| Of the four major professional sports in America, | | | | mix, this system has the potential to keep |
| basketball is the only one where a team with a .500 | | | | hometown fans interested. However, the system |
| or under record has a chance of making the playoffs. | | | | leads to inferior teams making it into a post-season |
| In the NHL, where like the NBA a little over 50% of | | | | where they don't have a chance to compete. |
| the teams go to the playoffs; clubs with losing | | | | There are a few reasons why the NBA has this |
| records don't come close to competing for Lord | | | | problem. However the major reason is, quite simply, |
| Stanley's Cup. | | | | money. The NFL has long had a salary cap; the NHL |
| This year in the NFL, where even the Wild Card | | | | has just instituted one; and MLB has created a |
| teams sported a .688 winning percentage, the Kansas | | | | half-hearted attempt at one. The theory behind an |
| City Chiefs were left out of the post-season | | | | effective salary cap, such as the type the NFL and |
| tournament after going 10-6 (.625). Major League | | | | NHL have instituted, is that when teams are allowed |
| Baseball saw the San Diego Padres win their division | | | | to only spend a certain amount of money they will |
| and earn a 2005 playoff berth with a .506 winning | | | | be forced to spend it wisely--doing their best to build |
| mark, but they were an anomaly. This season all | | | | a competitive team. The other way a salary cap |
| other MLB playoff teams won 90 or more of the 162 | | | | works is that it prohibits one or two teams from |
| games they played. Over the past five years 98% | | | | paying exorbitant amounts of money to hire all of |
| of the baseball teams that have been playoff bound | | | | the stars, thus leveling the playing field. (This is why |
| have won 90 (.556) or more games and none have | | | | the MLB salary cap doesn't really work; it doesn't do |
| had losing records. The NBA is different. | | | | this and is not a true cap. It's more of a salary visor.) |
| In the 2003-04 NBA Playoffs four of the eight | | | | Now this may surprise you-- the NBA also has a |
| Eastern Conference teams that had the honor of | | | | salary cap. This year it's set at $49.5 million per team. |
| making the second season earned records of .500 or | | | | However the NBA has a "soft" cap, a headband |
| below. In the Atlantic Division, the 8th seed Boston | | | | really, which translates into numerous loopholes |
| Celtics, one of the most winning franchises in | | | | allowing clubs to still break the bank when it comes |
| professional sports history, touted a 36-46 (.439) | | | | to salaries. |
| record as they headed into the playoffs. At 39-43 | | | | Because of how it can be manipulated, the soft cap |
| (.476) the New York Knicks weren't much better. In | | | | does very little to control spending. This can have |
| the Central Division, New Orleans and Milwaukee, 5th | | | | some disastrous results for teams and the league. |
| and 6th seeds respectively, finished at .500. | | | | Some teams capture that one star player with a |
| The next year no sub-500 teams were in the | | | | huge multi-year deal but then, because of their own |
| tournament but New Jersey, the 7th seed with a | | | | budget limits, can't afford to support him with |
| 43-39 (.524) mark, and Philadelphia, the 8th seed | | | | role-players. And if that primary guy suffers a season |
| compiling a 42-40 (.521) record, were marginal. This | | | | ending injury, the entire team's season is over. |
| year, as we approach the mid-way point of the | | | | Others with the deepest pockets find their way |
| professional hoop season, it's clear that there's a | | | | around the cap and scoop up two or three hallmark |
| good chance that as many as four sub-500 | | | | names, while teams with small bankrolls don't have |
| teams--25% of the playoff mix--will be shooting | | | | the power to attract the best talent. Then there are |
| threes and banging the boards in the post-season. | | | | the organizations that spend money on young talent |
| The Milwaukee Bucks, the current 6th seed, are 19- | | | | and that talent just doesn't pan out. If a player has a |
| 18 (.514); the Philadelphia 76ers, which hold the 7th | | | | big contract and he's not performing, he's impossible |
| seed, are 18-20 (.474); and the Washington Wizards, | | | | to trade, and he still has to be paid. |
| the potential 8th seed are 17-20 (.459). Washington | | | | The fact is a salary cap is intended to negate exactly |
| will probably have some stiff competition for that | | | | what is happening in the NBA; a soft cap is designed |
| final Eastern Conference position from the 16-22 | | | | to simply get around the basic provisions and |
| Chicago Bulls, the 15-23 Boston Celtics, and the 14-22 | | | | safeguards a salary cap offers. |
| Orlando Magic. | | | | The final result is an imbalance of power, which |
| Although the Western Conference has traditionally | | | | means you may have 16 playoff positions but you |
| been exempt from this dilemma, this year is different. | | | | really only have 12 playoff teams. The last three or |
| The current 8th seed, the Utah Jazz, is one game | | | | four slots are filled by non-competitive teams just |
| above .500 and there are at least three other | | | | because the spaces are there. |
| teams--Minnesota, Golden State, and New Orleans | | | | This year if the Celtics or the Sixers or the Jazz or |
| Oklahoma City-- with more losses than wins that are | | | | any of the other clubs hovering around .500 make |
| in contention for that spot. | | | | the post-season will anyone consider them worthy of |
| Certainly a system that's geared towards making the | | | | being potential NBA champions? There's one of two |
| league competitive has its benefits to owners, | | | | possible solutions for the NBA--a real salary cap or |
| players, and fans. While teams continue to stay in the | | | | going to a 12-team playoff scenario. |