Why Can’t the NBA Actually Fix the NBA? Plus, Super Bowl Hangover Stuff With Nick Wright and Bill’s Dad.

What It Covers

Bill Simmons and Nick Wright dissect the Patriots' Super Bowl blowout loss to the Vikings, debate Drake May's playoff struggles and injury concerns, and examine systemic NBA problems including tanking incentives, schedule length, three-point dominance, and expansion plans. They propose specific rule changes to address competitive balance and player health issues affecting league quality.

Key Questions Answered

• •Drake May's Playoff Performance Concerns: May went 0-4 in first halves across all playoff games, showing concerning patterns against elite defenses. His final five drives produced two touchdowns and three turnovers, suggesting he becomes too loose with the football when hunting big plays. He completed 73% of passes but missed routine 10-yard throws he made consistently during the regular season, indicating potential injury issues beyond the disclosed shoulder problem.
• •NBA Tanking Penalty Framework: Proposed solution includes teams falling below 27 wins losing $1 million in cap space per loss under that threshold, plus 2% season ticket refunds per loss for fans. Utah's benching of healthy stars Lauri Markkanen and Jaren Jackson in early February represents unprecedented tanking behavior. Commissioner could suspend ping-pong balls at discretion or remove first-round picks entirely for egregious cases, creating real financial disincentives.
• •Schedule Reduction Economics: Reducing from 82 to 70 games costs approximately $10-20 million per team annually when factoring TV money and gate revenue splits with players. This represents the primary obstacle despite player health benefits and competitive integrity improvements. The financial hit prevents ownership consensus, though long-term revenue growth could offset short-term losses through increased product quality and star availability.
• •Three-Point Line Innovation: Hollinger's proposal allows each team to draw their own three-point line distance, similar to baseball's outfield walls, creating strategic home-court advantages and rewarding diverse playing styles. Alternative suggestion makes dunks worth three points to incentivize athleticism and rim attacks, counteracting analytics-driven perimeter shooting dominance. Both approaches aim to restore basketball's identity as showcasing athletic brilliance rather than optimized shooting efficiency.
• •Quarterback Injury Pattern Analysis: Drake May absorbed 102 sacks in 33 games, including 21 in four playoff games, demonstrating unsustainable physical toll. His mobility and throwing-on-the-run ability disappeared in playoffs, with coaching staff avoiding designed rollouts despite Seattle rushing only four defenders. Pre-game shoulder injection before Super Bowl suggests significant undisclosed injury, raising questions about Patriots' injury report compliance and long-term durability concerns.
• •All-Star Game Format Solution: White versus international players creates natural competitive edge that current East-West or tournament formats lack. Roster would feature Luka, Jokic, Flagg, Knippel, Reeves, Vucevic against top American talent, generating genuine intensity and storylines. This approach requires waiting 3-4 years for Cooper Flagg's development but represents only format change that could restore competitive meaning to exhibition game.
• •Expansion Timing Critique: Adding Seattle and Vegas franchises when eight of 30 teams already tank creates 10 non-competitive teams by season's end. League prioritizes expansion fees and market growth over competitive balance and regular season quality. Better approach delays expansion until tanking penalties implemented and schedule reduced to 70 games, ensuring new franchises enter healthier competitive ecosystem rather than exacerbating existing problems.