The first In-Season Tournament is in the books, and the NBA will tell you it was a success. But that doesn’t necessarily mean it was perfect. 
So perhaps the league will modify things for the second edition. Maybe not, too. Basically, it seems either is an option, based on comments from commissioner Adam Silver.
“I know it doesn’t come without challenges. There’s no doubt there are some things that we are learning this time through,” Silver told reporters in Las Vegas. “I mean, overall, we are thrilled with the interest we’ve seen so far this season. But again, probably people are tired of hearing the word ‘tweak.’ So we’ll come up with another synonym for that.”
NBA teams used special uniforms and colorful courts for this year’s tourney, and it appears that’s likely to continue. But other ideas, again, could be altered.
“I love the court we are using here for the semifinals and final game, but I think there could be some more creativity and set some parameters for the teams,” he said.
“The point-differential issue to break ties was a concept that is well-known in international basketball and FIBA and Olympic competition. I’m not ready necessarily to move away from it, but if ultimately there’s going to be a sense, particularly from our American fans, that somehow it is an indication of poor sportsmanship, that’s not a good idea for us to be doing it. Maybe there are some ways to tweak that where it only matters up to a certain point in terms of point differential.”
Things could also be adjusted to try to help the 22 teams that didn’t qualify for the knockout round, Silver suggested.
“I think the scheduling,” he said of another area for possible improvements, “This doesn’t get as much attention, but it’s something my teams are very focused on. That for the teams that did not advance to the knockout stage, then have to essentially schedule games at the last minute. I want to make sure we are being fair to them, their season-ticket holders.”
“My sense is there’s no question there will be some changes for next year.”
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