Is this the worst year ever?

[CHris902]

I only really followed the ABA last year when the Rainmen joined, but for those of you tracking this gong show over several years I have a question:
Is this the worst year in the history of the league? If not, which year was?

[nhamilton88]

Thats a great question because quite frankly, EVERY year has been terrible. Last year was the worst though IMO, with record cancellations.

[LightningMan]

Thats a great question because quite frankly, EVERY year has been terrible. Last year was the worst though IMO, with record cancellations.
And that's the thing: because last year was measurably demonstrably terrible, it seems the league has gone to great pains this year to not be measurable. No one can say with any accuracy how many of their games weren't actually played this year. The shuffle between active and inactive could find them ending the year with the same number of teams that started for once, although not the same teams.

This year should show even the most blind the true nature of the ABA. And yet some will still participate in this league next year.

[formerlyknownasfells]

And that's the thing: because last year was measurably demonstrably terrible, it seems the league has gone to great pains this year to not be measurable. No one can say with any accuracy how many of their games weren't actually played this year. The shuffle between active and inactive could find them ending the year with the same number of teams that started for once, although not the same teams.

This year should show even the most blind the true nature of the ABA. And yet some will still participate in this league next year.

How can we actually tell when the league doesn't post teams that leave, they simply move them to another year? No stats, no schedule, no standings, so this is par for the course.

[preeths]

And that's the thing: because last year was measurably demonstrably terrible, it seems the league has gone to great pains this year to not be measurable. No one can say with any accuracy how many of their games weren't actually played this year. The shuffle between active and inactive could find them ending the year with the same number of teams that started for once, although not the same teams.

This year should show even the most blind the true nature of the ABA. And yet some will still participate in this league next year.

Good point about the ABA not being measurable this year. That's one of the reasons I think this season might beat out the last as the ABA's worst. How can a professional league be unable to put together a schedule? That's the heart of your league. While this season has seen its share of canceled games, folding teams, replacement squads and general lack of information, the missing schedule is what helps this season edge out last as the ABA's worst.

[ABARedWhiteBlue]

Of course, comparing ABA seasons to determine the worst is similar to choosing the shortest midget, or the least-odiforous landfill.

Even the better ones don't measure up very well, or they still stink...

[Pounder]

If a league (or even a leaque) has no scheduled games, is it even a league or leaque?

Rec leagues ARE leagues, generally. This outfit has descended into a carefully concealed set of exhibitions. Nothing more. Plenty less, more often than not.

It doesn't exist. It's already dead... or the toothless, feckless, ugly vampire I mentioned in another thread.

I will recognize that Preeths keeps this board because it generates traffic. It's now ABA-brand candy (definitely one of those sour flavors) and is in no way related to a basketball discussion.

[CHris902]

Last year was the worst though IMO, with record cancellations.
Aside from the fact that last year actually had a schedule so games could be canceled, I feel like as bad as last year was, this year is worse.
At least last season there was one stable region (the North East) that had six teams playing against each other with most of the games actually happening and four of those markets getting actual media coverage. The California teams actually got a fair number of their games played as well. This year I don't feel like there is anywhere where games are really happening in the ABA.

[Sam Hill]

This actually does seem to be the worst year. But they've all been bad in various ways. The first one was probably the least bad of them all.

[The Magician]

If a league (or even a leaque) has no scheduled games, is it even a league or leaque?

Rec leagues ARE leagues, generally. This outfit has descended into a carefully concealed set of exhibitions. Nothing more. Plenty less, more often than not.

It doesn't exist. It's already dead ... or the toothless, feckless, ugly vampire I mentioned in another thread.

I will recognize that Preeths keeps this board because it generates traffic. It's now ABA-brand candy (definitely one of those sour flavors) and is in no way related to a basketball discussion.

Pounder is right ... The ABA is DEAD!