If the NBA wants this to be an event, I think they need to make it an event. Open the regular season with the tournament and have all the teams play in one city like All-Star. Doesn’t need the fanfare of All-Star, but make it an all day event every day for a week Or however long it takes and no other games take place after the elimination rounds.
The players will care about spotlight. Maybe don’t even count it towards the regular season standings, but make it a tiebreaker. If two teams end the season with 42 wins, have their Tournament record be a tiebreaker.
If the NBA wants this to be an event, I think they need to make it an event. Open the regular season with the tournament and have all the teams play in one city like All-Star. Doesn’t need the fanfare of All-Star, but make it an all day event every day for a week Or however long it takes and no other games take place after the elimination rounds.
The players will care about spotlight. Maybe don’t even count it towards the regular season standings, but make it a tiebreaker. If two teams end the season with 42 wins, have their Tournament record be a tiebreaker.