|
|
Post by dexter on May 10, 2022 15:57:29 GMT
I thought it would be fun to have a thread where we can share our good ideas to make British basketball even better. Not magic genie ideas; things that could actually be done without millions of pounds. Then we can respond to say why that idea is stupid and won't work.
|
|
|
|
Post by ScottishBasketballFan on May 10, 2022 16:19:08 GMT
Ok, how about a regionalised Top Tier
And I don't mean the current teams split into Conferences but rather the formation of 4 separate Leagues where it's England, Ireland, Scotland & Wales
Each League plays to its own schedule, say 10 teams in each league. There could be Pro/Rel to keep things interesting.
Then you could have a 32 Team British & Irish Cup to have a BBL Cup equivalent
At the end of the regular season, the top 8 teams in each league enter the Playoffs playing in their own League, the 4 winners head off to the NIA for a 2 Day Finals Weekend with Semi seeding based on Overall record from the Regular season, if records are identical then next tie breaker would be points difference, then Points For as next TB if necessary. Both Semis on Saturday with a Slam Dunk Contest. Then, on Sunday the 2 losing Semi Finalists play for 3rd Place and after that you get the Final.
I'd also introduce a new rule for OT, if scores are level then we go to a 3 shot, 3 point shootout with shots taken from the standard 3PT line, and the other 2 shots taken from left and right hand side opposite. If scores are tied we go to sudden death to decide the winner.
|
|
|
|
Post by isthaturinal on May 10, 2022 16:22:16 GMT
For a start you get Paul James to smile every once in a while,
He’s one miserable sod, Got a face like a smacked arse.
|
|
|
|
Post by isthaturinal on May 10, 2022 16:26:18 GMT
Ok, how about a regionalised Top Tier And I don't mean the current teams split into Conferences but rather the formation of 4 separate Leagues where it's England, Ireland, Scotland & Wales Each League plays to its own schedule, say 10 teams in each league. There could be Pro/Rel to keep things interesting. Then you could have a 32 Team British & Irish Cup to have a BBL Cup equivalent At the end of the regular season, the top 8 teams in each league enter the Playoffs playing in their own League, the 4 winners head off to the NIA for a 2 Day Finals Weekend with Semi seeding based on Overall record from the Regular season, if records are identical then next tie breaker would be points difference, then Points For as next TB if necessary. Both Semis on Saturday with a Slam Dunk Contest. Then, on Sunday the 2 losing Semi Finalists play for 3rd Place and after that you get the Final. I'd also introduce a new rule for OT, if scores are level then we go to a 3 shot, 3 point shootout with shots taken from the standard 3PT line, and the other 2 shots taken from left and right hand side opposite. If scores are tied we go to sudden death to decide the winner. That idea is stupid and it will won’t work, Sorry but I’m just quoting Dexter ! See above first post LOL |
|
|
|
Post by dexter on May 10, 2022 16:34:58 GMT
My idea is also around the four home nations. There is an age level Four Nations. I think there should be an adult four nations for Britain and Ireland based players who aren't in the full GB squad.
Let me back up a bit. I was disappointed there is no full basketball tournament in the Commonwealth Games, just the 3x3 version. OK, maybe Australia and Canada think they have better things to do. But there are other Commonwealth countries that want to improve in basketball. Why not have a British open tournament to include the four home nations plus four Commonwealth nations e.g. South Africa, India. Play it in the summer at one of the BBL venues.
|
|
|
|
Post by dexter on May 10, 2022 17:04:37 GMT
This is my other idea. I would like to know why it's not a good idea. Have you heard of BUCS Super Rugby? Wednesday university rugby top league. You might think no one is interested in that. Well you might be surprised. The final is on YouTube and has 46k views. How about BUCS Super Basketball. Top 10 university teams. A bit like a British NCAA competition. In some places like Durham and Bournemouth the best basketball team they have is the university team. Why not make these teams more famous and start to build a local fan base, like what American colleges do? Wednesday afternoon basketball. I would watch it.
