Mickey Mouse Playoffs

The National Basketball Association is putting on a Mickey Mouse Championship*!? I've borrowed that title from Rob Parker, sports writer and Fox Sports Radio co-host of The Odd Couple with Chris Broussard. Does the NBA or its players, coaches and governors really expect us to take this year's playoffs or champion seriously? I'm supposed to view the goofy, uneven, incomplete plan to resume the season without an asterisk? To be honest, I don't know if I'm on an island here or not, but it seems like the pragmatic take; Bake's Take. If you are going to overlook the emotional and psychological toll of a global pandemic, stressed race communication, political unrest and family leave, then you are the epitome of romantic.

First of all, due to pressures of the health system's response to a novel virus, the NBA has decided to include only the top seeded (highest winning percentage) 22 teams regardless of conference. This highlights the bottom teams' lack of desire to play which is a bad look. This also makes the season's resumption incomplete because all the teams aren't present. On top of this, it's unbalanced due to the western conference having 13 of the top 22 teams. Does that mean only one Eastern Conference team gets left out, while five Western Conference teams will be battling for that eighth spot? Why would we consider the end of a season that doesn't include the entire league and is unbalanced as anything less than asterisked?

Secondly, with all the attention and weight placed on the gravity and spread of the unknown coronavirus, it won't matter whether players, coaches and families contract the virus or not. The risk and conversation regarding contraction of the virus will be sufficient distraction. If players do test positive, they'll be quarantined and risk impacting their team's chances to win. While they don't test positive, there will be the distractions of daily testing, confinement to the "bubble" and schedule inequity. Is it too far a bridge to assume wealthy, talented young men are going to have a hard time resisting the temptation to wander into the public for fraternization?

Lastly, the financial ramifications will likely have a significant impact on player attitude. Now, I don't know, nor does anyone know, the exact toll a season furlough and makeshift playoff structure will take on the league's and players' pocketbooks. That being said, it's tough to throw out the likelihood that many players will be giving back money when it's all said and done. Perhaps, with the seeding games, there will be more advertising opportunities than if just the playoffs and, maybe, this will allow for less brand damage, but I predict more apathy and grumbling from the specially restricted, economically pinched players. Admittedly, I will be watching and highly interested in the outcome, but it will be difficult to overlook the obvious disparity. It will be difficult to view the Champion without an asterisk. It will be difficult to consider this return to play as anything less than Mickey Mouse!