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By Sam Amico / The Amico Report

IF I RAN THE NBA

Last week, I asked for your thoughts on what you would do if you ran the NBA. I promised to print the 10 best responses.

Well, guess what? I got more than 10 good responses. In fact, I received more than 200 e-mails on the subject -- and I've since decided to publish a bunch of 'em.

The overriding theme to your replies: Create a true farm system. In other words, you're not satisfied with the NBDL, which is what the NBA currently tries to pass off as a developmental league. As reader Terry Grigg of Omaha, Neb., explained, "If I ran the NBA, every team would have at least one minor-league affiliate, just like in baseball. This would keep kids who aren't ready for the NBA from wasting everyone's time while they develop (Kwame Brown, etc.)." Terry went on to say the NBA should go back to funding the Continental Basketball Association, "because the CBA has always been there, and is run much better than the NBDL, especially when it comes to marketing and overall fan friendliness."

Terry concluded that the NBDL exists "solely because NBA commissioner David Stern is a control freak and can't admit failure."

Interesting stuff.

But before I get to the rest of your thoughts, let me just say I don't necessarily agree with all of them -- and that's the great thing about this newsletter. Not only is it free (and not worth a penny more, I might add), but I don't have to worry about losing money over angry subscribers or pushy advertisers. I don't have to be politically correct, and neither do you.

Finally, before we get to your thoughts, here is what Yours Truly would do if he ran the NBA ...

1. Get rid of the 3-point line: Keep in mind, this is coming from a guy whose game consists of nothing but camping out behind the arc, waiting for the first pass, then launching a 25-footer. Usually, the rim cringes with fear. But just because I love shooting 3-pointers doesn't mean it's right for the NBA. What I'm trying to say is, the 3-point line was a good idea that's outlived its value. It's almost entirely removed the mid-range jumper from the pro game, as many of today's players only seem interested in shooting 3s or dunking -- and nothing else. And that is why assists have plummeted league-wide. All of this is also why I love watching Philadelphia forward Glenn Robinson, one of the few guys left who is automatic from 10-18 feet. Besides, the best game I ever watched was a tape I saw of Game 5 of the 1975 Finals between Boston and Phoenix -- no other game has come close in terms of being well-played and providing all-around drama. And I completely forgot the 3-point line didn't even exist.

2. Expand the draft to seven rounds: This is how it was when I was a kid -- and there were few things I loved more than waking up and opening the morning newspaper after the draft, simply to discover my favorite player from Steubenville U. had been selected in the sixth round by the Phoenix Suns. The draft is for the fans, and every other major sports league has a billion rounds. So why does the NBA cut the fun short with just two?

3. Prohibit coaches from hiring their friends: Don't ask why, but the fact Dallas' Don Nelson has 728 assistants drives me nuts. Is he really that helpless of a coach that he needs this type of support? Or is one of the guys really just his personal chef disguised in a suit and carrying a clipboard? If I ran the NBA, each head coach would be allowed two full-time bench assistants, period. If the NBA is going to frown on players having traveling posses, it needs to do the same with the men in charge. There's no good reason to have so many people taking up space on the bench -- especially when, if my suspicions are correct, one of them is there for the sole purpose of rubbing Don Nelson's feet after a game.

4. Set an age limit -- of 18: Longtime readers of the newsletter realize I'm changing my tune on this one. I used to maintain that having 18-year-olds sit at the end of the bench was bad for basketball (both college and pro). I still believe that. But I also know that many of the guys who entered the league straight out of high school -- Tracy McGrady, Kobe Bryant. Jermaine O'Neal -- have gone on to have stellar careers and conduct themselves with true professionalism on the court. And saying a kid isn't allowed to be drafted when everyone wants to draft him is just plain ridiculous. It's like saying you own the winning lottery ticket, but can't cash it in for two more years.

5. Set up a game between the And1 streetballers and NBA All-Stars: I'm not a big fan of And1, mostly because I'd be one of the guys on defense who falls over all the time. But wouldn't you just love to see these guys play for real? Granted, the All-Stars would win by 50, but I'd still pay big bucks to watch. And just to make sure everyone took it seriously, I'd pay $1 million to each player on the winning team.

IF YOU RAN THE NBA

From Mike Vorkunov (East Hanover, N.J.)

