Nuggets coach Michael Malone slammed Adam Silver’s idea of shedding two minutes off each quarter, a move the commissioner floated in a radio interview in hopes of appeasing the shorter attention span of modern TV viewers.
“I hope we don’t go to 10-minute quarters,” Malone said before his Nuggets lost, 122-112, to the Knicks on Wednesday night at MSG. “I hope we don’t go to the four-point line. I hope we don’t become Barnum & Bailey where we’re just having to do whatever we have to do to keep viewership.
“Because there is a history and greatness to this game. And a purity to this game and I hope we can find a way to stay true to that.”
Earlier Wednesday, Silver, faced with sagging TV ratings, told “The Dan Patrick Show” that he’s “a fan” of the 10-minute quarters — which is the format for international and college hoops.
“Putting aside what it would mean for records and things like that, I think that a two-hour format for a game is more consistent for modern television habits,” Silver said, later adding: “I don’t think most fans would be disappointed if it was a two-hour presentation.”
Tom Thibodeau, like Malone, is against Silver on this issue.
“I’m probably more traditional so I’d hate to see that,” the Knicks coach said. “That’s just a personal [opinion]. I haven’t really thought about it just because of the records and things of that nature. I think we have a great game. I think what people want to see is competition.”
The Knicks are catching a break for their big weekend game.
Lakers star Anthony Davis suffered an abdominal strain and will be reevaluated “in about a week,” the team announced, meaning he won’t be available for Saturday against the Knicks.
Davis has been, by far, the Lakers’ best player this season while averaging 25.7 points with 11.9 rebounds.
His absence probably will help the Knicks win but won’t take much away from the pageantry of the matchup, which is always about LeBron James.
James, 40, the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, hasn’t announced any retirement plans but each appearance at MSG could potentially be his last — especially when factoring in injury potential and the fact the Lakers only visit once per season.
Last season, the Lakers beat the Knicks 113-105 at the Garden, with James scoring 24 and Davis adding 18 rebounds with four blocks.
Josh Hart played and started after again being listed on the injury report as questionable with knee soreness.
It was the third straight game Hart carried the same injury designation and still played.
Per NBA rules, a team is not allowed to list a player as questionable with the same injury if he was upgraded to available in the five prior games.
Hart is up to four straight games with knee soreness.
He was listed as probable and questionable in the two previous games because of cervical compression.
Hart has missed just one game this season, which was due to personal reasons.
