and then there are 8....soon to be none

[BasketballUSA]

Lets face facts, CBA cant make it. The emperor has no clothes ( or money ).
The put out a positive spin but when there is no money, there is no league.
They do have one chance to survive, move Albany to Northwest of country, pittsburg will fold soon, and Have the NWBA, northwest basketball Association. Sooner or later the D-league will figure out its purpose in life and the NBA will use it as it should. Which at this point, believe it or not leaves the ABA standing, and you have to admit it, they are finally getting there act together. So stay tuned as the basketball world turns.......... The remaining "inactive" CBA teams will never come to exist as some of the ABA teams never had a chance. The IBL is the old boy beer league and the USBL is playground ball ( with some good players). Face the music, the shake-out of minor league basketball happens this year. The NBDL is the future...and I think the NBA GMs are starting to get the hang of it, they just have to move to bigger cities and get out of the South west. Look at the LA lakers...they have figured it out, One major league team to one minor league team. The NBDL will scoop up the better cities in the ABA and CBA and its a done deal.

[psbf]

With all due respect, Basketball USA, you are entitled to your opinion. I admit that it looks bleak for the CBA with only 8 teams now. But I refuse to judge before the season begins.
I was surprised when the Xplosion changed leagues, but I refuse to believe that we will fold. I still feel we would have been better off remaining in the ABA, despite the better fan response after we switched leagues. But I will support this team no matter what league we play in. I'm glad we have another pro team(Xplosion) and I'll do what I can to make sure they have a future in the Pittsburgh sports scene. I would like to think that this league will grow with expansion in the future. I just wonder if you will admit you were wrong, if this league does grow and the Xplosion grow in fan base?

[Chuck the Writer]

Lets face facts, CBA cant make it. The emperor has no clothes ( or money ).
The put out a positive spin but when there is no money, there is no league.

I hate to say this, but your opinion lacks basis in facts. So two teams who were not prepared to start the season decide to sit a year, what would you rather they played, have teams arrive at cities to find out there's no place to play or that the team folds in season? Better that the franchises spend a year and get all their ducks in a row for 2007-08. Albany was announced at the beginning of the 2004-05 season, and they spent a year getting all their plans together for a successful 2005-06 campaign.

They do have one chance to survive, move Albany to Northwest of country,

Another faulty assumption. Why should Albany, which owns the 3,500 seat building it plays in, a building that receives revenue from not only the Patroons, but also from concerts and trade shows, move away?

pittsburg will fold soon

Another faulty assumption. I'm sure that the Xplosion will have solid marketing and will be a jewel in the league.

Sooner or later the D-league will figure out its purpose in life and the NBA will use it as it should.

Or sooner or later the NBA will figure out that it makes more sense to have working agreements with BOTH the D-League and the CBA.

Which at this point, believe it or not leaves the ABA standing, and you have to admit it, they are finally getting there act together.

Right. Let me know when that ABA Red White & Blue concert is going to take place.

The remaining "inactive" CBA teams will never come to exist as some of the ABA teams never had a chance.

Misassumption based on future events not proven.

The IBL is the old boy beer league and the USBL is playground ball ( with some good players).

Man, is there any league you like? Should we set up a STASIS Pro league for you?

Face the music, the shake-out of minor league basketball happens this year. The NBDL is the future...and I think the NBA GMs are starting to get the hang of it, they just have to move to bigger cities and get out of the South west.

Yeah, because the NBA's franchises in Atlanta, Miami, Orlando, Memphis, New Orleans and Charlotte could NEVER survive in the southwest...

Look at the LA lakers...they have figured it out, One major league team to one minor league team. The NBDL will scoop up the better cities in the ABA and CBA and its a done deal.

Again, facts not in evidence. The difference between the D-League of 2005-06 and the D-League of previous years is that the new NBA collective bargaining agreement allows the NBA to send young players down to D-League teams and pull them back up whenever needed. That was not so easy to accomplish in previous seasons, when the NBA had drafted so many high school kids and undergraduates and kept them on NBA benches because the collective bargaining agreement wouldn't allow the players to be sent down to a minor league.

As for the CBA, better to have eight strong teams that will complete this season and future seasons, than to have 58 franchises, of which maybe 30 might finish the year with the majority of their games being played.

[BasketballUSA]

So lets wait it out and see..... tick tick tick, time is running. Basic fact, you annouce new franchises only to have them "decide" not play after they participated in a "draft", wake up and small the coffee, the D-league is where it will all end. They will be the only legit minor league. You better check Pittsburgs checking account....not much in there. Dont let your emotions stand in the way of facts. The CBA is NOT the same as it was a year ago, look at who is running it will tell you everything, then again, seems you dont know who is, so I understand why you are confused. Dont let your passion of the CBA get in your way to appreciate good basketball, (NBDL) it will be your undoing.