If I ran the NBA I would make the ball red, white, and blue (ABA style). I would make the minimum age 20 so we could see the rookie of the year scoring 20 points per game again. I would make the dunk contest the main event at All-Star weekend again by upping the stakes and having the big ballers jam. I would allow the crossover to be legal again (remember the one Allen Iverson put on Michael Jordan?). I would get rid of lousy owners (cough, Donald Sterling, James Dolan, cough). And I would put the league back on free television.

From Stephen C. Secaur (Whitewater, Wis)

If I could change one thing in the NBA, I would outlaw all those sound systems that blare music at inappropriate times (please kill "We Will Rock You" forever ... please!) and the morons who shoot T-shirts into the stands during timeouts. Isn't the game entertainment enough?

From Sean Dennis (Charleston, S.C.)

I'd put in a "game" line, at about 3/4-court distance. If you heave one in from behind the line you win the game. That way a team like the Hawks might at least have a chance every night.

From Larry Hayden (Brooklyn, N.Y.)

In order to score two points, the shot would have to either hit the backboard or be taken from below the rim, except for sky hooks and jump shots. Any ball dunked would count for one point and score three for the opposition if it missed. Let the leapers make the highlight show by pinning layups against the glass or let them learn to pass and shoot.

From Eddie Vazquez (Hoboken, N.J.)

I'd tell the NBA refs to allow Iverson's old crossover (people just ain't getting shook like they use to).

From Ted Chan (Weston, Mass.)

The 82-game NBA season is a drag. I'd break it up with some "cup" style play like they do in European leagues. For instance, teams could take four games out of the season and play a Divisional Cup, with a mini-tournament for a trophy between teams with a regional rivalry. You could do things to spice it up, like invite national teams. Anything to generate interest and give a few teams just a little bit more to play for. It'd also be an excuse, if a team didn't place high priority on a tournament, to play some of the younger guys and develop them a bit more.

From Derek Lachman (Eden Prarie, Minn.)

I would put all games back on network TV where the average fan can always get a chance to view all of the games, not just when you are lucky enough to have NBA TV!

From Travis Walker (Charlotte, N.C.)

Cut the number of teams to around 22. I mean, didn't a team just move OUT of Charlotte, and now they get a new one?

From Ed Cohen (Granger, Ind.)

Shorten the season and reduce the number of playoff teams.The biggest difference I see -- and bemoan -- between college and NBA basketball is the intensity. The NBA players constantly walk the ball up the court and stand around. It's obvious the players are pacing themselves to survive the ridiculously long season and postseason. Either that or they're ridiculously lazy and unmotivated due to huge guaranteed contracts. But I think it's the season length. There's a big difference between a 30-game season and one of 80 games-plus. Maybe there's always been a difference in intensity between the NBA and college game, but it's been much more obvious to me in recent years.

Jeremy Ryan (Knoxville, Tenn.)

If I ran the NBA, I would widen the court a few feet and make the 3-point line 23' 9" all the way around. Theoretically, this would create more room for post players and drivers/slashers to operate by stretching defenses on the sides of the court in the same way they are stretched at the top of the key.

From Cory Huff (Lexington, Ky.)

I would abolish the "basket-and-one" rule. If a player attempts a shot and makes it, how can the player have been fouled? Far too many phantom fouls are called in the NBA, awarding undeserved points and making the referees' influence far too great over the course of a game.

From Mark Lembrecht (Helena, Mont.)

I'd turn the developmental league into a real minor league system -- just like baseball. This would require a concession from the players' union to allow teams to send first-round draft picks to the minors until they were ready to play in the NBA. This plan would have several benefits: (1) draft picks could still get their fat contracts yet develop at their own pace under less pressure; (2) NBA teams would be manned only by NBA-ready players, providing fans an improved product; (3) there would be more roster spots for veteran players; (4) players not drafted in rounds one or two would have a place to develop their games rather than having to go to overseas; and (5) minor-league teams could be located in small towns, providing fans an opportunity to watch high profile draft picks learn their craft at a lower price.

