Contraction, not expansion, please

You'd have to be blind to not notice that the NBA's popularity is diminishing (domestically) at a sad rate.

Everybody has their own opinion why, but the problem with the NBA comes right down to expanding an already fundamentally poor product.

Some say it's because this generation of NBA players lacks that iconic Michael Jordan-like figure that makes millions in advertising deals and, well, puts butt in the arena seats.

Others say it's the selfish, one-on-one play that has become increasingly apparent in recent years.

Those basketball fans yearn for the ol'days when basketball was team basketball.

Larry Bird thinks its because the NBA doesn't have enough "white guys" in the league, who are identifiable to the majority of basketball fans -- who for the most part happen to also be white.

What do I think? I think that the quality of basketball is not what it used to be.

While NBA commissioner David Stern expands the league with the addition of the Charlotte Bobcats, and dreams about expanding to -- -- Europe, the quality of the basketball being played on his courts is dwindling.

We're in an era where young kids are practicing windmill dunks instead of 15-foot jumpers.

We're in an era where young prospects are skipping college (where they would've fine tune their game and learn the little things) to prematurely enter the NBA.

We're in an era where young men are becoming great athletes, not necessarily great basketball players.

Because of this new era, the NBA doesn't have as many good basketball players as they used to.

Good basketball players can not only shoot, but also pass, rebound, and make their teammates better, not dunk from the foul line.

Subsequently, because of the NBA's lack of good players, the level of basketball has dropped. So, why are we expanding?

I don't really get it. oh wait I do: the almighty dollar. A new team in Charlotte means revenue from yet another city on the map. But wait.

If the level of basketball being played keeps exponentially decreasing, wouldn't some fans turn around and walk away?

Many already have.

Nobody wants to spend 50 bucks on a ticket and watch an 88-79 brick-fest.

Remember when teams used to put up 100 points nightly?

It isn't better defense, folks. Don't let the NBA fool you.

It's worse offense. Much worse.

My solution? Screw the Bobcats (what an awful name for a team, by the way), tell them to take a hike.

Hell, tell a couple of other NBA teams to take off too.

For the sake of interest, let's take the Raptors in the East and the Clippers out West and take those 24 or so players, and have a Contraction Draft -- worst team gets the No. 1 pick, and so forth.

It'd be the end of the road for some benchwarmers who shall remain nameless, but so what?

They've made their money, go teach college basketball somewhere.

The end result would be a 27-team league that would be more talented, resulting in more entertaining games, and thus, a more entertaining NBA product!

Hmm, how easy was that.

Screw expansion. Bigger is not necessarily better all the time.

In the NBA, it's definitely not better.