NEW YORK, N.Y. - One of the biggest issues on the agenda when the NBAs owners arrived in New York for the board of governors meetings was thwarting the tanking strategy employed most brazenly by the Philadelphia 76ers.A proposal that would reduce the incentive for teams to lose games on purpose in an effort to get a better pick in the draft appeared to be gathering momentum earlier in the week.All that momentum disappeared almost overnight, with enough skittish owners unable or unwilling to sign off on significant reforms that could have widened the gulf between small and big-market teams.The proposal needed 23 votes for approval but only received 17, with 13 lining up to vote against it on Wednesday.I think, in essence, the owners were concerned about unintended consequences, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said. I think we all recognize we need to find the right balance between creating the appropriate incentives on one hand for teams to, of course, win, and on the other hand allowing for appropriate rebuilding and the draft to work as it should in which the worst performing teams get the highest picks in the draft.The vote means the existing system will remain in place for now. The team with the worst record will still have a 25 per cent chance at getting the top pick and cannot drop lower than fourth. The board agreed to send the issue back to the competition committee for additional study.The reform proposal presented by the leagues competition committee would have drastically reduced the worst teams odds of winning the lottery while also increasing the chances that the teams with the best record in the lottery field would jump up to the top of the board.Another element of the proposal, the defeat of which was first reported by Yahoo! Sports, would have made it possible for the worst team to plummet all the way to seventh in the order.The 76ers are at the centre of the debate. General manager Sam Hinkie, with the blessing of ownership, has assembled a roster designed to lose in the present in hopes of building a foundation that can win in the future.Hinkie has been unapologetic about his approach, believing that it provides the Sixers the best chance to not just be competitive in a few years, but to contend in the Eastern Conference.They have already landing promising point guard Michael Carter-Williams, forward Nerlens Noel, centre Joel Embiid and European standout Dario Saric by stockpiling those high draft picks, but theyve also lost a lot of games while doing it.Philadelphias strategy didnt sit well with some in and around the league who think it compromises the integrity of the games in the present.I dont necessarily disagree with the way it works now, Silver said of the lottery. Id say from a personal standpoint what Im most concerned about is perception out there right now and frankly the pressure on a lot of our teams, even from their very fans, to somehow underperform because its in some peoples view the most efficient and quickest way to get better.I think thats a corrosive perception out there.But is there really a problem? Since the league went to a weighted lottery system in 1985, the team with the worst record has received the top pick just four times, the most recent time coming with the Orlando Magic in 2004. The Cleveland Cavaliers have won it the past two years while having the ninth-worst record and third-worst record.Other subjects broached on Wednesday include:—The league held a presentation on domestic abuse that Silver said focused on prevention. Silver said he doesnt think increasing punishments is the only answer to address the issue. He said the league will implement new training for players this year and will continue to look at more changes to the policy.—The new television contracts. The NBA is set to cash in with a $24 billion TV deal in 2016 and Silver said he is having discussions with the union about smoothing in the money over the next couple of years so the increase to the salary cap isnt so dramatic in just one year. He also said one-third of the teams are still losing money, and that TV deal is expected to help that.—Silver said it was too early to be concerned about a possible work stoppage in 2017 when both sides have an opt-out of the collective bargaining agreement. He did say he is in favour of a harder salary cap, but putting money aside, I think the system elements are working in the new collective bargaining agreement.—A review of the ownership situation in Atlanta. Silver said there seems to be enormous interest in the Hawks franchise, but that having a buyer in place by the end of the calendar year might be a little ambitious.—The league also elected Minnesota Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor as chairman of the board and announced a new $30,000 scholarship in David Sterns honour for students studying sports management.___Follow Jon Krawczynski on Twitter: —http://twitter.com/APKrawczynskiCheap Adidas Flyers Jerseys . Hes just beginning to get similar results. The right-hander struggled after winning the honour in 2008 and 2009, but a retooling of his game has begun to pay off and has the San Francisco Giants thinking about the Lincecum of old. Cheap Flyers Jerseys . General manager David Poile called signing Ribeiro a great opportunity to add a talented, experienced and creative centre Tuesday when he introduced the veteran at a news conference. Ribeiros contract is worth $1.05 million after being bought out of the final three years of a $22 million contract by the Coyotes recently. http://www.cheapflyersjerseys.com/. MacArthur scored two goals, and the Senators outlasted Detroit in a testy third period to beat the Red Wings 4-2 on Saturday night. Cheap Flyers Jerseys Authentic . Tony Parker had 33 points and nine assists and San Antonio never trailed in a resounding 116-92 victory over Portland, bullying the younger Trail Blazers in Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals. Wholesale Flyers Jerseys . This should be celebrated because it will not always be this way. With the amount of money given to players by their clubs these days, it is a wonder that so many of those teams allow the sport to continue to take away many of their assets so they can play for a different team in the middle of their season.Bayern Munich midfielder Xabi Alonso thinks Pep Guardiola is ahead of his time, but might take a while to implement his style at Manchester City. Guardiola will leave the Allianz Arena this summer and replace Manuel Pellegrini at City.While his possession-based style has proved effective at both Barcelona and Bayern, Spanish midfielder Alonso says the initial transformation is not easy. Pep is ahead of his time, he told Sky Sports News HQ. He is very demanding of himself and his players, but once you get to know it [the style], then it is the way we like to play.He likes the team to be in control of the game because he thinks that is the best way to win games. During his time here he has built something, a style of play, I think many players will have learnt a lot and improved and for sure those fundamentals will be very useful in the future as well. Alonso (left) says Guardiola is very demanding of his players Guardiola joined Bayern in 2013 and looks to be on course for a third straight Bundesliga title, with his side five points clear with seven games left to play.ddddddddddddHe will be replaced at the club by Carlo Ancelotti, but Alonso says: Nobody is thinking about next season, we are just thinking about the challenges we have right now.At the end we will have enough time to give him a proper farewell that he deserves. He will leave in the best manner, no doubt about it, and his time here will be a good one to remember. Also See: Right project key for Pellegrini Sterling faces eight weeks out WATCH: Pep clear out at City? Man City fixtures ' ' '