NBA最近宣布了一个全新的G联赛，不仅有新的球队，而且还有一个扩大的展示杯——这几乎证实了《体育报》Shams Charania的最初报告，即联盟仍在认真讨论赛季中期锦标赛的想法。
现在，随着官方发布的G联赛展示杯的新形式的详细说明，我们对正在讨论的内容有了更清晰的了解，因为G联赛经常被用作后来改变NBA的试验场：
“联盟的29支球队和NBA G league Ignite将分为四个区域吊舱，他们将在NBA G league市场上进行12场比赛。每个区域吊舱中获胜率最高的球队，以及联盟中获胜率最高的接下来四支球队，将晋级争夺Sho在NBA G联赛冬季展示赛期间，wcase杯在一次淘汰赛中举行。”
专员亚当·西尔弗（Adam Silver）长期以来一直是这一想法的拥护者，据报道，这一想法的灵感来自联盟对国际足球联赛形式的观察，现在又因比赛的成功而重新点燃。这项计划仍然需要NBPA和NBA 30支球队中至少三分之二的球队的支持。
它在足球中的作用
大多数国家足球联赛由20支球队组成，每支球队每个赛季参加38场联赛。然而，这些联赛通常不包括季后赛阶段。他们“常规赛”的最佳记录是当年的联赛冠军。
这是锦标赛式比赛如此吸引球迷和球员的主要原因之一。它创造了一种不同类型的竞争，基于吸引对手和在每一轮面临淘汰。
NicolòCampo/LightRocket通过Getty Images拍摄
比赛成功的地方在于全年创造不同水平的比赛。淘汰赛可以让一月份的常规周三比一个随机的常规赛更接近一个赛季的关键时刻——就像季后赛一样。这反过来会产生参与度、内容，并最终产生更多的资金。
说到钱，足球比赛中的现金奖品并不是冠军独有的。所有晋级的球队都会获得奖金，每轮奖金都会增加，这让俱乐部对每一轮都感兴趣，即使他们最终没有赢得全部奖金。
缺点
当你将这种模式与NBA进行比较时，差别是显而易见的，很多让足球的理念起作用的东西都消失了。NBA球迷已经习惯了一个既定的常规赛，被用作“淘汰赛阶段”——季后赛的资格赛。你已经在一场比赛中混合了这两种类型的比赛，著名的“两全其美”，胜利者是无可争议的冠军。
增加赛季中期比赛可能会给球迷参与带来困难——你要么必须跟踪你的球队今天要参加的比赛；或者你追踪哪个常规赛比赛对锦标赛有影响。作为一个WNBA和一个足球迷，这两种形式都可能令人困惑。
Barry Gossage/NBAE通过Getty Images拍摄的照片
此外，球员和老板有着截然不同的担忧。一方面，球员们会担心自己身体的磨损，一些球员规定明星们可以选择不参加新的锦标赛。提案中包括了新的78场常规赛赛程，但这仍然意味着季后赛前总共有超过82场比赛，特别是对于那些在赛季中期联赛中取得进步的球队。
另一方面，对于那些没有进入淘汰赛阶段的球队，老板们——特别是在大市场——担心那些输掉的比赛会对他们的收入产生影响。
联盟似乎试图通过补偿来解决球员和老板的问题。他们现在不仅在讨论优胜者的个性化现金价格，而且在过去还讨论了增加选秀权作为奖品。
好的一面
作为这个想法的长期支持者，联盟希望在冗长的NBA常规赛中加入不同程度的香料。他们知道赛季中期的比赛对一个普通球迷来说意义不大，并且似乎相信增加比赛元素可以吸引这些人，并在一年中的某个时间重新激发联盟的活力，有些人认为这会拖得太久。
很难反驳这一点。三月疯狂的成功只是一个例子。我们都听说过——作为菲尼克斯太阳队的球迷，十年来第一次看到了——季后赛的能量和水平是多么的不同。这是无法描述的，只是不同而已。这真是太有趣了。
Christian Petersen/Getty Images摄
我并不是说赛季中期的比赛会带来同样程度的兴奋，但如果NBA能找到一种方法在2月份至少复制其中的一部分，人们就不会有太多的抱怨了。
投票
原标题：
What would NBA mid-season tournament look like?
