Space is nice, but cash is the baseline

When I watched the first NBA scrimmage, I was struck by just how much room there is around the court without everyone seated there. I had no idea there was that much extra space. I know that those seats are a great source of revenue and the camera operators get great shots from their vantage points, but do you think the league would consider mandating that everyone move back a bit more? I can’t count the number of times I’ve held my breath as a player lands awkwardly on someone’s feet, and I’m hoping that there’s no injury. I know it’s probably wishful thinking, but I wonder if this will highlight the need for extra space, or will the bottom line win on this one?

— Jo

The expanse of space is wonderful — and I know the players appreciate it, because we’ve asked them — and I like that the benches are spread out, because it pained me to watch them all scrunched up. I don’t think things will change, because of the money the courtside and baseline seats generate, but I do think the players association will push hard when it comes time to deconstruct these games to remove all photographers and a row of seats on the baseline to extend the apron at each end.

At first when I saw the schedule for the Raptors, I thought it was almost designed to knock them down a peg, especially compared to the Celtics’ easy schedule. Was there a reason (i.e. strength of schedules prior to suspension)? Is it that the NBA wants the best teams to get to try their stuff against the champs? At the same time, it also crossed my mind it could be a good thing for the Raptors anyway, as they get first-class competition to get them ready for the playoffs. What are your thoughts? — Chris

The idea was to just pick up from the schedule that existed on March 11 and find the next eight games between qualified teams. It was not workable entirely, however, and they made some adjustments. I think the Raptors ended up with the third- or fifth-hardest schedule among the 22 teams with regard to the record of the opponents. But given seeding doesn’t really matter and home-court advantage doesn’t exist, it’s probably better to play better teams in what amounts to an eight-game exhibition schedule.

I’m really enjoying basketball from Orlando. It appears that depending on the arena, the look of the displays of the score, time left and shot clock change. I liked what I saw in one of the games where the shot clock was displayed in the paint at either end, which was helpful. Saturday’s Raps-Lakers without the shot clock was disappointing. I think they’ve done a great job, but wish the display for the home audience could be consistent across the various arenas.

— Brian

There were certainly some minor technical glitches Saturday night and I know they’ll work to iron them out. I presume the difficulties in doing broadcasts from three different arenas with three different production trucks, and likely not the most experienced of crews working, would present all kinds of issues. I think we can give ’em a break three days in, while they get it all sorted, which I bet they will.