The NBA over the last two weeks has "informally surveyed team higher-ups about the idea of cutting the preseason schedule by as much as half," according to sources cited by Zach Lowe of GRANTLAND. Sources said that the "goal is to start the regular season earlier and stretch the full 82-game schedule over about 10 additional days." That would "allow the league to slice off a couple of back-to-backs from each team’s schedule, and in the process limit some of the rest imbalance that is inevitable in juggling hundreds of games across 29 arenas." The league is "searching for small ways to get players more rest, and to reduce general wear and tear, without cutting games from the regular-season schedule." Going down from 82 games would "work as a magic bullet for a lot of the league’s structural issues, but it’s a nonstarter today given the potential reduction in revenue." The league is hoping that a "few tweaks, including a shortened preseason and an extended All-Star break, will add up to something meaningful." Sources said that any change in the number of preseason games "would likely not take place" until the '16-17 season "at the earliest." Revenue from preseason games "goes into the pool that owners and players split, but the league may not have to negotiate any reduction in the preseason schedule with players; the collective bargaining agreement merely calls for 'up to eight' exhibition games ahead of the regular season" (GRANTLAND.com, 12/11).
UNIVERSAL APPEAL: The AP's Tales Azzoni reported the NBA has "reached a commercial partnership" with Brazil's National Basketball League, "taking over its marketing, advertising and licensing deals." The deal, announced Thursday, is "expected to give a huge boost to the sport in Brazil and should help the NBA continue expanding its presence in the South American nation of more than 200 million people." Brazilian basketball officials said that the partnership is the "first of its kind for a sports league in Brazil." NBA Managing Dir in Brazil Arnon de Mello: "Basketball is very popular in Brazil and one of the fastest-growing sports in the country." Azzoni noted a few NBA execs "were in Sao Paulo for the official announcement" (AP, 12/11).
