The Design Game

016: The NBA and Length of Seasons

The NBA is back! David and Justin discuss their love for basketball and the recent discussion around potentially shortening the season and the game. They also touch on the speed of sports, World Series uniforms, and the NBA on TNT crew.

Topics discussed in this episode:

0:20: The NBA returns, LeBron in Cleveland, and Rondo in Boston (for now)
- Potential new Cavs uniforms
- Rondo loves Connect Four
5:04: World Series recap, MLB and NBA length of games and seasons
- Trend of longer baseball games: USA Today and The Boston Globe
- The NBA’s instant replay command center
- Arizona Fall League pace of game changes
- Celts/Nets 44-minute game
- The NBA’s partnership with Brazil
29:15: TNT and ESPN’s NBA broadcasts
34:20: More season length talk, MLB unis, and Mayor Menino

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015: Broadcast Graphics and Clutch

David and Justin discuss the new Fox Box, especially the excellent exchange around design and outs per Jason Snell’s recent post. They also talk about the history and evolution of on-screen graphics, and the argument for and against “clutch.” Plus, a few minutes on the retiring Derek Jeter.

Topics discussed in this episode:

0:20: Recapping the Ryder Cup
- Results
- Team sweaters
4:55: MLB on-screen graphics, Fox, history, and evolution
33:27: Important broadcast information and the meaning of “clutch”
51:15: Wrap-up and Derek Jeter

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Quick Hitter: The FedEx Cup

More golf talk! After the Ryder Cup discussion, David & Justin briefly recapped this year’s FedEx Cup Playoffs and potential changes to its structure.

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014: The Ryder Cup

We discuss Justin’s favorite sporting event (!!!) and Team USA’s uniforms. We also talk about the Ryder Cup format, ways to improve it, and how we think Team USA will perform.

Topics discussed in this episode:

0:22: Commuting, reading, and bags
- Dennis Lehane
- Tom Bihn
3:48: Justin’s love of team golf and the 2014 Ryder Cup unis
18:15: Ryder Cup primer, Tiger Woods, and Jack Nicklaus
- Tiger Woods majors
- Format
34:30: Potential format changes and family golf
43:42: The venue, Team USA’s chances, and the Presidents Cup
- Gleneagles Club
- History of the matches
- 2014 teams: USA and Europe
- Presidents Cup

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013: Team USA Hoops & International Sports

We discuss the FIBA World Cup of Basketball and Team USA’s uniforms, the structure of the tournament, and international sports as a whole. We also touch on the US Open, Nike, the Ryder Cup, The Simpsons, and a few new things in our lives.

Topics discussed in this episode:

0:20: New digs, new gigs, and commuter travel
- MBTA
3:18: Tennis and Nike
16:09: Team USA hoops
- FIBA
- Home and road unis
20:10: FIBA, World Cup vs Olympics, and alternate formats for international sports
35:00: NBA schedule
- ESPN: Stern considering a shortened schedule
- ESPN: Why is there an 82-game schedule?
43:35: Team USA’s chances in the FIBA World Cup
46:30: Justin breaks 80, The Simpsons marathon

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