NBA: Fixing the Scheduling, Conference, and Seeding Issues

The NBA currently has 2 conferences, each with 3 divisions of 5 teams, for a total of 30 teams. For the schedule, each team plays its 4 divisional opponents 4 times each (16 total games), 6 intra-conference teams 4 times each (24 total games), the other 4 intra-conference teams 3 times each (12 total games), and the 15 inter-conference opponents 2 times each (30 total games). This yields an 82-game schedule, with 41 home and 41 away games. For the playoffs, the 3 division champions and 5 next-best teams in each conference qualify.

However, there is a large problem: the Western Conference has dominated the Eastern Conference so much in inter-conference play for the better part of the past decade that playing in the East is an unfair advantage; several Western Conference teams could've qualified for the playoffs in the other conference, but missed it in the West, while every season there are Eastern conference teams with sub-.500 records qualifying for the playoffs. How could this be fixed?

First of all, I suggest eliminating the 2 conferences altogether. That would yield a single 30-team conference.

Now for the schedule. Since an 82-game schedule isn't evenly divisible by 29 teams, the NBA would need to get creative with its scheduling formula. Playing every team home-and-home is of utmost importance, so we have 58 of the 82 games accounted for. One thing the NFL does to really help out its struggling franchises is give the worst teams the easiest schedules. Since the NBA has more teams that consistently struggle than the NFL, this would be a good addition for the Association. For this, we take the past season's results, then place the 30 teams into 3 even tiers. Teams in each tier then play the 9 other teams 2 additional times each (18 total games). That brings the total up to 76 games accounted for. Also important in nearly every sport is the regional rivalries. To preserve these, every team would then play their 3 biggest rivals 2 additional times each (6 total games) to reach the desired 82-game tally.

So for a single team, you will play your closest rivals at least 4 times each, everyone else at least 2 times each, then 2 additional times for the 9 teams in the respective tier. This increases high-profile match-ups and gives more even match-ups across the board, which will help ratings and ticket sales.

The Regional Rivalries: 
Atlanta: Charlotte, Miami, Orlando
Boston: New York, Philadelphia, Toronto
Brooklyn: Miami, New York, Washington
Charlotte: Atlanta, Orlando, Washington
Chicago: Milwaukee, Minnesota, Indiana
Cleveland: Detroit, Indiana, Toronto
Dallas: Houston, Oklahoma City, San Antonio
Denver: Portland, Phoenix, Utah
Detroit: Cleveland, Indiana, Toronto
Golden State: LA Clippers, LA Lakers, Sacramento
Houston: Dallas, New Orleans, San Antonio
Indiana: Chicago, Cleveland, Detroit
LA Clippers: Golden State, LA Lakers, Sacramento
LA Lakers: Golden State, LA Clippers, Phoenix
Miami: Atlanta, Brooklyn, Orlando
Memphis: Milwaukee, New Orleans, Oklahoma City
Milwaukee: Chicago, Memphis, Minnesota
Minnesota: Chicago, Milwaukee, Oklahoma City
New Orleans: Houston, Memphis, San Antonio
New York: Boston, Brooklyn, Philadelphia
Oklahoma City: Dallas, Memphis, Minnesota
Orlando: Atlanta, Charlotte, Miami
Philadelphia: Boston, New York, Washington
Phoenix: Denver, LA Lakers, Utah
Portland: Denver, Sacramento, Utah
Sacramento: Golden State, LA Clippers, Portland
San Antonio: Dallas, Houston, New Orleans
Toronto: Boston, Cleveland, Detroit
Utah: Arizona, Denver, Portland
Washington: Brooklyn, Charlotte, Philadelphia

Playoff Seedings:
Take the top 16 seeds. That eliminates sub-.500 teams from entering the playoffs in most seasons, and ensures that the best make it.

For the All-Star Game:
Follow the NHL and have the fans vote for 2 captains that draft their teams.

An Example for the Dallas Mavericks Based off of the 2012-13 Standings:
Adjusted 2013 Playoff Seeding:
-17th overall -- No playoffs (#15 Utah would've gotten in over #18 Milwaukee)
2014 Schedule:
-Houston (6 games)
-Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, LA Lakers, Milwaukee, Oklahoma City, Philadelphia, San Antonio, Toronto, Utah (4 games each, 40 total)
-All other teams (2 games each, 36 total)

NFL Draft 2014 – What Should the Cowboys Do?

Let’s face it: the Dallas Cowboys are going nowhere. Offensively there is a lot of talent, but there isn’t much on defense. There is a ton of age on both sides of the ball, with high salaries to go with it. However, going 24-24 in the past three seasons is not a good sign. Most great franchises get better through the draft, which Dallas really hasn’t done since the late 1980’s and early 1990’s, leading to 3 Super Bowl titles. The Herschel Walker trade and a #1 overall pick are what really set up the Dallas Dynasty, and the current incarnation of the Cowboys is just average enough to never grab a game-changer by “earning” a top-5 pick. Tony Romo has his doubters, but he has largely carried the entire Cowboys’ team for the past few years, and, despite injury, is still better than a quarter of the league’s other QBs. With that in mind, here is my suggestion: target the Cleveland Browns. Trade Tony Romo to the Cleveland Browns in exchange for their two 2014 1^st-rounders (#4 and #26).

