What happened to playing basketball to win, not make more money?

Is anyone paying attention to this new NBA "in-season tournament"?

Are there any conversations amongst sports fans going on about these games that supposedly have "tournament implications"? Shhh. Nope. The silence is deafening…

Or is it's just me? Maybe I'm hanging around the wrong people. Still, this monstrosity of insignificance that the NBA is trying to squeeze in in the middle of the typical regular basketball season has stirred about as much interest as a co-ed croquet league might.

In fact, I tried to think of other sporting events that could be less interesting than this NBA midseason version.

Maybe NASCAR racing featuring SUVs only? A no time restriction senior golf tournament? A review of classic bowling matches from the 1970s? Chess with TV commercial breaks and referee replay reviews? No jumping allowed in volleyball? Soccer, where you can't use your hands OR your feet (head balls only), A college football bowl game between last-place finishers in two conferences? Basketball where players can't cross mid-court? Actually, that WAS the rule when girls' basketball first started, way back in the 1960s in the great state of Iowa. They played six on six with three girls only playing offense and three girls only playing defense, and neither side could cross the halfcourt line…but I digress.

The possibilities of boredom-thru-sport could be endless, but this NBA midseason distraction could challenge any of the above for being sleep-worthy.

For what it is worth, the final four teams are the Los Angeles Lakers, The Milwaukee Bucks, The Indiana Pacers, and the New Orleans Pelicans. The championship game will be on Saturday.

The NBA has incentivized the games for the players. To make it to the final four, you get $100,000. To get to the championship, $200,000, and to win $500,000.

Oh goody, more money to these already richer-than-rich NBA players. Ya, that will get me watching.

In conclusion, let me just say that as an avid sports fan, a huge basketball fan, and a decent level NBA fan—in my lifetime, I can’t ever remember a sporting event I have had less interest in.

...But then again, chess with stoppage time for "official reviews" (if it ever comes to fruition) could come close.