Comments on: So … can a small market team really compete?

By: OBF-MKE

OBF-MKE — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 02:55:44 +0000

Milwaukee’s record in games officiated by Dick Bavetta:

From RealGM poster SCassell19: http://forums.realgm.com/boards/viewtopic.php?f=21&t=814760&p=24710411#p21078109

“”"Record by year (Playoffs included):

91-92: 1-5
92-93: 3-2
93-94: 1-5
94-95: 3-3
95-96: 1-2
96-97: 0-2
97-98: 2-1
98-99: 1-2
99-00: 3-6
00-01: 0-7
01-02: 1-5
02-03: 3-2
03-04: 1-5
04-05: 1-5
05-06: 0-1
06-07: 2-2
07-08: 1-1
08-09: 1-3

Overall: 25-59
Playoffs: 1-5

Notice how Bavetta’s “worst” year was also the Bucks best percentage wise. The Bucks had a 16 game losing streak in games reffed by Bavetta. This happened from 2000-2002 (playoffs included). Keep in mind what the Bucks record was during that time (especially in 2000-01). Its not like that was a 16 game losing streak when the Bucks were horrible. “”"

By: curak

curak — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 21:30:55 +0000

Sadly, there is no way to financially manage it so that players with stars in their eyes don’t flee for the big market. The team that drafts a player already has advantages in holding on to them, but LA will always be LA.

But we saw this summer that that only goes so far. Who’d the Knicks get again? The Lakers have mostly been well-run, while the Knicks haven’t. That’s the real key. Let’s hope we have that now.

Also, the one argument against the “build around the superstar” argument will always be the Pistons of 6-7 years ago. And maybe the first time around. Admittedly tho, you have to go back to the ’70s to find another example. But what else can you do?

By: d_bokk

d_bokk — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 17:32:15 +0000

On paper, there should be a more even distribution of championships in the NBA because of the salary cap and how, unlike most other sports, the draft can bring in a major contributor instantly. The Spurs did so well not only because of money management and smart drafting, but because their star player was very loyal to his team. Players like Kareem, Lebron, Kobe jump ship and go to bigger markets basically giving those big cities titles that they only earned because they are so large not because of management or luck of the draw.

I think the CBA should start to exempt drafted players’ salaries (or at least half of it) from being counted towards the cap on the team that drafted them. It gives the player a reason to stay (they can build a better team with more cap space available) and doesn’t force small markets to let their star players walk because they can’t afford to risk going over the cap or into luxury tax. Players also gain a little security because their original teams are more likely to hold onto them. I can’t imagine that players like to switch cities every 2-4 years.

It’d give the garbage bin teams an advantage, but it may also create a cycle of different teams competing instead of the same 4 teams always winning the title because the good players prefer to play there. There are obvious loop holes in this idea (teams “throwing” multiple seasons to get a bunch of high picks) but there needs to be something done to stop punishing small markets for drafting well and being financial prudent but having to play the role of a D-league team for the big markets to find their talent.

By: Drew

Drew — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 16:56:26 +0000

I think small markets can compete in the NBA, but a lot of it has to do with luck. The Spurs got Duncan by pure luck. The Thunder (Sonics) were lucky in that they ended up picking #2 in a 2 player draft and getting the best of the two guys. On top of that, by all accounts Durant appears to be a humble, loyal personality which would figure to give Oklahoma City the edge on keeping him for the duration of his career.
The key is getting an elite player and then building around that player quickly and efficiently so you can maximize your potential before the player leaves for the bigger city.
The Bucks can certainly contend, but what has to happen is that Jennings has to become an elite player, Bogut has to keep improving and stay healthy, and the rest of the team has to embrace their roles and improve. Also, it wouldn’t hurt if Larry Sanders turned out to be a huge steal at 15.