OT: Probably No NBA Season

Submitted by smwilliams on

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/7234180/nba-lockout-players-not-accept-deal-seek-decertify-billy-hunter-says

Players reject the owner's latest proposal and will seek to decertify and file an anti-trust lawsuit. Regardless of if the players win or lose the suit, the 2011-12 looks extremely likely to go the route of the 1994 World Series or the 2004-05 NHL season.

As a Bulls fan, I'm bummed, because I love watching Derrick Rose play and the team is a contender.

Pistons fans, general sports people, will you guys miss the NBA this year?

Who's to blame for the situation: the owners or the players?

uniqenam

November 14th, 2011 at 2:11 PM ^

Thank goodness.  I seriously hate the blah blah blah on sports center hyping the bajillionth Celtics game, I just really don't care about it.  I love college bball, I just hate the pros.

Beavis

November 14th, 2011 at 3:47 PM ^

I don't understand how people say, "I love college basketball, but not the NBA".

That's like saying, "I love watching women play sports, it's so entertaining".  Seriously.  The NBA is on a whole nother plane when compared to college ball (basically - 300+ Div 1 teams for only 64 draft spots = much better product at the next level).  

People "don't care" about this now because we have the NFL, and college sports (football and basketball).  Once February comes around, the tune will be quite different.  I really hope we don't lose an entire season.

goblue7612

November 14th, 2011 at 2:12 PM ^

As an NHL fan, I'm happy that this NBA season most likely won't exist. This should bring the NHL to the forefront a bit more. Maybe it will even be featured on Sportscenter every once in a while.

As someone who bet a fellow MGoBlogger that the NBA season wouldn't occur, I'm looking forward to my $1!

JClay

November 14th, 2011 at 2:12 PM ^

Do the Pistons automatically get another top five or so draft pick without us having to endure them losing another 60 games in a season? If so, I'm ok with no NBA season.

M-Wolverine

November 14th, 2011 at 4:38 PM ^

How will the draft work?

I'm ready for another high Piston draft pick. I don't need to see the sucking to get there.

And considering most every team that's good in the NBA is one I can't stand (Bulls, Heat, Lakers, Celts....don't mind the Mavs, actually), one less year for them to be successful in their current players careers isn't bothering me much.

Maximinus Thrax

November 14th, 2011 at 2:16 PM ^

I know hindsight is 20/20, but I have to wonder if D-Mo was given any real idea of the likelihood of a lockout cancelling the whole season.  Now he has no degree, and the only real job he is suited for (primarily because he did not get his degree) is unavailable.  I bet he would give anything to be able to remake that decision now.

cmd600

November 14th, 2011 at 3:21 PM ^

I'm sure he knew the situation better than casual fans, who already had a pretty good idea. Morris also got to come out in a season where quite a few underclassmen decided to stay in school, increasing the chances of getting a guaranteed contract as a first round pick. Unfortunately he didn't get it. If he waited till next year like everyone else, he's probably still a second round pick.

M-Wolverine

November 14th, 2011 at 4:36 PM ^

After a year of getting his room and board paid for, and time to work on his game and get instructions on how to be a better player. Now he'll compete for a roster spot with a bunch of guys who have been playing for the last year, while he's been.....not playing.  Or looking for a team in China.

GBOD79

November 14th, 2011 at 2:15 PM ^

I hate the nba and would not be sad to see the league fold permanently. Out of the 4 major pro sports the NBA is by far the worst one. College basketball is awesome, the pros not so much.

ijohnb

November 14th, 2011 at 2:48 PM ^

was a great product at one time and I hope it can get back to that point.  The primary problem with the NBA in my opinion is that there is a lack of a coherent and consistent power heirarchy i.e. does anybody believe that Lebron James is "playing for" Eric Spolstra.  Professional sport is entertainment, and the NBA is no longer believable in that regard.  As such, there is simply no drama, no intrigue.  Everything feels contrived, as though the fan is constantly being manipulated.  it is a sad day, because the NBA was once a great league.

Jivas

November 14th, 2011 at 2:15 PM ^

And I usually make the effort to watch ~60 of their regular season games each year.  Not having a season is going to hurt.

But I don't blame the players; the most recent offer they've received is ludicrous.  I'm not saying it's in their best economic interest to reject the offer - that is yet to be seen - but I don't *blame* them for responding in this fashion.

Chad Ford tweeted last night that the players should accept the deal, offering this reasoning: "I agree league's offer is one-sided & even unfair. But what's your best alternative to this deal? I don't see one"

I don't blame them for not backing down.  Will it work?  We'll see.  But in this case I don't blame the players.

Ron Swanson

November 14th, 2011 at 2:19 PM ^

One fewer outlet for Stuart Scott to come up with worthless statistics.  This is the first NBA lockout in 30 years that at least 120 players from no fewer than 32 teams cannot come up with an agreement when there's a full moon, north of the Mason Dixon Line.  I can't stand the NBA.

hart20

November 14th, 2011 at 2:21 PM ^

I love the idea of it and I love the Pistons. Chauncey Billups is my favorite player of all time, easily. I still remember beating the Lakers and being at my friends house and just rubbing it in. That said, I hate what the NBA has become. It's a bunch of divas and rigged games. We think the calls are bad during Michigan games, but play against the Heat or the Celtics or the Lakers and you won't get a single call to go your way. Now the NBA is only about money and showboating. Tradition is nothing. Teams like the Spurs and the Pistons or the 76ers or the Bucks will find it hard to compete in the future. You need to have a shit load of money and be in a prime market if you want to compete. The league needs a hard salary cap.

lunchboxthegoat

November 14th, 2011 at 2:24 PM ^

I was just getting into the NBA again...that being said, I'm not upset about this. The players were getting over on the owners for so long and the owners were employing stupid people to run their teams. STOP SIGNING BAD CONTRACTS. I honestly didn't think another league would be stupid enough to pull off what the NHL did a few years ago. I can't ever side with the owners in these disputes...the players were getting so much of the revenues because you let them...your teams are struggling because you're making bad business deals. That's not on the players. 

IPFW_Wolverines

November 14th, 2011 at 2:26 PM ^

They could cancel the entire season every year and I wouldn't care. The only thing the NBA is good for is the playoffs and even that is meh in many years. 

 

GRBluefan

November 14th, 2011 at 2:32 PM ^

the NBA, but when the most valuable assets that many of your franchises have are expiring contracts paid to players who are not in the least bit productive you have a serious issue.  Guys like Rashard Lewis can get 7 year guaranteed deals for north of $100M and they are not anywhere near franchise-level guys.  It kills the incentive to work hard and improve, and you end up with a lot of lazy, unhappy bums who are dramatically overpaid.

 

This is one case in which I definitely side with the owners.  They have been overpaying the majority of the league for years, and it is hurting the game.