NBA Commissioner David Stern thinks the league still requires some minor changes
After the 2011-2012 regular season almost never happened, the NBA must be really happy with the way this season has played out.
The season could not be started on time as the NBA was unable to sign the Collective Bargaining Agreement with the Players Association. It eventually started in late December of 2011 and there was speculation that a shortened season
would not be able to generate interest among fans.
However, the season has gone exceptionally well, with competition in both the conferences for the 8 postseason spots, followed by one great playoff series after another leading to the NBA Finals.
NBA commissioner David Stern while being quite happy with the way the season has progressed feels there are some areas of improvement and evaluation.
The first issue Stern intends on tackling is the flopping issue, which is being used increasingly by players to draw fouls. The competition commission will meet on Monday to discuss ways in which flopping can be eliminated, and
will also decide on expanding the use of instant replay.
"Flopping almost doesn't do it justice. Trickery, deceit designed to cause the game to be decided other than on its merits. We'll be looking at that,” said Stern
Stern said he was happy with the success of the regular season, which will see its climax with one of the most anticipated NBA Finals in years as the Miami Heat take on the Oklahoma City Thunder. Not only is the series a matchup
between similar teams, it is also a matchup between MVP LeBron James and MVP runner up and scoring champion Kevin Durant.
"It's really very exciting, and it's going to be, we think, a great matchup, and America is very interested in getting to it," said Stern.
Stern added there apart from the flopping issues, there were other issues that also needed to be decided. The NBA is looking to having a debate on having players compete in the Olympics for their home country, and possibly placing
a cut off age. NBA team owners have already said that players on contracts with them risk the chances of injury when they go to compete in the Olympics.
Stern and the NBA also need to review the sale of the Memphis Grizzlies basketball franchise after owner Michael Heisley entered into a sale agreement with California technology billionaire Robert J. Pera. Although proceedings
of such reviews are normally very routine, the sale of the Grizzlies franchise will require extra attention since the last time Heisley decided to sell the team in 2006 to a consortium headed by Christian Laettner, the deal was rejected by the NBA.
There is also the issue of the Sacramento Kings, whose owners the Maloof family decided to opt out of plans to build a new arena for the franchise.
“That's their prerogative. As long as it stands and passes the fire code, I think it's been a terrific place for the fans of Sacramento,” commented Stern about the issue.
Seattle is looking to bring a basketball team back to the NBA, after their Supersonics went to Oklahoma City in 2008 as the Thunder. Stern said he had a meeting with Seattle mayor Mike McGinn, and was quite happy with the interest
shown by the city and the major. However, a long process awaits if Seattle wants to add a team to the NBA list.
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