding a very short period between leagues), violent threats, long and short term health?

Brittney Griner, 6'8'' C for the Phoenix Mercury, just so happen to get involved with a situation where a man tried to stab her with a knife in China. She was not injured but the threat definitely is shake for the WNBA phenom. The idea that the biggest product could be hurt away from home is definitely a shocking thing to think about. I'm not sure if the league will address this situation to get her away from something like this but the the constant thought about the money made is definitely the reasoning why she would continue to travel for play.

WNBA players make anywhere between $36,000 to $105,000. Griner was able to make $49,000 in a 2013 contract but now we look at the situation about how can the WNBA make up for the $600,000 she earned in 3 months in China. They can't do this but with the WNBA being a bigger and better league, they have to find a way to make up the margin because, there's no telling what those women face away from home.

Is this really a issues or isolated incident? Should the WNBA be worried about their elite athletes playing overseas?