The Denver Nuggets have dominated the Los Angeles Lakers since the start of 2023, winning all eight regular-season games and eight out of nine playoff games against them. Despite this success, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope admitted on The Draymond Green Show that the Nuggets felt the Lakers should have beaten them in their first-round playoff series this spring.
Although the series only lasted five games, the Lakers led at halftime in all five games. Caldwell-Pope revealed that the Nuggets were exhausted by this point, having focused most of their energy on securing first place in the regular season. As a result, they were unable to perform at their best and lost to the Lakers. This trend of key players missing games or playing through injuries during the playoffs has become increasingly common in the NBA, raising questions about whether the best team truly emerges victorious.
One proposed solution to this issue is shortening the NBA schedule to allow players more rest and recovery time. However, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has pushed back against this idea, citing the financial implications for both the league and its owners. The new national television deal with Disney, NBC, and Amazon presents an opportunity for the NBA to rethink its business model and potentially invest in the well-being of its players by considering schedule adjustments.
While the NBA remains a highly profitable industry, the influx of revenue from the new television deal could give the league the flexibility to make changes that prioritize player health and performance in the long run, despite potential short-term financial losses. This opportunity comes at a time when other sports leagues are facing challenges with securing lucrative media rights deals, highlighting the importance of strategic decision-making for the NBA’s future success.
The NBA is currently in a strong financial position, and it is expected to remain so in the future. However, there are challenges that the league faces, particularly in terms of declining viewership and attracting younger fans. The proposal to shorten the regular season schedule and introduce a new tournament format aims to address these issues by increasing the stakes of games and creating more engaging experiences for fans. With the potential expansion of the league to 32 teams, this new format could help improve the overall product of the NBA and ensure its long-term success. The NBA could potentially improve the schedule by expanding the season to 73 games, allowing for the elimination of back-to-back games. This adjustment would provide more rest for players, reduce injuries, and enhance the overall quality of the game. However, the likelihood of the league implementing such a change in the near future is low due to financial considerations. While fans may prefer a more balanced schedule, the business aspect of the NBA often takes precedence. Despite the current opportunity presented by the new TV deal, it is unlikely that the league will prioritize significant schedule changes at this time.