The NBA's Restart Plan in Unfair

The NBA's plan is better than the MLB's, I'll start there. A bubble is the way to go. I mentioned in my post about the MLB that boxing and MLS have shown a bubble is not covid-proof. Between 20-25% of boxing matches in Top Rank's Las Vegas bubble were canceled because someone tested positive for coronavirus. Boxers were only allowed to take one or two people with them to the bubble. Two MLS teams had to abort their attempts to play in the restart because of the disease.

If LeBron or Giannis get coronavirus, the season will essentially be worthless. I believe the NBA should have simply played the Finals and moved on to the next season. The Bucks and Lakers were clearly the best team in each conference over 65 games. A Finals between the two would have had more legitimacy than a season in which the team with that is least affected by covid will win. And now next season and probably the following season will be impacted.

I can't believe the NBA is trying to play the entire playoffs. Over the past 20 years the first round has a couple of good matchups in the West each year, but most of the first round is predictable, and drags on, and the only real excitement comes from the home fans, which will be absent from the bubble. Now, most of the first round won't be worth watching. even for a die-hard like me. And I watch almost every playoff game each year.

I really can't believe the NBA is trying to play 8 extra regular season games. It seems like a huge risk for very little reward. One theory postulates the 8 extra regular season games each of the 22 teams have to play is an attempt to get Zion in the playoffs. If that's true, that's incredibly short-sided. After four months off trying to throw a rookie into the most intense basketball he's even played less than a year from a major injury sounds like a recipe for disaster. It is extremely unfair that any team within four games of 8th place would have any chance to make the playoffs. It's as if wins and losses don't matter any more.

All the extra games are extremely unfair to the Lakers and Bucks. The 8 regular season games and 4-game rule is extremely unfair the 8th seed teams. And why are the Wizards in the bubble? Get them out of there.