5 ms·

A Malcolm Gladwell quote from the article: The consistent failure of underdogs in professional sports to even try something new suggests, to me, that there is

A Malcolm Gladwell quote from the article: The consistent failure of underdogs in professional sports to even try something new suggests, to me, that there is something fundamentally wrong with the incentive structure of the leagues. This pretty sums up why I generally don't watch professional sports. I love basketball, but the way that it is played in the NBA is so conservative that it's about as interesting as watching paint dry. I would love to see the pro sports leagues implement financial incentives in order to reward teams that are taking risks. The only organization I know that does this is the UFC (via their "Fight of the Night", "Knockout of the Night" and "Submission of the Night" bonuses), and perhaps not coincidentally, that is the only sport I find interesting enough to watch on a regular basis.

aichcon 17y ago
What are you referring to when you say the NBA is conservative? Play calling? Refereeing?
- pchivers 17y ago
  Mostly the style of offense. Teams are much more content to keep the ball around the outside and shoot threes all night than to a) drive into the paint and make something happen on the inside, or b) score points off of fast breaks.
  - edw519 17y ago
    "...keep the ball around the outside and shoot threes all night..." Because they can. There is a dramatic difference in talent between college and professional basketball. That difference changes everything (and makes it more boring for us). So what would be the analogy in business or programming?
  - apsurd 17y ago
    I used to "assume" the same thing, but I have reasoned that nba teams use a lot of perimeter offense because its hard to penetrate the paint. Imagine having Dwight Howard, Andrew Bynum, Pao Gasol, or Yao Ming waiting for you ... Usually guards are responsible for "penetrating and kicking" because they have the knowledge and dexterity to do so. But the average guard is maybe 6'3" 180lbs. Good centers start at 6'11". I just don't think outsiders appreciate how much effort, skill, and knowledge it takes to drive to the basket and a. take and make a good shot over a 7foot defender. b. recognize the collapse and pass down low accordingly c. recognize a double team and swing out to the parameter. edit*: Maybe you just are not watching the right people. Have you ever seen Allen Iverson play? You'd like him. How about Dwayne Wade or Chris Paul ?

aichcon 17y ago

What are you referring to when you say the NBA is conservative? Play calling? Refereeing?

pchivers 17y ago
Mostly the style of offense. Teams are much more content to keep the ball around the outside and shoot threes all night than to a) drive into the paint and make something happen on the inside, or b) score points off of fast breaks.
- edw519 17y ago
  "...keep the ball around the outside and shoot threes all night..." Because they can. There is a dramatic difference in talent between college and professional basketball. That difference changes everything (and makes it more boring for us). So what would be the analogy in business or programming?
- apsurd 17y ago
  I used to "assume" the same thing, but I have reasoned that nba teams use a lot of perimeter offense because its hard to penetrate the paint. Imagine having Dwight Howard, Andrew Bynum, Pao Gasol, or Yao Ming waiting for you ... Usually guards are responsible for "penetrating and kicking" because they have the knowledge and dexterity to do so. But the average guard is maybe 6'3" 180lbs. Good centers start at 6'11". I just don't think outsiders appreciate how much effort, skill, and knowledge it takes to drive to the basket and a. take and make a good shot over a 7foot defender. b. recognize the collapse and pass down low accordingly c. recognize a double team and swing out to the parameter. edit*: Maybe you just are not watching the right people. Have you ever seen Allen Iverson play? You'd like him. How about Dwayne Wade or Chris Paul ?