From Lindell Singleton (Euless, Texas, coach, Shady Grove Christian School)

Remove Scottie Pippen and David Robinson from the NBA's "50 Greatest List" and add Bob McAdoo and Bernard King. Then, formally apologize to both of them for being overlooked. Also, reduce the schedule from 82 to 74 games so that the end of the regular season occurs the weekend after the NCAA final four. Finally, offer a broader, more representative acknowledgement of Wilt Chamberlain and his contributions to the game. This should be a league-wide initiative.

Herrschel Freeman (Germantown, Tenn.)

If I ran the NBA, I'd make sure each team had a representative in the All-Star game. Even if it expanded the roster size, and not everyone got into the game, the pride that each city would feel just in their player's selection would be reward enough.

From Yebga Kack (Douala, Cameroon)

One thing that I think would avoid having ratings as low as this year's Finals, and that would add more excitement is this -- having the league's 16 best teams in the playoffs, no matter what conference they're from. That would make sure we get the best teams in the Finals.

From Greg Cham (Toronto, Canada)

Don't fall into the corporate trap .... call the arenas by names that challenge the imagination, like Madison Square Garden, Boston Garden, The Spectrum, The Omni. Before every new arena looked identical and every game was televised (not a bad thing), I always imagined what it would be like to attend games in these places.

From Spencer Rawles (Novato, Calif.)

If I ran the NBA, first thing I'd do would be to establish a minimum age of 20. The reason for this age limit is the talent level has declined with so many underclassmen, high schoolers, and young foreign players. I can't personally recall a high school player who has made an impact right away, except for Amare Stoudmire, who was 20.

From Shawn Heimberger (Hagerstown, Md.)

I'd market to ALL fans, not just 14-24 year olds. I know this will come as a shock, but many different types of demographics love this game. Alienating most of them with nothing but dunks and music at loud decibels is never a good idea. Here in my town (one hour away from the Wizards), many people dismiss the NBA as a niche game made for one demographic. If that is the perception nationally, it needs to be changed NOW!

From Andy Tucker (Akron, Ohio)

I would move the 3-point line back to how it used to be, always give two foul shots when a player is fouled, and extend the foul limit to seven per game. This gives the shooter more of a priority to the game. Also, extending the foul limit would make it even more physical for those who did enter the paint.

From Aaron Harvey (Columbus, Ohio)

I would do away with the NBA lottery and just draft in reverse order of team records. This is how it is done in every sport. I am also tired of the conspiracy theories such as Ewing to New York, Shaq to Orlando, Duncan to San Antonio, and Lebron to Cleveland.

From Paul Belfi (Cleveland, Ohio)

I would expand into Europe and bring in at least eight to 12 teams. The travel schedules would be brutal for European teams to come to the U.S., and vice versa, but perhaps some accommodation can be made on the schedules to make this work. Then I would change the name NBA into IBA for International Basketball Association.

From Paul Popovich (Green, Ohio)

I would clone Dallas coach Don Nelson. I'm no Mavs fan, but they sure are fun to watch.

From Christophe Zosso (Geneva, Switzerland)

I would have an All-Star Game between the best American players on one side and the best international players on the other side.

From John Elmore (Redding, Calif.)

I'd start a European league with eight teams. The top two European teams would be entered in the NBA playoffs, one team in the East and one in the West.

From Scott Krutsch (Cary, N.C.)

If I ran the NBA I'd create an "illegal offense" foul to discourage "clearouts," where two players play and eight players watch. An offensive player whose four teammates are on the other side of the court cannot possess the ball for more than three seconds.

From Barron Hall (Chicago)

If I ran the NBA, I'd have teams play all of their road games in each city on one trip. If Atlanta plays Chicago three times in Chicago, why not play those three games over a four- or five-day period?

From Aaron Surma (Detroit)

If I could change one thing about the NBA, it would be the same change I would make to all professional sports leagues -- contract a few teams. The NBA is too watered down, and eliminating the Lawrence Funderburkes of the world would not do anyone harm.

From Bennett Christianson (Hermiston, Ore.)

I would switch to a 20-minute, continuously-running clock in each half, and implicate substitutions on the fly like in hockey. This would promote a much more up-tempo game and higher scoring excitement.

From Corey Sullivan (Medina, Ohio)

I would sign Shaq up right now for a management position at the NBA headquarters -- ideally to groom him to take over as commissioner. Come on, let's put the Godfather in his rightful position of power.

NEWSLETTER NOTES

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HAVE A GREAT DAY!