NBA Playoffs: Demanding Perfection

I have enjoyed these playoffs immensely. I have watched at least part of every single game. There isn't much I would change, but if things were in my hands then I would elect to fix these four flaws.

1) The First Round is Too Long

I am fairly confident that 90% of NBA fans agree with me on this point. There is no reason for the first round matchups to be best-of-seven affairs. The bulk of the pairings just aren't compelling enough to justify this many back to back battles. Sure, the Lakers/Suns and Wizards/Cavs series were fun to watch, but they would have been just as enjoyable in a best-of-five format. The biggest problem with the seven-game drag out is the time lag between rounds that it creates.

Teams that sweep or win in five are forced to sit and watch while the rest of the series unfold. Sweeping an opponent should be a reward rather than a hindrance. A team that sweeps shouldn't have to wait upwards of 8-10 days to step back onto the court for round two. This long of a delay can cause rust and the rust definitely doesn't do these teams or the fans any favors.

The solution — This isn't rocket science. Make the first round a best-of-five just like it has been in the past. It will be well worth the loss in revenues for everyone involved. Trust me.

2) Enough With the Celebrity Cameos

I never cared when Spike Lee, Jack Nicholson, or even more recently, Jay Z, got a little face-time during NBA playoff coverage. These guys are at least somewhat cool, legitimate NBA fans, and most importantly, are actually recognizable to the run of the mill NBA viewer.

However thanks to the Clippers' playoff run, we have been force fed a steady diet of past their time, Hollywood also-rans Billy Crystal and Penny Marshall, culminating in Game 5's coverage where Marshall and Crystal received more camera time down the stretch than Mike D'Antoni and Mike Dunleavy. It's outrageous.

I mean, have any NBA fans even heard of "Laverne and Shirley?" I think not.

The solution — With warm climate cities such as Dallas, Phoenix, and Miami still involved, there is a surplus of hot women with summer tans two months early that are begging for some camera time. Please give it to them.

3) The Officiating Has Been Truly Awful

I don't subscribe to the myriad of conspiracy theories that seem to fly around this time of year. (Although Game 6, Kings vs. Lakers in '02 is always in the back of my mind.) If the NBA really was fixing the results, then the San Antonio Spurs, who reside in one of the league's smallest media markets, would not be frequent beneficiaries of the zebra's gifts, and in turn, regular NBA finalists.

My main problem with the officiating in the NBA, specifically during the playoffs, is that there is no consistency from game to game. Just because a bump down low was a foul in Game 1 doesn't mean that an identical bump will be a foul in Game 2 or even on the next play of Game 1, for that matter. The inconsistency does seem to follow a distinct pattern, though.

Team A shoots more free throws in Game 1 than Team B.

Coach of Team B complains at post-game press conference.

Coach of Team B is fined.

Team B shoots more free throws in Game 2 than Team A.

Coach of Team B looks smart for crying like a baby and paying the subsequent fine for his whining

The solution — Call the games in a consistent manner across the board, and tell the officials not to act so flamboyant/excited when making big calls at the end of games, This pisses me off and, for the most part, I have nothing riding on these games, but I can't imagine what it's like for the players and the diehard fans to endure this shameless one upsmanship.

The Players Complaining About the Officiating is Worse Than the Officiating Itself

I'm not referring to complaints made during press conferences or thinly-veiled innuendoes made to beat writers here. I'm talking about the bitching, moaning, and bewildered looks that the players exhibit after every "non-call" that takes place.

I haven't witnessed a single possession all postseason where someone wasn't unhappy with a call or a lack thereof. The crying and complaining is a big enough turn-off, but the following maneuver is even worse. I've seen this ploy unfold at least two dozen times this postseason already. Here's how it goes down:

Rasheed Wallace/Stephen Jackson/insert NBA complainer here, doesn't get a foul call while on offense.

Said player complains to the nearest official while the rest of his team heads back on defense.

The opponent that said player is responsible for guarding scores an uncontested lay-up.

It's a ridiculous trend, really. I am very tempted to start tracking this as a stat to see who is guilty of it the most.

The solution — If I coached an NBA team, and lord willing I never will, I would fine my players each time they did this. I can understand that it must be frustrating to get hacked and not be rewarded with foul shots, but you are only hurting your team by costing them points on the other end.

The NBA is back in strong form and appears to have great staying power. If they tackle these minor blemishes, then things could really take off next year.