The NBA Finals Are Boring, These Two Ideas Might Actually Be Worth Watching

As the NBA’s inferior conference determines whether its third- or fourth-best team will be sent to the slaughter, basketball fans without Caitlin Clark for a couple of weeks pray for some sort of entertainment in the Finals.

I’ve identified a couple of sources with some potential — neither of which will be promoting the New York suburbs or something called “Cers” across their warmups.

A Boat Race Beginning

Wannabe NBA saviors seem fascinated by something called the “Elam Ending,” in which a point total, rather than a clock, determines the game’s end. First one to, say, 120 wins — just like when we played “21” as kids.

One of the advantages, those who have rekindled the idea this month boast, is that it would prevent teams that are winning from intentionally fouling the opponent to prevent 3-point shot attempts down the stretch of a close game. Frankly, in “21” terms, it’s more bust than blackjack.

But a “Boat Race Beginning,” on the other hand, might be just what the doctor ordered for blowout pairings in a Super Bowl, Novak Djokovic tennis match or NBA Finals — the latter of which is now staring us in the face.

Under the basketball version of this scenario, the teams would play four times — twice at each site — using cumulative score to determine the champion. The weaker of the two teams would tip off Game 1 with a certain number of points — a handicap, if you will — to help the matchup eventually become competitive.

This is a time-tested method of allowing Charles Barkley to possibly win a bet against Tiger Woods on the golf course. It would have been nice if applied to last year’s romp by the Celtics, and it’s definitely needed to make this year’s matchup interesting.

One of the many advantages a “Boat Race Beginning” has is that it minimizes the intentional-foul issue that has prevented some potentially exciting finishes in this year’s playoffs. There would be no reason to foul with time winding down in the first three games of the series, as the goal would be — as it should be — to keep the opponent as far behind as possible.

The PGA Tour tried this at its season-ending championship but couldn’t get the handicaps right, so it has scrapped the idea. In related news, Scottie Scheffler has announced he’d like to be the next NBA commissioner.

I say: Give the Pacers or Knicks a 34-point head start in a four-game series and you’d generate far more excitement than what ABC is going to pretend exists.

If only the concept had a catchier name.

An Alumni Game

General manager Sam Presti is getting Gregg Popovich levels of praise for being the mastermind behind this still-developing Thunder monster. But as with Pop, who is accused of tanking in order to create a David Robinson–Tim Duncan pairing from which a dynasty hatched, there are those who downplay Presti’s achievement, noting:

For crying out loud, Elgin Baylor could have flipped Kevin Durant, James Harden and Russell Westbrook into a superpower.

And let’s not forget Paul George, Chris Paul and Domantas Sabonis.

Oh yeah, also Al Horford, Josh Giddey, Jerami Grant, Steven Adams, Jeff Green …

You catch the drift. It’s hard to imagine one franchise had all those players at some point. And now it has none.

But look at what the treasure chest and Presti’s creativity have created.

The question is: Who’s better … today’s Thunder or yesterday’s Thunder?

Wouldn’t OKC vs. its alumni make for a fascinating game? Even a series?

Without question, the used-to-be-SuperSonics have the most impressive collection of active alumni in the NBA. Imagine …

Durant matching up with Chet Holmgren. And vice versa. The modern-day mold for the stretch four standing as a mirror image with the position’s future.

Westbrook getting another shot at Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. The MVP had to overcome 18-point and five-turnover games to survive their first set of head-to-heads earlier this month.

The masterful Paul dealing with the Thunder’s defensive pressure. Harden and George shooting over it. Sabonis, Horford and Green dominating the inside. And even Adams off the bench if Isaiah Hartenstein starts pushing guys around.

Not to mention Giddey, Grant, Ty Jerome, Dennis Schroder, Doug McDermott and Cameron Payne having the potential to take on prominent roles when Durant, Paul and George suffer their inevitable injuries.

Even with retired alums Kendrick Perkins and Carmelo Anthony serving as co-coaches — sorry, P.J.; you can announce it — a one-game, winner-take-all might need a “Boat Race Beginning” in order for Shai and the gang to compete.

But over seven games? Pure magic.

All games in America’s heartland, where the crowd … dare we say there would be a split allegiance? Even a small slice of nostalgia lovers? Hey, Thunder fans still like some of these guys. Just not Durant.

Definitely not Durant.

At the same time, you gotta believe these banished superstars would enjoy a shot at exacting at least a small measure of revenge … before informing Thunder fans: Heck no, I’m not repping your ugly jersey at my Hall of Fame ceremony.

And maybe we throw Westbrook, Harden or Paul a bone — that elusive championship ring — if they win.

In the end, with Durant, George and Paul watching, it would be the Thunder in seven. A ratings multiplier greater than even Taylor Swift performing as a curtain-raiser.

Or maybe we save this for All-Star Weekend. Without the “Elam Ending.”