[psbf]

USA, I don't know where you are from, but I'm pretty sure it's not here. I live in Pgh., and I went to almost all the Xplosion home games last season. I saw the growth of their fan base first hand! We have not had a pro Basketball team since the Piranhas so Basketball fans like myself are gratefull to have a team again. I'm looking forward to the coming season.
You can look at the D-League if you want. But don't pick on a city that you know nothing about. The Xplosion are promoting and doing it well. I think they have a bright future. Unlike you, I know what I'm talking about.

[besl]

Dont let your passion of the CBA get in your way to appreciate good basketball, (NBDL) it will be your undoing.

That's the first time I've ever seen "good basketball" and the NBDL used in the same sentence.

[heavesrock]

I agree, NBDL basketball sucks. All the players are in it trying to do it all and make to the NBA(although you really can't blame them). But there is no team basketball, it is horribly slow, and slow basketball without star players is a snooze. Anyway here's my outlook for the CBA. Pittsburgh will thrive, Albany and Yakima will do the same, Minot and Indiana will struggle, Great Falls, Butte, and Utah will fold at years end, to be replaced by new teams who eventually get the hang of it and the CBA will once again be as stable as a minor league basketball league can be. As for the NBDL, I cannot see this having success. The players will eventually be top college draft picks, good for the quality of play, but, the players will demand million dollar deals and the teams won't be able to pay, and the NBA won't want to spend the money. I say the D-League folds around 2010.

[Chuck the Writer]

So lets wait it out and see..... tick tick tick, time is running.

Nice to know you have a watch.

Basic fact, you annouce new franchises only to have them "decide" not play after they participated in a "draft", wake up and small the coffee,

Yes, the Krunk Wolverines and the Dragons participted in the draft. All that means is that the players they drafted are now free agents and can be signed if needed by any of the other eight teams in the league. And better that the Dragons and the Krunk Wolverines sit down and get their houses in order for 07-08 as stronger teams.

the D-league is where it will all end. They will be the only legit minor league.

You are aware that of the eight franchises that started in the D-League 5 years ago, very few of those have survived to today. Yeah, that's a stable league. They had to go poach three CBA teams and a CBA expansion squad just to survive another season.

You better check Pittsburgs checking account....not much in there.

You know, somebody else on this board a long time ago used to boast about knowing people's checking accounts and credit histories... you wouldn't happen to be barkley34/chuck43 sechler would you?

Dont let your emotions stand in the way of facts. The CBA is NOT the same as it was a year ago, look at who is running it will tell you everything, then again, seems you dont know who is, so I understand why you are confused.

Press releases say Dennis Truax is the director of operations. Scuse me a second while I crack open a media guide. Dennis Truax has been the Director of Media Relations and assistant coach with Rockford, he was also the Assistant Director of Basketball for Gary, and coordinated the 2005 CBA All-Star Classic, which drew over 6,600 to the game. From 1999 to 2004, he was the director of public relations for the USBL, and negotiated the USBL's first televised game in 13 seasons, when the 2004 Post-Season Festival was broadcast on NBA TV. The CBA is also run by a board of governors, it has been that way for 60+ years. Next question.

Dont let your passion of the CBA get in your way to appreciate good basketball, (NBDL) it will be your undoing.

Here's the thing - the D-League promotes that its players are called up to the NBA - in actuality, only certain players that are already on NBA rosters are called up. In the CBA, anybody in the league can be called up by any team. If for example the Pistons need a small forward and their D-League team doesn't have any small forwards to their liking, they can sign a small forward from the CBA to a 10-day. Just like the league has done since the late 1970's.

The fact of the matter is - the D-League will survive, the CBA will survive, the ABA will limp toward another season, and then the spring leagues (USBL, WBA, IBL) will play on. Fair and simple.

[sportsguy12]

I think the thing that people forgot is that the D-League was created to develop younger NBA players. The CBA showcases any talent. The Lakers have the idea for how the D-League is supposed to work. Other NBA teams should follow suit in the coming years.

[heavesrock]

The problem with them playing before Laker games in the Staples Center is why would you go to this game? If you can just see the Lakers, why go to see the minor league team. Unless the Lakers are willing to lose a lot of money on this team I don't see it working. :D

[panchess]

..certainly look like they are doing the right things in terms of developing a fan base, involving people such as Frank Layden (who provides instant credibility in Utah), and setting up an organization.

Will it work? We'll see, but I am not seeing the fly-by-night style ownership the ABA is famous for.

[Pounder]

Since I possess the dangerous combination of being a "writing on the wall" guy and a "read between the lines" guy, I tend to give the CBA a year tops. Too many recent moves appear to be out of desperation.

Do keep in mind that you're reading a left-brained guy making a right-brained observation.

In that vein, for B-USA to say that the NBDL is where it's at, I tend to agree- but kind of in a different way. Think of the "tug-o-war" scene in Revenge of the Nerds.

[psbf]

I'm not going to predict the future of the CBA, while having 8 teams is not as good as having 10. But I can understand why, although I feel they should have given the league more advanced notice.
Regardless, I'lll be happy when the season starts. I would be happy if/when the league expands to the mentioned cities. I feel we have a bright Basketball future, here in Pittsburgh. Anyone who says anything less has no idea what they are talking about.
I just take the CBA one season at a time.