Numerous slippery floor incidents at the colorful IST courts are "suddenly putting the league in a horrific spot"Getty Images
The issue surrounding the NBA's special In-Season Tournament courts is "far from an isolated incident," and it is making the league "look particularly bad in this instance," according to Brian Robb of MASSLIVE.com. Several NBA players have “complained about the slickness” of the new unique tournament courts created for all 30 teams for use just on tournament nights. The Mavericks' court was even "taken out of use after a single use due to a 'manufacturing issue.'" The "crazy color schemes on a lot of the courts" have "succeeded to a degree in creating buzz around the tournament in recent weeks as it launched." However, "numerous slippery floor incidents are suddenly putting the league in a horrific spot." The NBA will "look like they are jeopardizing player safety if they don’t pull the plug on these courts soon, especially if the complaints from players continue around the league." What was a "huge expense in creating all 30 new courts on a rushed timetable" seems like a "questionable choice at best." There is "still time left for the tournament to be a success for this year and moving forward." However, it would "behoove the NBA to admit their mistake here and keep this issue from becoming a bigger distraction and safety issue" (MASSLIVE.com, 11/17).
GIVING IT A CHANCE: In N.Y., Mike Vaccaro wrote he decided to "give the NBA In-season tournament a shot" and there are “some fun elements" to it. The courts "have been ridiculed," but "every time you see that crazy court, you know it’s a tournament game." People around the league "seem engaged by it." As the Final Four in Las Vegas approaches, it will be "curious to see if coaches adopt playoff mentality when it comes to rotational use and playing guys with minor injuries who might normally take the night off." Vaccaro: "I’ve been watching. I’m intrigued" (N.Y. POST, 11/18).