Why would the Cowboys be interested?

With the loss of Romo, Dallas would need to rely on former NFL starter and 31-year-old Kyle Orton for a year or two. Romo will lend an $11.7M cap hit in 2014 with his newly restructured contract, but Orton will be owed much less. Ridding the team of Romo’s cap hit will allow room to sign the draft picks and possibly have room to add to the front of some of the bigger contracts (DeMarcus Ware?). With the addition of 2 extra 1^st-round picks, Dallas would be able to get younger and better in at least 3 areas of need, while gaining the ever-important 5^th year option on the rookie contracts (which applies only to 1^st round picks).

Houston is likely to choose a QB, but DE JaDeveon Clowney or a trade could be in play. St. Louis is likely to draft an OT, but trading down is still an option. Jacksonville will most likely grab a QB, but could surprise by grabbing Clowney.

With the 4^th overall pick, Dallas would be in the running for a stud lineman. The ideal choice would be 4-3 DE Jadeveon Clowney to pair with DeMarcus Ware, at least for a season or two. Of course, if Clowney is gone, the most obvious choice to grab with this pick would then be either the best available of OT, DE, or LB. Why not grab a QB? Well, the candidates aren’t very intriguing and Dallas needs more help on defense and the OL (you can never be too good there) than anywhere else. Manziel surely won’t be on the board, but is a risk in his own right. Teddy Bridgewater is good, but will he be great? He’s not a sure thing. Blake Bortles has a ton of potential, but what if he doesn’t realize it? That’s why OLB/DE (Anthony Barr or Khalil Mack) or OT (Jake Matthews or Greg Robinson) would be much better, safer picks at this spot.

With pick #16/17 (due to a coin flip with the Ravens), Dallas could then select the best available prospect, namely a DB or DL. There are a ton of options here, but the best scenario would probably be a S (Calvin Pryor or Ha-Ha Clinton Dix) or CB (Justin Gilbert or Darqueze Denard), allowing a DT to be taken with pick #26. However, there seems to be a nice field of good DTs and DBs to choose from in the top 40 picks, so listening to the scouts would be key, taking the best available guy.

As for the QB woes, there are plenty of less-risky options out there. Personally, I am an adamant fan of AJ McCarron and believe he would be a great get in round 2. Derek Carr, David Fales, Zach Mettenberger and Aaron Murray are a few other likeable QBs that could be drafted in the 2^nd to 5^th rounds. Whichever way the draft fell, Dallas could get its QB of the future and let him sit behind Orton for at least 1-2 years. If they missed on this QB, it still wouldn’t be as bad as missing in the early 1^st round.

The Cowboys would definitely get younger by this move, and allow themselves to get better players with more team-friendly contracts for the next 4 years. If Orton couldn’t get the job done at QB, then Dallas would have a chance to grab some more good young guys. If Orton did work out, then the sky is the limit for this team (especially if Dallas landed 3 1^st round guys on defense). More than likely, the Cowboys would at least float around the average mark where it has been since the late 1990’s.

Why would the Browns be interested?

The Browns have had a top ten defense for the past 3 seasons or so. The only problem has been a lack of offense. Colt McCoy didn’t have anything at all to work with in 2010 and 2011, then Brandon Weeden (a wasted 1^st rounder) and the other guys on the roster just weren’t very good in 2012 and 2013. Now, however, the Browns have a top 5 receiver in Josh Gordon, a nice OL, and limited talent elsewhere on offense. Even with two 1^st round picks, it is unlikely the Browns will be a contender next season. However, with the right QB things could be much different. Insert Tony Romo.

More than likely, Romo would be able to carry this offense to new heights. He would have a great #1 WR and an OL about the same as he had in Dallas. While the Browns’ RB situation isn’t as good as the Cowboys’, at least Chris Ogbonnaya can catch well out of the backfield and the Browns surely can’t run much less than the Cowboys have in recent years. The AFC North has been known for great defenses (with all 4 being in the top 10 overall just a couple seasons ago), but they mainstays in Baltimore and Pittsburgh are getting old all-around and hurting in the secondary. An offense similar to what the Cowboys have had, coupled with the Browns’ defense, would bolt Cleveland past Cincinnati as the AFC North favorite.

While Romo has had recent injury problems and is already 34-years-old, he is still better than any QB this incarnation of the Cleveland Browns has ever had. 6 years are left on his contract; while he may only be really good for 2 more years, he will likely still be a solid QB for the next 4. Now he won’t be cheap, with $80+M still being owed in the 6 years, but it would be completely worth it for this franchise if he can get them to the playoffs and leave the team in a better place than when he took over. Plus, they can always re-work the deal or cut him after the $40M of guaranteed money has been met.

In the end, though, Tony Romo would put the Cleveland Browns in a much better position than any QB on the Draft Board. While he would be an expensive grab, the deal would be completely worth it if the Browns could have any sort of success and get a little bit of traction for the future. Also, the fans deserve a winning team, and that is what he would give them.