|
|
|
|
Post by irf on May 10, 2022 17:38:55 GMT
Semi final and final playoff weekend
In Newcastle would be good
|
|
|
|
Post by SamH on May 10, 2022 17:41:49 GMT
Wouldn't the weekends be better in a central area e.g. Birmingham, Sheffield, Manchester? Then everyone has at least got a chance of getting there. Newcastle isn't much good if the final happens to be Plymouth v Surrey (I know, I know  ) for example. |
|
|
|
Post by SamH on May 10, 2022 17:43:22 GMT
This is my other idea. I would like to know why it's not a good idea. Have you heard of BUCS Super Rugby? Wednesday university rugby top league. You might think no one is interested in that. Well you might be surprised. The final is on YouTube and has 46k views. How about BUCS Super Basketball. Top 10 university teams. A bit like a British NCAA competition. In some places like Durham and Bournemouth the best basketball team they have is the university team. Why not make these teams more famous and start to build a local fan base, like what American colleges do? Wednesday afternoon basketball. I would watch it. Was this not more or less the idea behind the BBA? Not saying it wouldn't work, but what are we now, 15? 17? years on and still waiting for the BBA to hold its first game!  |
|
|
|
Post by dexter on May 10, 2022 18:34:08 GMT
This is my other idea. I would like to know why it's not a good idea. Have you heard of BUCS Super Rugby? Wednesday university rugby top league. You might think no one is interested in that. Well you might be surprised. The final is on YouTube and has 46k views. How about BUCS Super Basketball. Top 10 university teams. A bit like a British NCAA competition. In some places like Durham and Bournemouth the best basketball team they have is the university team. Why not make these teams more famous and start to build a local fan base, like what American colleges do? Wednesday afternoon basketball. I would watch it. Was this not more or less the idea behind the BBA? Not saying it wouldn't work, but what are we now, 15? 17? years on and still waiting for the BBA to hold its first game! My thinking is more along the lines that these teams already exist and are playing each other but no one knows about it. There is probably a good standard of basketball being played but we can't see it and it's hard to find out anything about it. With a higher profile league the universities, players and British basketball in general gets more out of something that is already happening. |
|
|
|
Post by SamH on May 10, 2022 18:41:49 GMT
I do think there's merit in doing a bit of a road show and hyping it up to showcase the league and the sport to new audiences. Problem is people go along, enjoy the action, then have no local team to follow (unless they have an NBL team). Even so I think it would be worth doing to grow interest in other areas of the UK.
The PDC darts does something similar except on a global scale. They send their best players off around the world to developing markets like China, the US and Australia to showcase the sport and talent. They often go to the same places each year to constantly be getting the product across in areas they want to grow in and they accept it could be 10 years before the impact starts to be seen, but it's looking ahead long term. Perhaps on a smaller scale the BBL can do the same, within the UK and play a series of matches in areas that don't usually get top flight live basketball.
|
|
|
|
Post by dexter on May 10, 2022 19:45:20 GMT
I do think there's merit in doing a bit of a road show and hyping it up to showcase the league and the sport to new audiences. Problem is people go along, enjoy the action, then have no local team to follow (unless they have an NBL team). Even so I think it would be worth doing to grow interest in other areas of the UK. The PDC darts does something similar except on a global scale. They send their best players off around the world to developing markets like China, the US and Australia to showcase the sport and talent. They often go to the same places each year to constantly be getting the product across in areas they want to grow in and they accept it could be 10 years before the impact starts to be seen, but it's looking ahead long term. Perhaps on a smaller scale the BBL can do the same, within the UK and play a series of matches in areas that don't usually get top flight live basketball. I like this idea. Liverpool, Leeds and Nottingham all have a big arena and could be suitable places for an big weekend event like that. |
|
|
|
Post by irf on May 10, 2022 19:52:00 GMT
Wouldn't the weekends be better in a central area e.g. Birmingham, Sheffield, Manchester? Then everyone has at least got a chance of getting there. Newcastle isn't much good if the final happens to be Plymouth v Surrey (I know, I know ) for example. Great nightlife though!! |
|
|
|
Post by D44 on May 10, 2022 20:34:21 GMT
A free weekly 'Match of the Day' style highlights/chat show
No more 2 legged aggregate score games, ever. Higher seed gets the third game as a home game and if no venue availability the league picks a nearby neutral venue
More flexibility to allow teams to play their import scholarship/Uni players to replace injured designated BBL team imports (to avoid playing kids like the Eagles had to during their disastrous cup run)
Each team can designate 1 'superstar' import player who has played in the league for two consecutive seasons to be outside of the four imports rule. To encourage more Fletchers and less 'one and dones' .
