This year is the China Basketball Association's tenth anniversary.
Since 1995, it has become one of the country's top leagues, second
only to the China Football Association (CFA). But unlike the ailing
CFA, the CBA is fairly well regulated and efficient.
Last month, it launched its 10-year development plan, the "North
Star Project," in Beijing with an aim to become the best league in
Asia and among the world's best in the years to come. And according
to Li Yuanwei, director of China Basketball Administration Center,
the CBA's ongoing reforms also include introducing a Super League
to replace the current league from next year.
So, as a transitional period, the current season will be crucial
in deepening reforms and developing the top clubs. To make the
league more professional, the changes include two divisions, more
frequent matches, restrictions on foreign players and better
services for the fans and media.
Following the NBA's example, dividing the 14 teams into north
and south conferences is one of the most prominent CBA reforms.
Each team will play 38 games in the regular season with 266 matches
overall, 84 more than before.
The top four from the regular season will qualify for playoff
games. To make sure the best teams enter the final, the playoffs
will use cross-elimination to match teams. That is to say, the No.1
team from the south will play the No.4 from the north and vice
versa. The whole season will last half a year.
Because of the increase in matches, the competition agenda
stipulates that each team has to play three matches per week, on
Wednesday, Friday and Sunday, one more than before.
Some have worried that players might be overloaded, but Li
responded that, "Before, many thought the Chinese couldn't follow
the NBA's pace in playing 82 games each season and they attributed
this to physical differences. Just have a look at Yao Ming and his
performance. He joined the NBA and finished all the games."
Also, from this year, two foreign players will not be allowed to
play at the same time and in the same quarter.
Another change on court is the amendment of judgment rules. To
make the
games more fierce and attractive, new regulations redefine the
24-second attack violation, with heavy penalties for technical
offenses and other misconduct.
In the season's opening game between Fujian Xunxing and Zhejiang
Wanma, there were only 33 foul penalties. Ma Lijun, an
international class referee and chief umpire of the match,
explained, "We notice that Chinese players suffered a lot from poor
physical performances at the Athens Olympics. They couldn't
challenge their rivals under the ring. So we will encourage players
to have more body contact to improve their physical
competitiveness."
Off court, the new season will see several measures to make
better use of the media and boost communication with the audience,
such as pre-game interviews, a spokesperson system and after-game
interview areas.
The theme of better serving fans, sponsors and the media
indicates that the authority has acknowledged that the audience is
the backbone of a successful league. And for the first time, the
CBA pledged to "market" the league well, rather than simply
"organize" it like before.
CFA Vice President Yan Shiduo said before the national football
team's humiliating failure to qualify for the 2006 World Cup that
their biggest mistake has been that "we never really treat the
audience as those on whom we rely for living." Apparently, the CBA
has taken the warning.
(China.org.cn by Li Xiao, November 24, 2004)
