BuzzerBeater Forums

Dear Shoei,

As far as our long term objective goes, I can draw many similarities between our teams. I work to have a balanced team, can barely make it past 400k much less 500k every home game and want all my players to retire in my team if possible. I also set aside a tidy sum each season for arena expansion.

While the changes do hit my team as well as yours, perhaps it is time to take a step back and look at why it has been deemed necessary to make the changes. I do not suscribe to the notion that the BBs are making changes for the sake of making changes. Is it because that the BBs have somehow chose to reward those that 'did not pay much attention' and smack us who had long term strategies across the palm? I doubt it.

The changes were made because quite frankly the arenas were getting out of control for bigger teams and younger teams really needed a lot of time and investment to get anywhere up to scratch. Switching a portion of the attendance income allows younger teams to get up to speed faster while addressing the issue of big country/small country competitiveness. Teams from the top leagues in big countries require a huge amount of cash to remain competitive while teams from smaller countries remain competitive with a much lower wage level allowing them to amass a bigger warchest (I mean bank account). The new TV income addresses this issue by adjusting the income according to the level of competitiveness in the league. Therefore, teams from big countries and smaller countries compete at a more level playing field. As compensation, teams from smaller countries will find it easier to make up for the revenue difference by packing in local NT players which will be difficult in bigger countries.

Like you, I got hit with the arena change stick. Then, I got hit with the new TV income stick because being the dominant team in my league, I pack the most superstars and most of the other teams in the league will bring down the TV income average as opposed to being in a league where everyone is of the same level as me.

However, I do understand that the changes were made for the good of the game and were required as balancing mechanisms before things spiralled out of control. When I read the news, I applauded. I love my team. But even though these changes will have a negative effect on my team, I applaud them because they are necessary for the greater good of the game.

Anyhow, if you had invested in your arena earlier, you get to sell anything you over-constructed for a tidy sum now.


** From what I understand, TV contracts will be negotiated during ASW and the rest (Merchandise and attendance) next season, which is season 10.

Who really thinks the BBs makes changes just to mess with us? I sure don´t.

I have no problem understanding the reasons for making these changes and i do think this will help the young teams.

Not so sure i understand about the big country/small country "issue" at all....

"....As compensation, teams from smaller countries will find it easier to make up for the revenue difference by packing in local NT players which will be difficult in bigger countries..."

I´m interested in your reasoning here?

It's good to hear we share positive views on the changes.

Not so sure i understand about the big country/small country "issue" at all....

"....As compensation, teams from smaller countries will find it easier to make up for the revenue difference by packing in local NT players which will be difficult in bigger countries..."

I´m interested in your reasoning here?

Allow me to post an excerpt of BB-Charles post earlier in the thread. You can backtrack for the full details.

Another compromise here comes between big and small countries. I'm sure many of you have strong feelings one way or the other about this; our goal is to keep the game fair between big and small countries, although we recognize that the game can never be identical between them. Adding a TV contract linked to the quality of the league is essential for the financial situation, but runs the risk of leaving smaller countries behind (I'm not worried about big countries that spend less, because as their spending goes up, so will their ability to maintain that budget). In return, smaller countries will be able to more easily have the best players in their nation, so that their merchandising income will help them compete.

Well, still can´t say i get how it should be easier for smaller nations to get their hands on the best players in their nation. That has not been the case so far, the only proper talents i´ve been able to get my hands on from my nation is when i managed to draft them myself.

This season, finally, i might get my hands on someone but with lower potential and skills than i´d like.

As for a properly trained player.....can´t say i´ve seen any i would consider for my team.
Maybe it´ll be easier in 2-3 season when hopefully more developed talents hit the marked. Can´t see how it should be easier than for top teams in larger nations though.

Maybe it's easier for smaller nations beacuse it's not that difficult to be in a higher divison and get it's revenues. Try to be in a second division team in Spain for example... just sayin'...

The thrust of these changes (and the reason I approve of them) is not to reward division I teams as such (which, as I emphasized, they do not necessarily do). It is rather to enforce two of the guiding principles of BB:
1) that promotion must always be a reward (it was getting to the point that a life of victories in Div. II was better long term and short term than a life of mediocrity in Div. I).
2) that there should not be farm teams.

I would like to add one other goal:
3) That it is possible to win without going the New York Yankees / Manchester United route (basically buying victories). If the game engine works, those who truly understand basketball and what is necessary to produce success will win -- and I would argue that does not always mean having the team with the greater salary level winning. I find the challenge of truly building a team, of paying as much attention to my 8th, 9th and 10th players as my starters or assembling a useful coaching staff to be one of the charms of this BuzzerBeater game. I have not yet reached the elevated levels of Div II much less Div I, but I would hope these reforms keep open the possibility of reaching that level with something other than having seven or eight players earning six figure incomes each week.

That said, I hope the new guidelines -- especially the national character of teams -- are constructed as judiciously as the rest of the game. I can understand the reality of people liking to see local / national heroes, but I do not think that in this day and age this trumps winning. Fans like to see winners. Period. My squad looks like a cross section of the United Nations, but we have won. If I get a reduced TV contract because I have a motley crew of different nationalities without a $100,000 superstar and ignores that the fact that my team has gone something like 43 - 6 over the past two seasons, then I would think that was wrong.

But let us see how the Brain Trust has worked before we reach any conclusions. I think they know what they are doing.

But let us see how the Brain Trust has worked before we reach any conclusions. I think they know what they are doing.

That's it, even though I voice my concern I TRUST the BB-team. Wow! I've never trusted anyone my whole life... hmm, does this belong in the "You're addicted to BB if..." thread? ..if you trust the BB's more than your own mother, or at least to be more fair then her.

Last edited by Svett Sleik (U21-Scout Norge) at 6/5/2009 6:41:22 PM

Yes, "you are addicted to BB..."... :)))

I think the reasoning behind it being easier for a manager from a small country is that the pool of managers is smaller. Hence, when a national player comes available on the TL, there are less managers from your country to outbid. I don't know if I agree with this because bids are still global, but I think that is what the BBs are thinking. Maybe.

I think the reasoning behind it being easier for a manager from a small country is that the pool of managers is smaller. Hence, when a national player comes available on the TL, there are less managers from your country to outbid. I don't know if I agree with this because bids are still global, but I think that is what the BBs are thinking. Maybe.

i believe the national team players/prospects from smaller userbases go for more money and attract wider interest for the simple reason they can forecast that if well trained they will stay in the National team for much longer than if they come from a US/Spain/Italy etc.

Thats how i view it anyway. - Ironically now I am down to 1 NT flag... on an 18yo :D

It's easier for the players from smaller nations to make it into the NT because of the small pool of managers. From that small pool, an even smaller portion trains local players while the rest go foreign. As an NT manager of a small nation, I'd say it is a big problem for us and most of the NT players are from a group of friends who banded together to train them. I hope with the new changes favouring local players we will see a bit of an improvement.