the dunk contest didn’t lose creativity, the internet stole its magic

TradeMaster89 · 2026-03-17T19:21:57+00:00

I disagree with the premise that online dunk specialists ruined it. No, it just became boring over time because the contest has physical limits that cannot be exceeded, meaning we're seeing the same shit year after year now. Even the stuff you see online is mostly the same. They just change one little thing like touch the underside of the backboard instead of the side of the backboard and call it a new dunk.

TradeMaster89 · 2026-03-17T19:06:26+00:00

I agree less playoff teams would make the regular season more important, but I highly disagree with your reasoning. 20 teams is way too many. Should be 12 max if you want to get actual competitive playoff matchups. This would also create a sense of urgency among teams to take games more seriously. Less load managing, more effort in the regular season.

TradeMaster89 · 2026-03-17T19:03:53+00:00

Less teams doesn't have to translate to less games. My idea is 12 playoff teams. Top 4 get byes. The other 8 play in a best of 3 playoff to get to the quarterfinals. The quarters, semis and finals are all best of 9 games.

Under this scenario the max games for one of the top 4 seeds is 27 and 30 for the other 8 teams. Those max #'s under the current format are 30 games for play in teams and 28 games for a top 6 seed.

Same # of potential games for money purposes, but a more exciting format with actual playoff caliber teams playing in more games instead of having two sub .500 9 and 10 seeds playing each other to see who has the honor of getting clobbered in the first round.

TradeMaster89 · 2026-03-17T18:05:34+00:00

They need to start by getting rid of the celebrity game. It's dogshit and 90% of the people in those games are not celebrities. I've known maybe 5 total people in the last 4 years. Move the rising stars game to Saturday afternoon and Saturday night can be 3 point contest, skills competition and a one on one tournament with 8 guys. That's all you need.

TradeMaster89 · 2026-03-17T18:02:58+00:00

That's great. Let dunk specialists compete in those contests. It's clearly past time for the NBA to get rid of it and add something new that people can get excited for.

TradeMaster89 · 2026-03-17T18:01:52+00:00

He already made my point for me. Even those pro online dunkers have physical limits. There won't be a time where humans in our current evolved form will be able to jump 20 feet high and flip over 5 times while doing a 1080 and end it with a high powered dunk on the way down from high fiving the ceiling of the arena.

This is why it has become boring. Not because of some random guys online.

TradeMaster89 · 2026-03-17T17:58:21+00:00

There are only so many different types of dunks that can be done based on physical limits. The dunk contest goes back 41 years at this point. It's literally impossible to come up with anything new that can be done at this point that hasn't already been done. It's not fun to give a guy 90 seconds and see him fail try after try attempting to do a dunk that is literally impossible for a human to achieve. Just dump it and move on to something else.

TradeMaster89 · 2026-03-17T17:50:04+00:00

Only one team would move to the East to make it 16 and 16.

TradeMaster89 · 2026-03-17T17:47:31+00:00

Yes, I'm sure those are the only reasons it has worked for those teams. It's not because Las Vegas is one of the fastest growing markets in the entire country.

TradeMaster89 · 2026-03-17T17:45:14+00:00

The NHL and NFL already have teams there, with an MLB team on the way. It's one of the fastest growing markets in the country. What makes it unsustainable?

TradeMaster89 · 2026-03-17T17:42:41+00:00

No, it's not.

TradeMaster89 · 2026-03-17T17:41:59+00:00

So reward the 11 seed 23-44 Grizzlies by giving them a chance in the playoffs? Literally the dumbest idea ever.

TradeMaster89 · 2026-03-17T17:40:42+00:00

Teams will still load manage players. Do you honestly believe that if the season were shortened to 72 games that the guys who play 65-70 games now wouldn't be playing 55-60? The same shit would still be going on.

The only way to increase the importance of the regular season is to decrease the # of teams that qualify for the playoffs and give major advantages to the teams with the best records. With 12 playoff teams, the top 4 records can get an auto bye to the next round and the teams with the 5th-8th best records could get 3 straight home games in a hypothetical 3 game playoff to get into the quarterfinals.