|
|
|
|
Post by spacejammer on May 10, 2022 22:48:26 GMT
There's a lot of excellent ideas but even some of the ones suggested would require quite the budget and it would also be a case of will people get behind it enough.
I agree that the idea of roadshow and trying to market the league to other cities or towns with basketball potential. Especially during the off-season this would give the league something to work on.
Or possibly a nations cup.
I remember before the WBBL they used to have friendly England select vs Scotland or Ireland select.
If the WBBL game wasn't the support match I would be in favour of this tournament at every final where the teams play each other atleast once but you would need 2 support games at each final which might be to much and I wouldn't get rid of the WBBL.
I.e. 1st round of matches at Cup final
Eng v Wal and Ire v Scot
2nd round of match at Trophy final
Eng v Scot and Wal v Ire
3rd round of matches at Playoff
final.
Eng v Ire and Scot v Wal
Tbh even if not a full game as a 3 on 3 competition as a filler this could work.
Other then that I would love to see a best of 3 playoffs or copa del rey style tournament but the copa del rey would be harder to do.
I wonder if any BBL marketing people ever look at this forum?
|
|
|
|
Post by LTfan on May 11, 2022 8:43:12 GMT
Here’s a realistic and achievable one… bring back the British Basketball All Stars Championship event. Here me out…
It provided 5 hours of live British basketball on Sky Sports (and was also broadcast internationally on DAZN), it injected £100,000 into the BBL, it attracted people who otherwise wouldn’t have otherwise gone to a basketball game and therefore potentially brought new fans to the BBL, and for existing supporters it provided a great day out to come together and see 8 (or was it 10?) teams play all in a single day.
And all this cost the BBL nothing.
I’m really hoping we see it return this year.
|
|
|
|
Post by SamH on May 11, 2022 13:42:52 GMT
Why did they stop doing an all star game? If its because it was like the NBA and it became a complete farce, then put things in place to make it more competitive again, and make guys play at least a little bit hard. The NBL all star game the other day was fantastic and very competitive.
|
|
|
|
Post by LTfan on May 11, 2022 14:01:47 GMT
Why did they stop doing an all star game? If its because it was like the NBA and it became a complete farce, then put things in place to make it more competitive again, and make guys play at least a little bit hard. The NBL all star game the other day was fantastic and very competitive. I believe the league wanted to focus all efforts on making the Cup, Trophy and Play-Off finals as successful as possible. The market for British basketball is only so big and they’ve probably decided 3 large arena events per season is optimal right now. The re-introduction of an All-Star Game would have largely the same effect as the All Stars Championship, but I chose the All Stars Championship as it has no cost and only financial gain for the BBL. Plus I personally enjoyed seeing so many teams at one event. |
|
|
|
Post by dexter on May 11, 2022 15:04:54 GMT
It is interesting that most people seem to think what we have already is pretty optimal given the teams and venues that already exist. And that we would just like to add to that with a Big Weekend, an All Stars Championship or a Nations Cup in a big central venue, or moving around the country. We also acknowledge that the market is only so big so a fourth finals type event (third in England) might be pie in the sky at the moment.
|
|
) for example. 
