The NBA lockout is in full effect. The NBA has declined the Players Association’s offers to reduce salaries by $500 million over five years and the two sides can’t agree on a hard, soft, or flexi cap among other issues.
It’s looking like we will miss at least a few games, maybe few weeks of the season.
So where can we fans find some hope and light?
Health of the players
More time off than usual between seasons, will mean more time for veterans to rest and more time for younger players to re-energise and work out.
Future stability of the existing teams
One of the key issues behind the Lockout is the teams’ revenue streams. Teams have a limited number of revenue streams including ticket sales, television contracts, concessions and merchandise.
ESPN and Fox Sports have reported that 23 out of the 30 teams made a loss last season. Through the new CBA, the NBA is hoping to stabilise the current number of teams they have, possibly even contract the number of teams.
This improves the health of all teams and improves the quality of play on the court.
More players will change their name to Meta World Peace, thanks Ron for that one.
A greater focus on the NCAA tournament
If the NBA is inactive for a long period of time, basketball-starved fans will be forced to turn elsewhere. The NCAA system is an exciting and solid farm system for NBA teams to pick up young talent.
The tournament draws attention away from the NBA, towards the dog days of the end of the regular season; they may have the spotlight to themselves come spring 2012.
The NBA lockout will be long and strain the league’s relationship with its fans, which it has worked so hard to forge.
However, this lockout could actually strengthen our favourite teams, improve the quality of the league and shine a light on the NCCA tournament, all of which benefit the great game of basketball.
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