(Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
Crowds
NBA—One could swear that the mute button is on until halfway through the fourth quarter.
College—The stadiums are always full with students and alumni. They sing their school songs and go nuts even at 11 a.m.
Winner = College. This really wasn’t a contest—the NBA didn’t stand a chance.
Style of Play
NBA—The NBA has long been a league that allows for individuals to showcase their ability to beat defenders one-on-one. The idea of team defense is all about weak side help, doubling the post and a little zone. The NBA is quicker at times, but comes down to players making plays in crucial, end-of-game situations.
College—Each squad has to establish their own style and the ability of that team to dominate tempo. Each possession means more because there's fewer throughout the game. There are more swings in the success of the team and the crowd can really affect how teams play.
Winner = NBA. Systems are good, but players should decide games. And in the NBA they do, if the refs let them.
Postseason
NBA—Finally. I always feel that way. Getting through the regular season can be like getting teeth pulled, but the playoffs are magical (see Bulls vs. Celtics). Many feel the playoffs are too long, the seeding needs to get reworked and that good teams are left out. But that last point happens in every sport.
College—There are upsets and underdogs making runs deep into the tournament, players can take their lead their team over better teams and make names for themselves. The only issue is that many times really good get left out on selection Sunday.
Winner = College. From the brackets to watching the games online at work, every game matters.
Acquisition of Players
NBA—The NBA draft is fun to watch. It is short and you usually have a good idea of who is going where.
Free agency is a toss-up. It can help a team rebuild really fast (the Spurs are experts at this), but it also decreases the amount of players that stick with teams their whole careers. Even all stars Tracy McGrady and Vince Carter have played for at least two different teams (T-Mac has played for three, the Raptors, Magic and Rockets).
College—Recruiting is interesting to follow and you can keep busy all year round. With coaching changes and kids changing their minds, it is a very fluid situation.
I understand the “sit-out-a-year” rule when you transfer from one D1 school to another, but think it should be changed if their is a coaching change or family hardship.
Winner = College. Money is not involved, at least I hope not. Oh wait.
Final Tally
I think I have covered the majority of important issues that make each game unique unto itself. Even after this extremely logical argument, there will be some that will disagree, and that is OK. Because you are wrong, or least “less-right.”
Winner = College 6 - NBA 4.
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