You keep pointing to the Mavs like that proves something, but one Cinderella story every decade doesn't justify 82 games. Most seasons, the grind just wears everyone down. And you're right that smarter scheduling could help, but it's a band-aid. The real issue is there's too many games, period.
Look, if you cut to 60, you don't just get less load management—you get a better product. Every game has stakes. Players actually care in January. Right now, teams are sleepwalking through half the season, and fans are supposed to pretend that's fine? It's not.
The money argument falls flat too. If each game matters more, TV networks pay more per game. The pie stays the same size, maybe even grows. So why keep dragging out a season nobody's fully invested in until May?
11:50 AM