原文：
The NBA recently announced a renovated G-league, not only with new teams, but with an expanded Showcase Cup - all but confirming the initial report by Shams Charania from the Athletic that the league is still seriously discussing a mid-season tournament idea.
The NBA is discussing having an in-season tournament in future seasons, with $1 million per player in prize money, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. The concept was discussed on a Competition Committee call today.
— Shams Charania September 13, 2021
Now, with the new format for the G-League Showcase Cup detailed in the official release, we have a much clearer picture of what is being discussed, as the G-League is often used as testing grounds for later changes to NBA:
“The league’s 29 teams and NBA G League Ignite will be separated into four regional pods, where they will play 12 games against one another in NBA G League markets. The teams with the best winning-percentage in each regional pod, along with the next four teams across the league with the best win-percentages, will advance to compete for the Showcase Cup in a single-elimination tournament during the NBA G League Winter Showcase.”
Commissioner Adam Silver has been a long time champion of the idea, reportedly inspired by the league’s observation of international soccer league formats and now reignited by the success of the play-in tournament. The initiative would still need backing from both the NBPA and at least two thirds of the NBA’s 30 teams.
How it works in soccer
Most national soccer leagues are composed by 20 teams and each team plays 38 league games per season. However, these leagues usually do not include a playoff stage. The best record in their “regular season” is that year’s league champion.
That is one of the main reasons a tournament style competition is so appealing to fans and players. It creates a different type of competition, based on drawing opponents and the facing elimination in every round.
Photo by Nicolò Campo/LightRocket via Getty Images
What the tournament successfully does is create different levels of competition throughout the year. Elimination games can make a regular Wednesday in January feel much closer to a season defining moment - like a playoff game - than a random regular season one. This, in turn, generates engagement, content and, ultimately, more money.
Speaking of money, the cash prizes in soccer are not exclusive to the champion. All teams that advance a stage get a prize, which is increased at every round, making each round interesting for the clubs, even if they end up not winning it all.
The Drawbacks
When you compare that format to the NBA, the differences are clear and a lot of what makes the idea work for soccer is lost. NBA fans are already used to an established regular season being used as a qualifier for the “knock-out stages” - the Playoffs. You already have mixed both types of competition in one single tournament, the famous “best-of-both worlds”, and the winner is the undisputed champion.
Adding a mid-season tournament may create difficulties for fan engagement - you either have to track which competition your team is playing for today ; or you track which of the regular season games count for the tournament . Being a WNBA and a Soccer fan myself, both formats can be confusing.
Photo by Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images
Additionally, players and owners have very different and opposing concerns. On one side, players would worry with the wear and tear on their body, and some stipulate stars could choose to sit-out those new tournament games. Proposals have included a new 78 regular season schedule, but that would still mean a total greater than 82 games played before the playoffs, especially for teams that advance in the mid-season tournament.
On the other hand, for the teams that don’t make it to the knock-out stages, owners - especially in big markets- worry about the impact those lost games will have on their gate revenues.
The league seems to try to solve players and owners issues with compensation. Not only they are now discussing individualized cash prices for the winning players, but it has also discussed adding draft picks as prizes in the past.
The Bright Side
Being a long time proponent of the idea, the league is looking to add that different level of spice into the long winded NBA regular season. They knows that a middle of the season game can mean very little to a casual fan, and seems to believe that adding competition elements could entice those people and reenergize the league in a time of the year that some think can drag on for way too long.
It’s hard to argue against that. The success of March madness is only one example. We all have heard - and, as Phoenix Suns fans, now have seen for the first time in a decade - how different the energy and level of play in the playoffs can be. It’s impossible to describe, it’s just different. And it is SO MUCH FUN.
Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images
I’m not saying a mid-season tournament would bring the same level of excitement, but if the NBA can find a way to replicate at least some of that in February, people would not have much to complain about.
How do you feel about it? Would it be a waste of time on a meaningless competition? Or would it be an interesting way to bring a little of that playoff feeling to an earlier part of the year?
Poll How do you feel about a mid-season tournament in the NBA? No way! Waste of everyone’s time. Playoff feels early?! Bring it on! I don’t care either way... vote view results 50% No way! Waste of everyone’s time. 33% Playoff feels early?! Bring it on! 17% I don’t care either way... 100 votes total Vote Now