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Drifting and dreaming on too many airplanes with too much time on my hands, I believe this year's NBA season would be much better if ...
Players and coaches (especially in Sacramento) stop whining and complaining to the refs -- some things are against the rules.
Rick Barry gets the head coaching or front office position that he deserves.
|  | | Yao Ming has faced Tim Duncan, far right, but playing Shaq will be entirely different. |
More players like Yao Ming who say they want to play against Shaq.
Jeff Van Gundy came back. I was pondering his disappearance late one summer night leaving a Bob Dylan show in Grand Junction, Colo. I was crossing the Big River Bridge and there it was … "Van Gundy Junkyard." I hope he's OK.
That all of the other teams and players would stop sprinkling rose petals in front of the Lakers as they dance their way to another championship.
People would stop criticizing Phil Jackson's coaching style and substance. What has he done so wrong? Who wouldn't want to play for him?
More players would realize the fun and importance of interacting with the fans who give them the greatest life that anyone could ever hope for.
Every fan could see an NBA game at Arco Arena and the Fleet Center.
Larry Bird would get back to work. Retire at 45? How sad.
Rasheed Wallace, Kevin Garnett and Tim Duncan would wake up and realize that they are centers. Forget the perimeter. Men are made in the paint in this league. Bob McAdoo and Dave Cowens, two players with outside games, never shirked their inside responsibilities or ran and hid from Wilt and Kareem.
Players would not speak of themselves in the third person.
All rules regarding illegal defenses would be eliminated.
Tracy McGrady became the NBA's MVP based on defense, leadership by example and consistency.
All NBA teams would emulate the Sacramento Kings' pre-game ritual of mingling with the fans courtside during the early game-day workout sessions.
The players would not prop up their infant children on the podium at postgame press conferences.
Pat Croce would get back into the league where he belongs.
The Orlando Magic would develop players instead of trading them away.
Atlanta, Chicago, Phoenix, New York and Golden State would rejoin the league. Those are fun places to go.
Trades would be made for basketball reasons instead of financial reasons.
The injured list was abolished. Allow a 15-man roster with a three-man taxi/practice squad.
The talk of the preseason was about more than who the 12th man will be.
The first round of the playoffs was best-of-seven.
|  | | Be glad that Michael Jordan is still in an NBA uniform, folks. |
People will stop trying to get Michael Jordan to retire. How can that be a good thing?
Nobody would get arrested for domestic violence, illegal substances and guns.
We treasure and respect John Stockton, Karl Malone and Jerry Sloan while we still have them.
That George Karl regains his senses.
Shawn Kemp finds his true calling: giving financial seminars.
Charles Oakley gets his own talk show.
Every player in the league has more assists than he had last year.
Shooting percentages rise.
There were more owners with the enthusiasm of the Maloof Brothers and Mark Cuban.
Don Chaney catches a break.
Vin Baker gets in shape and acts like he cares.
Gary Payton gets it together before it's too late.
David Robinson gets the respect he deserves.
We put an end to the use of the word "foreign." How about "international" players instead?
There was more air time for Danny Ainge.
Tom Tolbert wore a tie.
Allen Iverson realizes that practice is fun and that all this won't last forever.
Pat Riley gets a truly great player again.
Don Nelson gets a real big man. Jerry Sloan, too.
Jason Kidd learns how to shoot.
The uniforms fit.
|  | | Doug Christie didn't need a signal to tell his wife he was bummed in the Game 7 loss to L.A. |
Doug Christie thought about the game and making shots rather than sending hand signals to his wife during live action. The game is only two hours out of a 24-hour day, Doug.
Rookie orientation were held in conjunction with the Hall of Fame induction ceremonies.
The draft excluded all playoff teams.
Players checked into the game already dressed and ready to go.
There were more players with the attitude, intelligence, interests and personality of Shane Battier.
There were more fastbreak, up-tempo games. 71-68 should be the halftime score.
Coaches sat down during live action.
Michael Olowokandi played ball for more than two months of a four-year contract before asking for his $80 million dollars.
We could hear one more game from Chick Hearn.
Above all, I believe the NBA would be much better if there were a shorter offseason.
Bill Walton, who covers the NBA, is an analyst for ESPN.
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