Since the 1967-68 season, the NBA has assigned 82 games to each of its teams. But basketball, the league's geography, television, and the physical qualities of the players have changed drastically since then, leading some notable players and coaches to push for the league to shorten the regular season. Steven Godfrey and Ryan Nanni discuss the cases in favor of that move, consider the counterarguments, and briefly brush up against the Billy Joel vs. Garth Brooks argument.

Research on this episode was conducted by Ryan Fortune. Phantom Island is presented by Homefield and produced by Michael Surber.