The NBA had some big ideas about revamping its schedule – in-season tournament, play-in tournament and reseeded semifinals.
It seemed strange that the least radical of these proposals – replacing the conference finals with reseeded semifinals – gained no traction. Who disapproved of that yet supported an in-season tournament and play-in tournament?
Apparently not enough teams.
Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN:
NBA has informed teams that it will continue to take long look at changes to NBA calendar, but will no longer take a vote of the NBA's Board of Governors in April, sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) January 17, 2020
NBA had hoped that an April BOG vote of calendar changes could give ample planning to implement changes for 75th Anniversary season in 2021-22. That season hasn't been ruled out yet for changes, sources say, but it's a tight window for all the planning that needs to occur.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) January 17, 2020
Among concerns for key elements of calendar changes, league feedback on in-season tournament has been to protect existing events like Christmas Day games. Re-seeding of Final 4 continues to have travel concerns. More time to discuss and study it all now.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) January 17, 2020
This vote won’t happen, because the proposal would lose. The official vote is merely a formality. The NBA knows too many governors would vote no, so not even holding the vote saves the league some embarrassment.
I don’t see how further study will help the in-season tournament. It’s just a bad idea. People won’t care about it. That’s why there have been so many suggestions for generating interest. It’s a losing battle.
A play-in tournament could work. There are several viable permeations. I buy that time to build consensus for that could be helpful.
These changes don’t have to take effect in 2021-22. The 75th-anniversary season just provided an opportunity for spin. If the NBA implemented the new schedule that season and it backfired, the league could drop it and claim it was a one-time alteration.
That window isn’t quite shut, but read the writing on the wall: Too few owners want these changes.