Tyrese Haliburton’s injury during the NBA Finals has ignited debate about player safety and the league’s demanding schedule.
The Indiana Pacers star’s decision to play through pain resulted in a devastating Achilles injury that could sideline him indefinitely.
His unfortunate exit has drawn sharp criticism from media personalities who believe the current playoff format pushes players beyond their limits.
Colin Cowherd used Monday’s episode of The Herd to deliver a passionate plea for structural changes to the NBA postseason.
“The NBA is on notice. Shorten the playoffs. They started two weeks before the draft…,” Cowherd said.
"Shorten the playoffs. They started two weeks before the draft… the NFL Draft."@colincowherd says shortening the NBA playoffs is a good idea for the league. pic.twitter.com/cxdbasGU3I
— Herd w/Colin Cowherd (@TheHerd) June 23, 2025
The veteran analyst proposed reducing early playoff rounds from their current seven-game format.
He argued that only conference finals and the championship series warrant extended battles, while earlier rounds could be shortened without losing competitive integrity.
Cowherd backed his proposal with economic reasoning, pointing to the league’s upcoming $76 billion media rights deal.
He suggested that with such massive revenue streams, owners could afford to sacrifice a few games for player welfare.
His perspective carries weight given the injury trends affecting young stars.
What once plagued older recreational athletes now threatens players in their prime, raising questions about workload management and schedule density.
However, the financial reality remains complex. The league previously used best-of-five first rounds but expanded to maximize revenue opportunities.
While discussions about reducing the 82-game regular season surface periodically, convincing ownership groups to voluntarily decrease guaranteed income presents significant challenges that extend beyond player safety concerns.
A shorter series could raise the intensity of each game, making every moment count.
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