How to Improve the NBA

The NBA playoffs are upon us once again. During this time of the year I cannot help but mull over all of the ways I would improve the NBA if I were the commissioner and allowed to have absolute control over every decision. Here are a few of things that I wish that I could change about the NBA.

1. Reduce the number of games during the regular season. I would reduce the number of division games by half and the number of conference games by at least one game. What are my reasons? For one, I want to see a reduction in the number of injuries to players during the regular season each year. A significant number of injuries occur each year because you have very large men banging against one another for a very long 82 game season. Gone are the days when basketball was largely a non-contact support. Secondly, I want each and every game during the regular season to mean more, that is to have greater stakes. I also would like to see each team in the NBA sell out all of their tickets than they currently do, and I am convinced that teams would if each game meant a bit more in the big picture.

2. Begin the era of NBA audio podcasting. A big change that would go a long way towards the future growth of basketball would occur if the NBA began recording the radio play by play broadcasts of their games and made them available for free download the following day. Can you imagine how cool it would be to collect the games during the regular season in which your favorite player did performed well? Or how about that ability to catch up on a game later? Oh sure, you could use TIVO and see the games, but what if you miss the game? Wouldn't it be cool to enjoy the game while running errands or driving the kids to school the following morning?

3. No alcohol allowed in the arenas. I know this one will probably have its share of holdouts. For some people this would be a deal breaker and they would stop coming to games in the first place,but I have to wonder how many fans currently don't come to games because they don't want to endure the verbal gymnastics of a large, swarthy guy who has imbibed a fair share of alcohol. They often stink, and these bozos usually make the team they are rooting for look like jackasses. Again, these are just my wishes. I know that there is absolutely no realistic chance that these policies would ever be implemented.

4. In a digital age in which every NBA is better connected to the game the NBA needs to keep track better statistics of play that actually contributes to the outcome of the game, and keep track of more categories of them than ever.

5. Crackdown on the "superstar no fouls". Everyone knows that the star players on most of the NBA teams receive preferential treatment when it comes to looking the other way on traveling and incidental fouls and infractions in NBA basketball. There are a number of critical reasons why the NBA commissioner needs to make sure that every player on the court is graded fairly. One reason is because it will make the games more competitive. I certainly don't want to watch the Lebron James and Kobe Bryants of the world waltzing down the lane. To then celebrate such play makes a mockery of the game. Cracking down on these fouls will also show the up and coming young players that playing the game the right way is important.

6. Ease the amount of play stoppage that occurs because of kick ball infractions. It doesn't happen all the time but when a kick ball infraction is noticed refs blow their whistle and bring play to a screeching halt. Sometimes possession has to be determined and so more time is wasted before finally they let one of the teams inbound the ball from sideline. I'd love to see the pace of officiating picked up a bit.

Do you have ideas about how the game could be improved? Have I missed something even more critical than those above?