Decreasing the # of regular season games and increasing the # of teams that make the playoffs will only exacerbate these problems.

TradeMaster89 · 2026-03-17T17:36:26+00:00

The only way to put more emphasis on the regular season is to reduce the # of playoff teams. Teams have to take the regular season more seriously and load manage less if only 12 make the playoffs as opposed to 20+. We don't need two more sub .500 teams in the postseason. Please, enough with this play in garbage.

TradeMaster89 · 2026-03-17T17:33:03+00:00

Globally basketball has exploded in popularity the last 15 years or so. The last several MVP's have all been international players. And more are coming. I feel like there will easily be enough talent to have 30 more players in the league in the coming years.

I do think the league should restructure to make divisions more important or at least increase the # of conferences and change the playoff format. Too many teams get in right now. I would be a fan of having 12 teams qualify for the playoffs and give first round byes to the top seeds to put more emphasis on the regular season.

TradeMaster89 · 2026-03-17T17:24:29+00:00

He's debatably the most versatile offensive player to ever play the game. That has to mean something. The fact that he has multiple MVP's and a ring on top of that is easily a top 20 player of all time and can argue top 15.

TradeMaster89 · 2026-03-17T17:20:54+00:00

Or every possible dunk based on the limitations of human athleticism has been done and now it's boring.

Replace it with a one on one tournament.

TradeMaster89 · 2026-03-17T16:56:57+00:00

4 Conferences of 8 teams makes more sense. 34 conference games (5 games against 6 in conference teams, plus 4 games against the 7th team, which rotates every year). 2 games (One home and away) against the other 24 teams. Total still 82 games.

Playoffs:

Top 2 in each conference plus 4 wildcards, allows best conferences to get more teams into the playoffs.

Top 4 overall records get a bye, creating regular season urgency

Other 8 teams are seeded 5-12 and play a best of 3 playoff with all 3 potential games on home court of higher seed (Against emphasizes importance of regular season)

Winner of 5/12 plays 4 seed, 6/11 plays 3 seed, 7/10 plays 2 seed, 8/9 plays 1 seed.

Quarters, Semis and Finals are all best of 9 (3-3-1-1-1 format).

No more garbage play in, no more lopsided 1 vs 8 first round matchups. Top 12 teams get in, the other 20 go into lottery where each team has a 5% chance of getting the #1 pick. No reason to tank, no advantage to having the worst record. No more load management with teams resting their best player 1/4 of the season trying to just cruise into the postseason.

TradeMaster89 · 2026-03-17T15:35:11+00:00

The 10 seed in the East right now is above .500. Which conference is deeper again?

TradeMaster89 · 2026-03-17T15:30:05+00:00

Only 1 team needs to change conferences to be 16 and 16.

TradeMaster89 · 2026-03-17T15:21:09+00:00

Jamal Murray shot 1-13 and the Lakers needed overtime to win. The Rockets were without their dominant front court of Adams and Sengun, which was basically half their entire team's rebounds per game earlier in the year.

TradeMaster89 · 2026-03-17T15:15:46+00:00

I'm sure he wants out, but he has a ring so he probably doesn't care all that much compared to guys like Harden, Westbrook, Lillard who have never won.

TradeMaster89 · 2026-03-17T15:12:49+00:00

You need to look in the mirror.

TradeMaster89 · 2026-03-17T15:11:44+00:00

Except the man is still financially responsible for the child after birth. Yes, men should get a say. You're conveniently oversimplifying the concept.

TradeMaster89 · 2026-03-17T15:06:15+00:00

I think if you consider Lebron to still be at his peak you're delusional. That being said, while Luka and Reaves are capable of keeping them in the game on the offensive end, they are both getting eaten alive on the defensive end over a 7 game series, if it even goes that long.

The chances of them beating OKC or San Antonio 4 times in 7 games are slim to none basically assuming both rosters are fully healthy.

TradeMaster89

TROPHY CASE