Community Shootaround

NBA commissioner Adam Silver relayed on Tuesday that the league’s competition Committee issued a recommendation that the six division winners no longer be awarded an automatic top-four seed in the playoffs. Instead, teams in each conference would be seeded based on their overall records. “The recommendation from the Competition Committee is that we should seed one through eight based on conference standings for the playoffs [and] eliminate the preference for a division,” Silver said. “That recommendation was discussed at the Board today.” To implement any changes to the current system the league’s owners would still need to vote on the matter, but Silver indicated that he expected the measure to pass and take effect in time for the 2015/16 campaign.

With the preamble out of the way, here’s today’s topic for discussion: Should the NBA alter the current playoff seeding structure?

The impetus for the seeding change was this year’s opening round series between the Clippers and Spurs, who squared off against each other because the Blazers, who owned a weaker record, won the Northwest Division crown. The idea behind reseeding is that teams would be rewarded for having the better overall record, and not because of their ranking within their division. A number of different scenarios have been floated out there in regards to revamping the current format. In addition to the proposal to eliminate division winners from automatically snagging a top four seed, Mavs owner Mark Cuban has championed the idea that the top 16 teams should make the playoffs regardless of conference or division. The disparity between the ultra-competitive Western Conference and the markedly weaker East was the primary reasoning behind Cuban’s push for change.

What are your thoughts on the current playoff system? Does a change need to be made, or will the disparity between the conferences eventually even out? Will removing the incentive to win one’s division negate some regular season drama, as well as negatively impact some longstanding divisional rivalries? If a change is in order, which proposal do you think would be in the league’s best interest? Or do you have a different plan in mind altogether? Take to the comments section below to share your thoughts and opinions. We look forward to what you have to say on the matter.

The unsuccessful tenure of Deron Williams in Brooklyn came to an end this week with the two sides reaching a buyout agreement. Williams never became the superstar the team envisioned when it acquired him from the Jazz during the 2010/11 campaign, and his time in Brooklyn ended with a whimper instead of a bang. The 31-year-old wasn’t out of work for long, with him quickly agreeing to a two-year pact with the point guard starved Mavericks.

Now here’s my segue into the question(s) of the day: Will Deron Williams revitalize his career with the Mavs, and does he make Dallas a playoff-caliber team?

Admittedly, I snuck two questions in for the price of one today, but they do go hand-in-hand. If Williams can somehow turn back the clock on his weary legs and put up numbers similar to what he did in Utah, the Mavericks would certainly have to be taken seriously in the Southwest Division. If not, then the team is likely headed for the draft lottery. What’s your take on Williams’ departure from Brooklyn and arrival in the Lone Star State? Will the change of locales, and return to his home state of Texas, revitalize him? Or is he done for good as an upper-tier playmaker? What are your predictions for the Mavs’ record this season? If you’re a disgruntled Nets fan who just needs some closure, feel free to vent your feelings as well. We look forward to what you have to say.

Of course, there will always be differing opinions. While we absolutely encourage lively discussion and debate, we do expect everyone to treat each other with respect. So, please refrain from inappropriate language, personal insults or attacks, as well as the other taboo types of discourse laid out in our site’s commenting policy.  Speaking of commenting: we’ve made it much easier to leave a comment here at Hoops Rumors.  Just put in your name, email address, and comment and submit it; there is no need to become a registered user.

The Nuggets’ Ty Lawson is a statistically productive point guard who is routinely criticized for not making his teammates around him better. Lawson’s attitude has also come under fire at times, and Denver has reportedly been looking to find a trade partner who will take the 27-year-old off of its hands. The guard is set to earn $12,404,495 in 2015/16 and $13,213,482 the following season, which is also the final year of Lawson’s current deal. Lawson’s contract won’t make him easy to trade, nor will his off the court baggage. The veteran was arrested early Tuesday morning on suspicion of DUI, his second DUI-related arrest in six months time.

This brings me to our question/topic of the day: What should the Nuggets do with Ty Lawson?

Should Denver trade Lawson even if it means receiving less than adequate compensation in return? If so, which team do you see as being a good fit, and for whom do the Nuggets deal him? Or should the Nuggets hang onto Lawson? If so, should it be for the long-term, or just until he can potentially rebuild some of his trade value? The other alternative is for the team to attempt to work out a buyout arrangement with Lawson and just cut ties with him altogether. Take to the comments section below with your thoughts, opinions, and trade ideas. We look forward to what you have to say.

Of course, there will always be differing opinions. While we absolutely encourage lively discussion and debate, we do expect everyone to treat each other with respect. So, please refrain from inappropriate language, personal insults or attacks, as well as the other taboo types of discourse laid out in our site’s commenting policy.  Speaking of commenting: we’ve made it much easier to leave a comment here at Hoops Rumors.  Just put in your name, email address, and comment and submit it; there is no need to become a registered user.

The offseason is generally a time of hope and optimism for teams. It is the time when rosters are constructed and draftees begin to tantalize their respective teams with what they have to offer on the Summer League court and on the practice floor. It is also a time when every team is still undefeated and dreaming of a championship run. Of course, the moment the regular season tips off, all bets are off and reality quickly sets in for the “also rans” around the NBA. The first person to shoulder the blame when things go poorly is usually the team’s head coach. It’s far easier for teams to replace one man than to overhaul a roster while in the midst of an 82 game campaign. Whether this is fair or not is up for debate, but it is the reality that all professional coaches face.

It’s with this in mind that I segue to the question of the day: Who will be the first head coach to be issued his walking papers during the 2015/16 season?

Take to the comments section below to share your thoughts and opinions on who you believe will be the first coach to get some unexpected free time next season, and why. We look forward to what you have to say.