View single post by tamalie
 Posted: Mon Feb 23rd, 2009 07:48 pm
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tamalie

 

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 It didn’t get very serious, but around 1981 or so, the NBA considered dumping some of its weak sister teams. The idea was that by putting down some chronically struggling teams that seemed to have largely zero hope of ever getting better, the NBA would gain overall strength, especially by concentrating talent on the remaining teams. Needless to say, the union was not thrilled about this idea and it didn't go anywhere. 

The teams scheduled for folding, some of which subsequently became model teams, were the San Diego Clippers, Utah Jazz, Kansas City Kings, Cleveland Cavaliers, Indiana Pacers, Atlanta Hawks, and New Jersey Nets. None of these teams drew. Most of them were mediocre to horrible on the floor. Many of them were on the brink of folding anyway. 

The NBA then would have looked like this.

Eastern Conference

Atlantic Division
Boston Celtics
New York Knicks
Philadelphia 76ers
Washington Bullets

Central Division
Chicago Bulls
Denver Nuggets
Detroit Pistons
Milwaukee Bucks

Western Conference

Southwest Division
Dallas Mavericks
Houston Rockets
Phoenix Suns
San Antonio Spurs

Pacific Division
Golden State Warriors
Los Angeles Lakers
Portland Trailblazers
Seattle Supersonics

Last edited on Mon Feb 23rd, 2009 07:49 pm by tamalie