Comments on: The State of the NBADL, with D-League Digest’s Steve Weinman – Part I http://www.emptythebench.com/2010/01/21/d-league-digest-interview-nba-d-league/ The season's over. Thu, 02 Feb 2012 01:07:28 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Matt Hubert (Blog Talk BayHawk) http://www.emptythebench.com/2010/01/21/d-league-digest-interview-nba-d-league/comment-page-1/#comment-187758 Matt Hubert (Blog Talk BayHawk) Mon, 01 Feb 2010 15:50:05 +0000 http://www.emptythebench.com/?p=7185#comment-187758 I really enjoyed this piece. Good questions and some captivating responses from Steve. Wildcat Dan, that's certainly an interesting suggestion I don't think I've ever heard before. I agree it might help the players to work closely with NBA players/coaches. But I think that while it might make some basketball sense, there'd be a lot of logistical/business-side problems with a setup like that, including how to do the tickets. I'm not sure people want to pay even more on top of their NBA ticket to see a D-League game beforehand, and while the basketball diehards might love the concept of back-to-back games, the casual fan/family out for a night on the town is likely not going to be able to make the extra commitment. It's still an interesting idea though; I'm always interested to hear what people have to say about ways to improve the overall product. I really enjoyed this piece. Good questions and some captivating responses from Steve.

Wildcat Dan, that’s certainly an interesting suggestion I don’t think I’ve ever heard before. I agree it might help the players to work closely with NBA players/coaches. But I think that while it might make some basketball sense, there’d be a lot of logistical/business-side problems with a setup like that, including how to do the tickets.

I’m not sure people want to pay even more on top of their NBA ticket to see a D-League game beforehand, and while the basketball diehards might love the concept of back-to-back games, the casual fan/family out for a night on the town is likely not going to be able to make the extra commitment.

It’s still an interesting idea though; I’m always interested to hear what people have to say about ways to improve the overall product.

]]> By: Wildcat Dan http://www.emptythebench.com/2010/01/21/d-league-digest-interview-nba-d-league/comment-page-1/#comment-187092 Wildcat Dan Wed, 27 Jan 2010 11:19:12 +0000 http://www.emptythebench.com/?p=7185#comment-187092 OK, here's a wild thought... What if every NBA team had a D League team that traveled with the NBA team? They could have access to the same coaches, trainers and facilities. D League games could be played before the NBA game started - kind of like an "opening act". I know that I would personally show up two hours earlier if I got to see the Lakers D team play. Of course, they would have to cut down the NBA roster limits to 10 or 11 players. Would the 12th player on an NBA bench be better served by playing only a couple of (blowout) games a year, or playing every game with his D League counterparts? As long as Player D still gets to hang with Phil, Kobe and crew and doesn't have to go to Bakersfield to get those minutes, I think that benefits him greatly. OK, here’s a wild thought… What if every NBA team had a D League team that traveled with the NBA team? They could have access to the same coaches, trainers and facilities. D League games could be played before the NBA game started – kind of like an “opening act”. I know that I would personally show up two hours earlier if I got to see the Lakers D team play.

Of course, they would have to cut down the NBA roster limits to 10 or 11 players. Would the 12th player on an NBA bench be better served by playing only a couple of (blowout) games a year, or playing every game with his D League counterparts?

As long as Player D still gets to hang with Phil, Kobe and crew and doesn’t have to go to Bakersfield to get those minutes, I think that benefits him greatly.

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